View source for Railways in Melbourne

{{short description|Railway network in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia}}
{{about|the Melbourne rail network, including stations and infrastructure|the operator of metropolitan passenger services in Melbourne|Metro Trains Melbourne}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox public transit
| box_width = 
| name = Melbourne rail network
| image = {{ric|Melbourne|size=100px|alt=Metropolitan Melbourne train network logo}}
| alt = 
| imagesize = 
| caption = Melbourne metro roundel
| image2 = Flinders Street Station Melbourne March 2021.jpg
| alt2 = 
| imagesize2 = 
| caption2 = Flinders Street railway station, March 2021
| image3 = 
| alt3 = 
| imagesize3 = 
| caption3 = 
| native_name = 
| owner = [[Victoria State Government]] as [[VicTrack]]
| area served = [[Melbourne|Greater Melbourne]]
| locale = [[Victoria, Australia]]
| transit_type = [[Suburban rail]] <br /> [[Rail freight transport]]
| lines = 16
| line_number = 
| start = 
| end = 
| stations = 221 stations <br /> 6 under construction <br /> 15+ planned
| daily_ridership = 450,000 (2021–2022)<ref name="DOT2022">{{Cite web|url=https://transport.vic.gov.au/about/our-annual-report-2021-2022|title=Department of Transport Victoria Annual Report 2021–2022|date=September 2022|website=static.ptv.vic.gov.au|access-date=25 December 2022|archive-date=24 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224233945/https://transport.vic.gov.au/about/our-annual-report-2021-2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
| annual_ridership = 182.5 million (2023–2024)<ref name="dtpannualreport2324">{{cite web |title=Department of Transport and Planning Annual Report 2023–24 |url=https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/4aa779/globalassets/tabled-paper-documents/tabled-paper-8692/department-of-transport-and-planning-annual-report-2023-24.pdf |website=Parliament of Victoria |access-date=4 November 2024}}</ref>
| chief_executive = <!-- or | key_people = -->
| headquarters = 700 [[Collins Street, Melbourne|Collins Street]], [[Docklands, Victoria|Docklands]] (Metro)
| website = 
| began_operation = {{start date and age|1868|07|03|df=yes}} (First steam train) <br />
{{start date and age|2009|11|30|df=yes}} (Leased to Metro Trains)
| operation_will_start = 
| ended_operation = 
| operator = [[Metro Trains Melbourne]]
| marks = 
| host = 
| character = 
| stock = [[Comeng (train)|Comeng]] <br /> [[High Capacity Metro Train|HCMT]] <br /> [[Siemens Nexas]] <br /> [[X'Trapolis 100]]
| vehicles = 226 six-carriage trains
| train_length = 
| headway = Line dependant
| system_length = {{convert|429|km|mi|abbr=on}} (System length)<ref name="NetworkLength2019">{{Cite web |last=Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) |first=Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications |date=December 2021 |title=Australian Infrastructure and Transport Statistics, Yearbook 2021 |url=https://www.bitre.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Bitre-yearbook-2021.pdf |access-date=6 February 2023 |archive-date=23 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223230905/https://www.bitre.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Bitre-yearbook-2021.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> <br />{{convert|370|km|mi|abbr=on}} ([[electrified railway|Electrified length]]) <br />
{{convert|28|km|1|abbr=on}} (Exclusive freight)<ref name="NetworkLength2019" />
| notrack = 
| track_gauge = {{track gauge|victorian|allk=on}}
| ogauge = 
| minimum_radius_of_curvature = 
| el = 
| average_speed = {{convert|63.6|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} (fastest average) <br />{{convert|30.2|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} (slowest average)
| top_speed = {{convert|130|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
| map = {{Melbourne commuter rail route diagram|inline=yes}}
| map_name =
| map_state = collapsed
}}
{{Melbourne railway lines}}
 
The '''Melbourne rail network''' is a metropolitan [[Commuter rail|suburban]] and [[Rail freight transport|freight rail]] system serving the city of [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[Australia]]. The metropolitan rail network is centred around the [[Melbourne central business district]] (CBD) and consists of 221 railway stations across 16 lines, which served a patronage of 182.5 million over the year 2023–2024.<ref name="dtpannualreport2324"/> It is the core of the larger [[Rail transport in Victoria|Victorian railway network]], with regional links to both intrastate and interstate rail systems.

[[Metro Trains Melbourne]] operates the Melbourne metropolitan rail network under [[franchising|franchise]] from the [[Victoria State Government|Victorian Government]], overseen by [[Public Transport Victoria]], a division of the [[Department of Transport and Planning]]. The [[government-owned]] entity [[V/Line]] operates trains from Melbourne across [[Rail transport in Victoria|regional Victoria]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/about-ptv/victorias-public-transport-network/public-transport-partnership-agreements/|title=Public transport partnership agreements|website=www.ptv.vic.gov.au|language=en|access-date=28 April 2018|archive-date=28 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428182034/https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/about-ptv/victorias-public-transport-network/public-transport-partnership-agreements/|url-status=live}}</ref> The first steam train in Australia commenced service in Melbourne in 1854 between [[Flinders Street railway station|Flinders Street]] and Sandridge, with the metropolitan rail network having grown over the last two centuries to cover much of the city and greater Melbourne area.

The metropolitan network is a [[commuter rail|suburban rail]] system designed to transport passengers from Melbourne's suburbs into the Melbourne central business district (CBD) and associated [[City Loop|city loop]] stations, with the main [[Transport hub|hub]] at [[Flinders Street railway station|Flinders Street station]]. [[Southern Cross railway station|Southern Cross station]] is the main interchange station between metropolitan and regional V/Line services. A new underground line is currently under construction as part of the [[Metro Tunnel]] project, which aims to increase network capacity and provide Melbourne with a turn-up-and-go [[Rapid transit|metro]]-like service.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/melbourne-on-track-for-tokyos-turn-up-and-go-network/|title=Melbourne on Track For Tokyo's Turn Up And Go Network|date=26 September 2016|work=Premier of Victoria|access-date=28 April 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=28 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428181801/https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/melbourne-on-track-for-tokyos-turn-up-and-go-network/|url-status=live}}</ref> A major [[Suburban Rail Loop|new orbital line]] is also under construction and would be the network's first autonomous line.

