Passengers along the Williamstown line will have access to 15 extra services a week, with a redesigned timetable to take effect from early next year as Victorians get back onto the public transport network.
Member for Williamstown Melissa Horne today announced details of the Victorian Government’s new train timetable, which will give passengers more options to stagger their journeys and improve reliability – with a train on the Williamstown line every 20 minutes during the busy morning and afternoon periods from 31 January 2021.
The new timetable will also see an additional 25 services a week between Newport and Williamstown, and more frequent trains on the Werribee line will provide passengers at Newport, Spotswood, Yarraville, Seddon, Footscray and South Kensington with a service every ten minutes throughout the day.
Passengers at South Kensington station will have more choice in the busy peak periods as Williamstown and Laverton services will stop at the station in place of Werribee trains.
To make it easier for metropolitan passengers to travel during quieter times and physically distance as Victoria recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, off-peak fares will be discounted for three months. From 31 January 2021, anyone using myki money between 9.30am and 4pm or after 7pm on weekdays will receive a 30 per cent discount.
Construction is also set to ramp up on the Ferguson Street level crossing removal in early 2021, delivering improvements to both train passengers and motorists when it is gone for good in 2022 – with the rail line to be lowered under the road and brand new North Williamstown station to be built with open community space.
To make sure Victorians can better access their local train stations, local bus services will gradually be brought in line with the new trains in February and April next year – with new timetables for 320 bus routes across the city.
To keep passengers safe, extra cleaning of all public transport facilities will continue across the network and hand sanitising facilities will stay at key stations and stops. Victorians are reminded to play their part in keeping our state safe by always wearing a mask on public transport, practising good hygiene and never travelling when unwell.
The new timetables will be available at ptv.vic.gov.au from 8 January 2021.
Quotes attributable to Member for Williamstown Melissa Horne:
“As Victorians get back out doing the things they love, extra services at stations in the inner west will give passengers more options on their travelling times and help them practise better physical distancing.”
“To add to the improvements these new services will bring, we’re upgrading travel for train passengers and motorists in the west – removing six level crossings on the Werribee and Williamstown lines.”