A total length of {{Convert|998|km|abbr=on}} of track is owned by [[VicTrack]] and leased to train operators through [[Public Transport Victoria]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.metrotrains.com.au/who-we-are/|title=Who We Are|website=www.metrotrains.com.au|language=en|access-date=27 December 2020|archive-date=15 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115153849/https://www.metrotrains.com.au/who-we-are/|url-status=live}}</ref> The railway network is primarily at ground level, with some underground and [[Elevated railway|elevated]] sections.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ptua.org.au/2009/09/02/cross-out-level-crossings/|title=Cross out Melbourne's level crossings – Public Transport Users Association (Victoria, Australia)|website=www.ptua.org.au|date=2 September 2009 |language=en-AU|access-date=28 April 2018|archive-date=28 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428181524/https://www.ptua.org.au/2009/09/02/cross-out-level-crossings/|url-status=live}}</ref> There were more than 170 [[level crossing]]s before the [[Level Crossing Removal Authority|Level Crossing Removal Project]] commenced in 2015 to grade separate 110 of the busiest crossings and rebuild 51 railway stations, with 67 crossings removed by December 2022.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|url=https://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/about|title=About {{!}} Level Crossing Removal Authority|website=levelcrossings.vic.gov.au|language=en|access-date=28 April 2018|archive-date=28 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428182013/https://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/about|url-status=live}}</ref> The metropolitan network operates primarily between 5:00&nbsp;a.m. and midnight, with overnight services on Friday night to Saturday morning and Saturday night to Sunday morning, departing from Flinders Street only.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/all-night-public-transport-on-weekends-here-to-stay/|title=All Night Public Transport on Weekends Here To Stay|date=22 April 2017|work=Premier of Victoria|access-date=28 April 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=29 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429092447/https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/all-night-public-transport-on-weekends-here-to-stay/|url-status=live}}</ref> Some tracks are also used by [[Freight railways in Melbourne|freight trains]] and [[V/Line]] [[List of regional railway stations in Victoria|regional services]].

In addition to the primary commuter and freight railway networks, Melbourne also features heritage railways such as [[Puffing Billy Railway|Puffing Billy]] and has the world's largest urban [[Trams in Melbourne|tram network]].

== History ==
=== First railway ===
On 7 September 1851, a public meeting called for the construction of Australia's first railway to link Melbourne and Sandridge (now known as [[Port Melbourne]]), which led to the establishment of the privately owned [[Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company]] in 1853.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/articles/2215|title=Melbourne & Hobson's Bay Railway Co., Melbourne, Victoria|work=Museums Victoria Collections|access-date=28 April 2018|archive-date=27 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327164850/https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/articles/2215|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://infrastructure.gov.au/rail/trains/history.aspx|title=History of Rail in Australia|website=infrastructure.gov.au|language=en-US|access-date=29 April 2018|archive-date=11 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311043212/https://infrastructure.gov.au/rail/trains/history.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 8 February 1853, the Government also approved the establishment of the [[Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company]] and the [[Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company]]. Work began in March 1853 on the Sandridge railway line, stretching {{convert|4|km}} from the Melbourne (or City) terminus (on the site of modern-day [[Flinders Street railway station|Flinders Street station]]) to Sandridge. The line was owned and operated by Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company, opening in 1854.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/836.html|title=Technology in Australia 1788–1988, Chapter 12, page 836|last=Centre|first=Australian Science and Technology Heritage|website=www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au|language=en-gb|access-date=29 April 2018|archive-date=29 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429155053/http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/836.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1855, the Government conducted enquiries and carried out surveys into country railways. On 1 April 1856, the [[Victorian Railways|Railway Department]] was established as part of the Board of Land and Works with [[George Christian Darbyshire]] being appointed Engineer in Chief.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/vufind/Record/90654|title=Parliament of Victoria Record 90654|website=www.parliament.vic.gov.au|language=en-AU|access-date=29 April 2018|archive-date=29 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429092448/https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/vufind/Record/90654|url-status=live}}</ref> On 23 May of that year the [[Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company]] was taken over by the Government.<ref>{{Cite book|title=National Trust Masonry Bridges Study Gary Vines|publisher=National Trust of Australia (Victoria)|year=2010}}</ref>

Trains were ordered from Robert Stephenson and Company of the [[United Kingdom]]. The first train was locally built by [[Robertson, Martin & Smith]], however, owing to delays in shipping. Australia's first steam locomotive was built in ten weeks and cost [[Pound sterling|£]]2,700. Forming the first [[Locomotive#Steam|steam train]] to travel in Australia, it made its maiden trip on 12 September 1854.<ref>Although horse-drawn "trains" debuted on a [[Victor Harbor railway line|railway between Goolwa and Port Elliot]] in [[South Australia]] on 18 May of that year, Melbourne hosted the first mechanical railway.</ref>

The opening of the line occurred during the period of the [[Victorian gold rush]]—a time when both Melbourne and Victoria undertook massive capital works, each with its gala opening. The inaugural journey on the Sandridge line was no exception. According to the [[The Argus (Australia)|Argus]] [[newspaper]]'s report of the next day: "Long before the hour appointed . . . a great crowd assembled round the station at the Melbourne terminus, lining the whole of [[Flinders Street, Melbourne|Flinders Street]]".<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/rosstown-springvale-cemetery-kew-melbournes-phantom-railway-lines/news-story/1fff2d2be277ede00fb41886c7b19e6b|title=Rosstown, Springvale Cemetery, Kew: Melbourne's phantom railway lines|website=www.heraldsun.com.au|language=en|access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref> [[Governors of Victoria|Lieutenant-Governor]] [[Charles Hotham|Sir Charles Hotham]] and Lady Hotham were aboard the train—which consisted of two [[First class travel|first-class]] carriages and one-second class—and were presented with [[satin]] copies of the railway's [[Public transport timetable|timetable]] and [[bylaw]]s.

The trip took 10 minutes, none of the later stations along the line having been built. On arriving at [[Station Pier]] (onto which the tracks extended), it was hailed with gun salutes by the warships [[HMS Electra (1837)|HMS ''Electra'']] and [[HMS Fantome (1839)|HMS ''Fantome'']].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://twistedhistory.net.au/wordpress/2017/09/12/australias-first-train-makes-its-maiden-voyage-melbourne-2/|title=Australia's first train makes its maiden voyage – Melbourne|date=11 September 2017|work=Twisted History (Limelight Tours)|access-date=29 April 2018|language=en-AU|archive-date=29 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429092952/http://twistedhistory.net.au/wordpress/2017/09/12/australias-first-train-makes-its-maiden-voyage-melbourne-2/|url-status=live}}</ref>

By March 1855, the four engines ordered from the UK were all in service, with trains running every half-hour. They were named ''Melbourne'', ''Sandridge'', ''Victoria'', and ''Yarra'' (after the [[Yarra River]] over which the line crossed).<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.arhsvic.org.au/rail-history/victorian-railways-history-1839-1899|title=Victorian Railways History 1839–1899|website=Australian Railway Historical Society Victorian Division Inc.|access-date=29 April 2018|archive-date=29 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429092436/https://www.arhsvic.org.au/rail-history/victorian-railways-history-1839-1899|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Early private companies ===
[[File:Melbourne-steam-hauled-suburban.jpg|thumb|Steam-hauled suburban train departing North Melbourne station for Sunshine, April 1913]]
[[File:Old Flinders Street Station.jpg|thumb|The pre-1910 [[Flinders Street railway station|Flinders Street]] station building on [[Swanston Street]]]]

The [[Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company]] opened Melbourne's second railway on 13 May 1857, a {{Convert|4.5|km|abbr=on}} line from the Melbourne (or City) Terminus to [[St Kilda, Victoria|St Kilda]]. The line was later extended by the [[St Kilda and Brighton Railway Company]], which opened a line from St Kilda to [[Middle Brighton railway station|Brighton]] in 1857.<ref name=":2" />

The first country line opened in 1857 when the [[Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company]] started services on its line from [[Geelong]] to [[Newport railway station, Melbourne|Newport]]. In 1859, the government-owned [[Victorian Railways]] [[Williamstown railway line|Williamstown line]] opened, connecting [[Williamstown railway station|Williamstown]] and Geelong to [[Southern Cross railway station|Spencer Street station]].<ref name=":2" />

More country lines followed in 1859 when the Victorian Railways opened a line from [[Footscray railway station|Footscray]], on the Williamstown line, to [[Sunbury railway station, Melbourne|Sunbury]]. The Victorian Railways had taken over construction from the [[Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company]], established in 1853 to build a railway to [[Echuca railway station|Echuca]], but which had failed to make any progress.<ref name=":2" />

The first line to Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs was opened in 1859 by the [[Melbourne and Suburban Railway Company]], running from [[Princes Bridge railway station]] to [[Richmond railway station, Melbourne|Punt Road]] (Richmond), [[South Yarra railway station|South Yarra]], and [[Prahran railway station|Prahran]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://museumsvictoria.com.au/railways/theme.aspx?lvl=3&IRN=449&gall=453|title=Melbourne & Suburban Railway Co. – Victorian Railways, Museum Victoria, Australia|website=museumsvictoria.com.au|language=en|access-date=11 May 2018|archive-date=3 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403134516/https://museumsvictoria.com.au/railways/theme.aspx?lvl=3&IRN=449&gall=453|url-status=live}}</ref> That line was extended to [[Windsor railway station, Melbourne|Windsor]] in 1860, connecting with the St Kilda and Brighton Railway Company line from St Kilda. The new line replaced the indirect [[St Kilda – Windsor railway line|St Kilda and Windsor line]] to the city, which was closed in 1867.

Another suburban line was built by the [[Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company]] in 1860, running from [[North Melbourne railway station|North Melbourne]] to [[Essendon railway station|Essendon]], with a branch line from [[Newmarket railway station, Melbourne|Newmarket]] to [[Flemington Racecourse railway station|Flemington Racecourse]], which opened in 1861. On the eastern side of the city, the [[Melbourne and Suburban Railway Company]] opened a branch line from Richmond to [[Burnley railway station|Burnley]] and [[Hawthorn railway station, Melbourne|Hawthorn]] in 1861.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.victorianrailways.net/vr%20history/mileposts_vr_history.pdf|title=Mileposts in Victorian Railway History 1839–1964|access-date=12 May 2018|archive-date=16 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216094424/http://www.victorianrailways.net/vr%20history/mileposts_vr_history.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

By that point, the railways of Melbourne were a disjointed group of city-centric lines, with various companies operating from three unconnected city terminals—[[Princes Bridge railway station|Princes Bridge]], [[Flinders Street railway station|Flinders Street]], and [[Southern Cross railway station|Spencer Street]] stations.

The smaller companies quickly encountered financial problems. The [[St Kilda and Brighton Railway Company]] and [[Melbourne and Suburban Railway Company]] were absorbed by the [[Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company]] in 1865, forming the [[Melbourne and Hobsons Bay United Railway Company]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hstm-index.com/index/melbourne-suburban-railway-company-32.html|title=HSTM Historic Stocks Market Index {{!}} Melbourne & Suburban Railway Company|website=www.hstm-index.com|access-date=11 May 2018|archive-date=29 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929070433/https://www.hstm-index.com/index/melbourne-suburban-railway-company-32.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company]] was taken over by the Victorian Government in 1867. The Melbourne and Hobsons Bay United Railway Company was not taken over by the [[Victorian Government]] until 1878.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/vufind/Record/88980|title=Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway Railway : return to an Order of the Legislative Assembly dated 16th July 1878 for a return showing the Agreement made between the Directors of the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway Company and the Government for the purchase of the undertaking of the Company|last=Parliamentary Papers Database|first=Parliament of Victoria|website=www.parliament.vic.gov.au|language=en-AU|access-date=11 May 2018|archive-date=12 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512113100/https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/vufind/Record/88980|url-status=live}}</ref>

The terminals themselves were linked in 1879, when the track was built at street level along the southern side of Flinders Street, connecting with [[Southern Cross railway station|Spencer Street station]], although the track was only used at night, for freight traffic. It was not until 1889 that the two-track [[Flinders Street Viaduct]] was built between the two city terminus stations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/location/Viaduct-Junction|title=VICSIG Infrastructure|website=vicsig.net|access-date=12 May 2018|archive-date=20 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020150037/http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/location/Viaduct-Junction|url-status=live}}</ref>

The outward expansion also continued, with major trunk lines being opened in rural Victoria. The Victorian Railways extended its line to [[Broadmeadows railway station, Melbourne|Broadmeadows]] in 1872, as part of the line to [[Seymour railway station|Seymour]] and [[Albury railway station|Albury]]-[[Wodonga railway station|Wodonga]]. In 1879, the [[Gippsland railway line|Gippsland line]] was opened from South Yarra to [[Caulfield railway station, Melbourne|Caulfield]], [[Pakenham railway station|Pakenham]] and [[Bairnsdale railway station|Bairnsdale]].<ref name=":2" />

=== Land boom lines ===
[[File:Camberwell Station 1.jpg|thumb|Connex train arriving at [[Camberwell railway station, Melbourne|Camberwell]] station, June 2004]]
[[File:Alameinstation.jpg|thumb|Train at [[Alamein railway station|Alamein]] station, March 2003]]

The 1870s and 1880s were a time of great growth and prosperity in Melbourne. Land speculation companies were formed, to buy up outer suburban land cheaply, and to agitate for suburban railways to be built or extended to serve those land holdings and increase land values. By 1880, the "Land Boom" was in full swing in Victoria, re-elected in the passing of the [[Railway Construction Act 1884]], later known as the ''Octopus Act'', which authorised the building of 66 railway lines throughout the state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/onthisday/decade.cfm?d=1880 |title=On These Days – Parliament of Victoria |publisher=parliament.vic.gov.au |access-date=28 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815114743/http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/onthisday/decade.cfm?d=1880 |archive-date=15 August 2008 }}</ref>

The [[Frankston railway line|Frankston line]] began with the opening of a line from Caulfield to [[Mordialloc railway station|Mordialloc]] in 1881, reaching the terminus in 1882.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://localhistory.kingston.vic.gov.au/htm/article/329.htm|title=Events in the Past: Establishing a Railway Line to Mordialloc|last=Historical Website|first=City of Kingston|website=localhistory.kingston.vic.gov.au|access-date=12 May 2018|archive-date=26 December 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051226195004/http://localhistory.kingston.vic.gov.au/htm/article/329.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> A second new suburban railway line was opened from Spencer Street Station to [[Coburg railway station|Coburg]] in 1884, and extended to [[Somerton, Victoria|Somerton]] in 1889, meeting the main line from Spencer Street to Wodonga.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alburywodongaaustralia.com.au/info/history/|title=Albury Wodonga History – Albury Wodonga Australia|website=www.alburywodongaaustralia.com.au|language=en-au|access-date=12 May 2018|archive-date=24 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324084801/https://www.alburywodongaaustralia.com.au/info/history/|url-status=live}}</ref> Land developers opened a private railway from Newport to [[Altona railway station|Altona]] in 1888, but it was closed in 1890, due to lack of demand.

The line from Hawthorn was extended, to [[Camberwell railway station, Melbourne|Camberwell]] in 1882, [[Lilydale railway station|Lilydale]] in 1883, and [[Healesville railway station|Healesville]] in 1889.<ref name=":3" /> In addition, a branch line (now known as the [[Belgrave railway line|Belgrave line]]) was opened from [[Ringwood railway station, Melbourne|Ringwood]] to [[Upper Ferntree Gully railway station|Upper Ferntree Gully]] in 1889.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.maroondah.vic.gov.au/Explore/About-our-city/History-of-Maroondah/History-of-Ringwood|title=History of Ringwood|website=www.maroondah.vic.gov.au|language=en|access-date=12 May 2018|archive-date=11 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311180413/https://www.maroondah.vic.gov.au/Explore/About-our-city/History-of-Maroondah/History-of-Ringwood|url-status=live}}</ref> A short branch two station was also opened from Hawthorn to [[Kew railway line|Kew]] in 1887. The Brighton Beach line was also extended to [[Sandringham railway station|Sandringham]] in 1887.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.victorianplaces.com.au/sandringham|title=Sandringham {{!}} Victorian Places|website=www.victorianplaces.com.au|language=en|access-date=12 May 2018|archive-date=18 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318053330/https://victorianplaces.com.au/sandringham|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1888, railways came to the northeastern suburbs with the opening of the [[Inner Circle railway line|Inner Circle]] line from [[Southern Cross railway station|Spencer Street station]] via [[Royal Park railway station, Melbourne|Royal Park]] station to what is now [[Victoria Park railway station, Melbourne|Victoria Park]] station, and then on to [[Heidelberg railway station|Heidelberg]]. A branch was also opened off the Inner Circle in [[Fitzroy North]], to [[Epping railway station, Melbourne|Epping]] and [[Whittlesea railway station, Melbourne|Whittlesea]] in 1888 and 1889.<ref name=":2" /> Trains between Spencer Street and Heidelberg reversed at Victoria Park until a link was opened between Victoria Park and [[Princes Bridge railway station|Princes Bridge]] in 1901.

The [[Outer Circle railway line|Outer Circle]] line opened in 1890, linking [[Oakleigh railway station|Oakleigh]] (on the [[Gippsland railway line|Gippsland line]]) to [[Riversdale railway station|Riversdale]] (with a branch to Camberwell on the [[Lilydale railway line|Lilydale line]]) and [[Fairfield railway station, Melbourne|Fairfield]] (on the [[Hurstbridge railway line|Heidelberg line]]). Originally envisaged to link the [[Gippsland railway line|Gippsland line]] with [[Southern Cross railway station|Spencer Street station]] in the 1870s, this reason disappeared with the building of a direct link via South Yarra before the line had even opened. The line saw little traffic as it traversed empty paddocks, and with no through traffic, the Outer Circle was closed in sections between 1893 and 1897. The [[Alamein railway line|Camberwell to Ashburton]] stretch of the Outer Circle re-opened in 1899, and then in 1900, part of the northern section of the Outer Circle reopened as a shuttle service between [[East Camberwell railway station|East Camberwell]] and [[Deepdene railway station, Melbourne|Deepdene station]]. This line closed in 1927.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://outercircleline.com.au/about-me.html|title=The Outer Circle – Melbourne's Forgotten Railway|website=outercircleline.com.au|access-date=12 May 2018|archive-date=25 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125025155/http://outercircleline.com.au/about-me.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

At the same time as the Outer Circle, a railway was opened from Burnley to [[Darling railway station|Darling]] and a junction with the Outer Circle at [[Waverley Road railway station|Waverley Road]] (near the current [[East Malvern railway station|East Malvern]] station). A stub of the future Glen Waverley line, it was cut back to Darling in 1895.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8594287|title=THE GLEN IRIS LINE.|date=13 March 1890|work=Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848–1957)|access-date=12 May 2018|pages=4}}</ref>

Railway building during the land boom hit a peak with the construction of the [[Rosstown Railway]] between Elsternwick and Oakleigh. Built by [[William Murry Ross]], the line was planned in the 1870s to serve a sugar beet mill near Caulfield. Construction commenced in 1883, followed by rebuilding in 1888. Ross's debts grew, and he attempted to sell the line many times without success. It never opened to traffic and was later dismantled.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gleneira.vic.gov.au/files/assets/public/document-resources/recreation/rosstown_rail_trail.pdf|title=Rosstown Rail Trail|website=Glen Eira City Council|access-date=12 May 2018|archive-date=4 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404023026/http://www.gleneira.vic.gov.au/files/assets/public/document-resources/recreation/rosstown_rail_trail.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

The stock market crash of early 1890s led to an extended period of economic depression in Victoria and put an end to most railway construction until the next decade.

By the 1900s, the driving force for new railway lines was agriculturalists in what are now Melbourne's outer suburbs. In the [[Dandenong Ranges]] a narrow gauge [[Narrow gauge lines of the Victorian Railways|762 mm line]] was opened from Upper Ferntree Gully to [[Belgrave railway station|Belgrave]] and [[Gembrook railway station|Gembrook]] in 1900 to serve the local farming and timber community. In the [[Yarra Valley]], a branch was opened from Lilydale to [[Yarra Junction railway station|Yarra Junction]] and [[Warburton railway station|Warburton]] in 1901. Part of this line is now listed on the [[Victorian Heritage Register]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/115471/download-report|title=Victorian Heritage Database Report: Lilydale – Warburton Railway|website=Victorian Heritage Council|access-date=12 May 2018|archive-date=12 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512113220/http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/115471/download-report|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1901, in preparation for the occasion of a royal visit by the [[Duke of York]], the first Australian [[royal train]] was assembled in Melbourne.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.arhsvic.org.au/rail-history/victorian-railways-history-1900-1949|title=Victorian Railway Histories 1900–1949|website=Australian Railway Historical Society Victorian Division Inc.|access-date=12 May 2018|archive-date=12 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512113312/https://www.arhsvic.org.au/rail-history/victorian-railways-history-1900-1949|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Hurstbridge railway line|Heidelberg line]] was extended to [[Eltham railway station, Melbourne|Eltham]] in 1902 and [[Hurstbridge railway station|Hurstbridge]] in 1912. The freight-only [[Mont Park railway line|Mont Park line]] was also opened in 1911, branching from [[Macleod railway station|Macleod]]. Finally, on the [[Mornington Peninsula]], a branch was built from [[Bittern railway station|Bittern]] to [[Red Hill railway line|Red Hill]] in 1921.<ref name=":4" />

=== Electrification ===
[[File:DDE750.jpg|thumb|First set of [[Tait (train)|Tait]] suburban passenger carriages hauled by steam locomotive [[Victorian Railways Dd class|Dde 750]], {{circa|1913}}]]
[[File:Springvalecemeterystation.jpg|thumb|Four-car Tait train at the [[Spring Vale Cemetery railway station|Spring Vale Cemetery]] platform]]

Planning for electrification was started by [[Victorian Railways]] chairman [[Thomas James Tait]], who engaged [[United Kingdom|English]] engineer [[Charles Hesterman Merz]] to deliver a report on the electrification of the Melbourne suburban network. His first report in 1908 recommended a three-stage plan over two years, covering 200 route-kilometres existing lines and almost 500 suburban carriages (approximately 80 trains).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-489878788|title=Report upon the Application of electric traction to the Melbourne suburban railway system|language=en|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=24 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124093209/https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-489878788/view|url-status=live}}</ref> The report was considered by the Government and the Railway Commissioners, and Merz was engaged to deliver a second report based on their feedback.

[[File:Tait Set Southern Cross Blurred Skyline.jpg|thumb|A restored vintage electric "Tait" set (aka "Red Rattler") near Southern Cross station, July 2022]]

Delivered in 1912, this second report recommended an expanded system of electrification to 240 route km. of existing lines (463 track km), and almost 800 suburban carriages (approximately 130 trains).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ehive.com/collections/6420/objects/778129/report-of-mr-thos-tait-as-to-his-inquiries-in-connexion-with-electrification-of-melbourne-suburban-|title=Report of Mr. Thos. Tait as to his inquiries in connexion with electrification o... on eHive|website=eHive|language=en|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=16 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516174730/https://ehive.com/collections/6420/objects/778129/report-of-mr-thos-tait-as-to-his-inquiries-in-connexion-with-electrification-of-melbourne-suburban-|url-status=live}}</ref> The works were approved by the State Government in December 1912.<ref name=":4" /> It was envisaged that the first electric trains would be running by 1915, and the project would be completed by 1917. However, progress fell behind because [[World War I]] restrictions prevented electrical equipment from being imported from the [[United Kingdom]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://museumsvictoria.com.au/railways/theme.aspx?lvl=3&IRN=505&gall=693|title=Victorian Railways: Electric Trains (Newport Power Station)|website=Museums Victoria|language=en|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=17 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517005153/https://museumsvictoria.com.au/railways/theme.aspx?lvl=3&IRN=505&gall=693|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rolling stock construction continued, with several older suburban carriages converted for electric use as the [[Swing Door (train)|Swing Door]] trains, while the first of the [[Tait (train)|Tait]] trains were introduced as steam-hauled carriages. Track expansion was also carried out, with four tracks being provided between South Yarra and Caulfield, as well as grade separation from roads. Victorian Railways in 1918 opened the [[Newport Power Station]], the largest power station in the urban area, to supply electricity as part of the electrification project.<ref name=Newport>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/big-expansion-planned-for-newport/2006/11/12/1163266412333.html|title=Big expansion planned for Newport|publisher=Fairfax Digital, The Age|access-date=5 October 2008|location=Melbourne|date=13 November 2006|archive-date=23 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023031457/http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/big-expansion-planned-for-newport/2006/11/12/1163266412333.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[State Electricity Commission of Victoria]] was formed in 1921 but did not take over Newport A power station until 1951.<ref name=":5" />

The first trials did not occur until October 1918 on the [[Flemington Racecourse railway line|Flemington Racecourse line]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://museumsvictoria.com.au/railways/theme.aspx?lvl=2&IRN=502|title=Victorian Railways: Electric Trains|website=Museums Victoria|language=en|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=16 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516174508/https://museumsvictoria.com.au/railways/theme.aspx?lvl=2&IRN=502|url-status=live}}</ref> Driver training continued on this line until 18 May 1919, when the first electric train ran between [[Sandringham railway line|Sandringham]] and [[Essendon railway station|Essendon]], simulating revenue services. Electric services started on 28 May 1919 with the first train running to Essendon, then on to Sandringham, with full services starting the next day.<ref name=":4" /> The [[Glen Waverley railway line|Burnley–Darling line]], the [[Upfield railway line|Fawkner line]], the reopened branch to Altona, and the [[Williamstown railway line|Williamstown line]] followed in 1920.

The line to Broadmeadows, the [[Mernda railway line|Whittlesea line]] to [[Reservoir railway station|Reservoir]], the [[Sunbury railway line|Bendigo line]] to [[St Albans railway station, Melbourne|St Albans]], and the inner sections of the [[Hurstbridge railway line|Hurstbridge line]] was electrified in 1921. The [[Gippsland railway line|Gippsland line]] to [[Dandenong railway station|Dandenong]] and Frankston line were electrified in 1922, as was the inner section of the [[Lilydale railway line|Ringwood line]] due to regrading works.

The original electrification scheme was completed in 1923,<ref name=":6" /> but over the next three years, several short extensions were carried out. The Ashburton line was electrified in 1924, and final works on the Lilydale line were completed in 1925, as was electrification on the line to [[Upper Ferntree Gully railway station|Upper Ferntree Gully]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/alamein|title=VICSIG Alamein Line|website=vicsig.net|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=2 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202014837/https://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/alamein|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/lilydale|title=VICSIG Lilydale Line|website=vicsig.net|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=7 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007013017/http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/lilydale|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/location/Upper-Ferntree-Gully|title=VICSIG Upper Ferntree Gully Station|website=vicsig.net|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=20 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020145702/http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/location/Upper-Ferntree-Gully|url-status=live}}</ref> Electrification on the outer ends of the Hurstbridge line was completed by 1926, the [[Mernda railway line|Whittlesea line]] to [[Thomastown railway station, Melbourne|Thomastown]] was electrified in 1929, and the Burnley – Darling line was extended to [[Glen Waverley railway station|Glen Waverley]] in 1930 to become the [[Glen Waverley railway line|Glen Waverley line]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://home.vicnet.net.au/~whsvic/railways.htm|title=Waverley Historical Society – Railways and the Waverley Area|website=home.vicnet.net.au|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=17 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417040913/http://home.vicnet.net.au/~whsvic/railways.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Post-War rebuilding===
[[File:Harris795M.jpg|thumb|A [[Harris (train)|Harris]] train the [[Newport Railway Museum]], January 2007]]

Railways experienced increased patronage into the 1940s, but railway improvements recommended in the [[Ashworth Improvement Plan]] were delayed until after [[World War II]].<ref name=lee185>{{cite book |author=Lee, Robert |title=The Railways of Victoria 1854–2004 |publisher=Melbourne University Publishing Ltd |year=2007 |isbn= 978-0-522-85134-2 |page=185}}</ref> It was not until 1950 that the [[Victorian Railways]] were able to put their [[Operation Phoenix (railway)|Operation Phoenix]] rebuilding plan into action.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=https://www.arhsvic.org.au/rail-history/victorian-railways-history-1950-1974|title=Victorian Railways History 1950–1974|website=Australian Railway Historical Society Victorian Division Inc.|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=9 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309235155/https://arhsvic.org.au/rail-history/victorian-railways-history-1950-1974|url-status=live}}</ref> The delivery of the [[Harris (train)|Harris]] trains, the first steel suburban trains on the network, enabled the retirement of the oldest of the [[Swing Door (train)|Swing Door]] trains.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://museumsvictoria.com.au/railways/theme.aspx?lvl=3&IRN=502&gall=671|title=Victorian Railways: Electric Trains (Blue 'Harris' Electric Trains)|website=Museums Victoria|language=en|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=16 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516175002/https://museumsvictoria.com.au/railways/theme.aspx?lvl=3&IRN=502&gall=671|url-status=live}}</ref>

Railway lines were extended during this period to encompass Melbourne's growing suburbia. The [[Alamein railway line|Ashburton line]] was extended along the old Outer Circle track formation to [[Alamein railway station|Alamein station]] in 1948.<ref name=":7" /> The Fawkner line to [[Upfield railway station|Upfield]] and the Reservoir line to [[Lalor railway station|Lalor]] were both electrified in 1959, the Epping line reaching [[Epping railway station, Melbourne|Epping]] in 1964.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/upfield|title=VICSIG Upfield Line|website=vicsig.net|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=13 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013050122/https://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/Upfield|url-status=live}}</ref> A great deal of track amplification was also undertaken, with several single-line sections eliminated.<ref>[http://www.smartpassengers.org.au/policy3.html Policy: Track Amplifications (Duplication, Triplication etc)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091024011235/http://www.smartpassengers.org.au/policy3.html |date=24 October 2009 }}</ref>

The Upper Ferntree Gully to Belgrave section of the [[Narrow gauge lines of the Victorian Railways|Gembrook narrow gauge line]] was converted to [[Victorian broad gauge|broad gauge]] and electrified in 1962.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/belgrave|title=VICSIG Belgrave Line|website=vicsig.net|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=20 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020145651/http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/belgrave|url-status=live}}</ref> The remainder of the line was closed in 1954 but has been progressively reopened by the [[Puffing Billy Railway]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://puffingbilly.com.au/en/about-puffing-billy/history-heritage/|title=History & Heritage|website=puffingbilly.com.au|language=en|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516175032/http://puffingbilly.com.au/en/about-puffing-billy/history-heritage/|archive-date=16 May 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Gippsland railway line|Gippsland line]] was electrified in 1954 as part of the works being carried out on the line, but suburban services to Pakenham did not start until 1975.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/pakenham|title=VICSIG Pakenham Line|website=vicsig.net|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=23 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023203743/http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/pakenham|url-status=live}}</ref>

During this rebuilding, several little-used lines were closed on the edges of Melbourne. The Bittern to Red Hill line closed in 1953, the line between [[Lalor railway station|Lalaor]] and [[Whittlesea railway station|Whittlesea]] closed in 1959, and the Lilydale to [[Warburton railway station|Warburton]] line closed in 1964.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/Red-Hill|title=VICSIG Red Hill Line|website=vicsig.net|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=29 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829214556/http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/Red-Hill|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/Whittlesea|title=VICSIG Whittlesea Line|website=vicsig.net|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=6 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906174903/http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/Whittlesea|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/Warburton|title=VICSIG Warburton Line|website=vicsig.net|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=29 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829163843/http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/Warburton|url-status=live}}</ref> The final stages of the rebuilding stretched into the 1970s, with track amplification carried out to [[Footscray railway station|Footscray]], and [[Box Hill railway station, Melbourne|Box Hill]], and the first deliveries of the stainless steel [[Hitachi (Australian train)|Hitachi]] trains.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://museumsvictoria.com.au/railways/theme.aspx?lvl=3&IRN=502&gall=672|title=Victorian Railways: Stainless Steel Hitachi Trains|website=Museums Victoria|language=en|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=16 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516175107/https://museumsvictoria.com.au/railways/theme.aspx?lvl=3&IRN=502&gall=672|url-status=live}}</ref>

Detailed planning for the [[Doncaster railway line|Doncaster line]] also commenced in that period and, by 1972, the route was finalised. Despite rising costs, state governments of the period continued to give assurances that the line would be built<ref name="nr42">{{cite magazine |date=February 1998 |title=Whatever Happened to the Proposed Railway to Doncaster East |first=Stephen |last=Cauchi |magazine=Newsrail |publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division) |volume=26 |issue=2 |page=42}}</ref> but, by 1984, land reserved for the line had been sold.<ref name="nr42" />

=== Modernisation ===
[[File:Melbourne Central Station 2.jpg|thumb|[[Melbourne Central railway station]] in the underground [[City Loop]], June 2004]]
[[File:Comeng-galvin-site.jpg|thumb|[[Comeng (train)|Comeng]] train on the [[Werribee railway line|Werribee line]], October 2007]]

By the 1970s, Melbourne's railway network was run down, with the last major investment on the suburban tracks having taken place nearly fifty years earlier. Sixty-year-old [[Tait (train)|Tait trains]] (known colloquially as "red rattlers") were still in operation, and inner city congestion at [[Flinders Street railway station|Flinders Street]] led to peak hour delays.<ref name=":8" /> In February 1971, the Melbourne Underground Rail Loop Act was passed, establishing the [[Melbourne Underground Rail Loop Authority]] (MURLA) to build a connecting series of tunnels from the major stations along the north, south, east and west extremities of the Melbourne CBD.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/about-ptv/victorias-public-transport-network/history/city-loop-history/|title=City Loop history|website=www.ptv.vic.gov.au|language=en|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=1 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501161152/https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/about-ptv/victorias-public-transport-network/history/city-loop-history/|url-status=live}}</ref> The project ran for over 14 years, opening progressively between 1981 and 1985. The loop was designed and constructed to improve the capacity of Flinders Street and Spencer Street stations to handle suburban trains and to offer easier connections for users.<ref name=":9" />

Other major changes took place in 1976 when the government authority overseeing [[Victorian Railways]] became VicRail and was gradually restructured along corporate lines. Following the restructure, in 1980 the Victorian Transport Study, better known as the [[Lonie Report]], was delivered and called for financial rationalisation. The closure of the Port Melbourne, St. Kilda, Altona, Williamstown, Alamein and Sandringham lines was also recommended, along with their replacement with bus routes instead.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/vufind/Record/45154|title=Parliament of Victoria – Report on Vicrail financial system : ordered by the Legislative Assembly to be printed|website=www.parliament.vic.gov.au|language=en-AU|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=16 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516175135/https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/vufind/Record/45154|url-status=live}}</ref> These recommendations and cuts were not enacted, however many uneconomical branch lines were closed throughout the rest of the state.<ref name=":10" /> The line between Lilydale and Healesville was closed in 1980, now used by the [[Yarra Valley Railway]] beyond Yarra Glen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/Healesville|title=VICSIG Healesville Line|website=vicsig.net|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=29 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829114610/http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/Healesville|url-status=live}}</ref> The branch from [[Baxter railway station|Baxter]] to [[Mornington railway station|Mornington]] was closed in 1981, but the line south of [[Moorooduc railway station|Moorooduc]] is now operated by the [[Mornington Railway]] as a tourist route.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/Mornington|title=VICSIG Mornington Line|website=vicsig.net|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=29 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829114646/http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/Mornington|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Metrol]] train control centre was opened in 1980 to coordinate trains throughout the network using computer software that remains in use today.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/technology/30yearold-railway-computers-take-a-byte-out-of-the-past-20131014-2vitp.html|title=30-year-old railway computers take a byte out of the past|last=Carey|first=Adam|date=14 October 2013|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=24 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124102125/https://www.smh.com.au/technology/30yearold-railway-computers-take-a-byte-out-of-the-past-20131014-2vitp.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Public transport in Melbourne was also reorganised, with the [[Metropolitan Transit Authority (Victoria)|Metropolitan Transit Authority]] (MTA) formed in 1983 to coordinate all train, tram and bus services in the city to improve interoperability.<ref name=":10" /> With the electrification of the [[Werribee railway line|Werribee line]] in 1983, followed two years later by an extension of the Altona line to [[Laverton railway station, Melbourne|Laverton]], and the City Loop in full operation by 1985, the last major modernisation of Melbourne's train lines in the 20th century was complete.

Isolated from the City Loop, the [[Port Melbourne railway line|Port Melbourne]] and [[St Kilda railway line|St Kilda]] lines were converted to [[standard gauge]] light rail in 1987 to accommodate tram routes 111 (now [[Melbourne tram route 109|Route 109]]) and [[Melbourne tram route 96|96]].<ref name=":10" /> Route 96 remains one of the world's top 10 tram routes and Melbourne's busiest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/news/national/tram-96-travels-tracks-to-glory/2008/03/07/1204780065938.html|title=Tram 96 travels tracks to glory – National – theage.com.au|website=www.theage.com.au|date=8 March 2008|language=en|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=15 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215083921/https://www.theage.com.au/news/national/tram-96-travels-tracks-to-glory/2008/03/07/1204780065938.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pedestrian.tv/style/one-of-melbournes-busiest-trams-has-had-its-peak-hour-services-cut-jfc/|title=One of Melbourne's Busiest Trams Has Had Its Peak Hour Services Cut & JFC – Pedestrian TV|date=6 April 2017|work=Pedestrian TV|access-date=16 May 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=16 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516174537/https://www.pedestrian.tv/style/one-of-melbournes-busiest-trams-has-had-its-peak-hour-services-cut-jfc/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Southern Cross Suburban.JPG|thumb|The modern [[Southern Cross railway station|Southern Cross station]], August 2007]]
[[File:Roxburgh Park railway station, Melbourne.jpg|thumb|[[Roxburgh Park railway station|Roxburgh Park station]], opened in 2007.]]

The early 1990s saw further changes, with the MTA reborn as the [[Public Transport Corporation]], trading as "The Met".

State governments of both sides of politics began to push for reform of the railway network, proposing the conversion of the Upfield, Williamstown and Alamein lines to light rail.{{Citation needed|date=May 2018}} Those proposals were not proceeded with, and the Upfield line received a series of upgrades to replace labour-intensive manual signalling systems. [[Government of Australia|Federal government]] funding was made available for the electrification of the [[South Gippsland railway line|South Gippsland line]], which was completed in 1995.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22chamber/hansardr/1995-06-05/0087%22;src1=sm1|title=ParlInfo – GRIEVANCE DEBATE : Corinella|website=parlinfo.aph.gov.au|language=en-US|access-date=16 May 2018}}</ref> Rationalisation of the [[Jolimont Yard|Jolimont rail yard]] commenced, enabling the creation and expansion of [[Melbourne Park]] in 1988 and 1996, and the future construction of [[Federation Square]] in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fedsquare.com/about/history-design|title=History + Design – Federation Square|website=fedsquare.com|language=en-GB|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923091701/http://fedsquare.com/about/history-design|url-status=live}}</ref>

After the election of the [[Jeff Kennett|Kennett]] government in 1992, several controversial reforms to the operation of the railway system were initiated. Guards were removed from suburban trains and train drivers took over the task of door operation. Stations were de-staffed, and the [[Metcard]] ticketing system was introduced to replace the scratch-card system.<ref name=":10" /> Over that period more than $250 million in operating costs were stripped from the Melbourne network, as the government sought to reign in the state debt of $32 billion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/publications/research-papers/download/36-research-papers/13691-2011-11dbpublictransportdevelopmentauthority|title=Parliament of Victoria – Transport Legislation Amendment (Public Transport Development Authority) Bill 2011|website=www.parliament.vic.gov.au|language=en-gb|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=16 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516175120/https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/publications/research-papers/download/36-research-papers/13691-2011-11dbpublictransportdevelopmentauthority|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/two-decades-on-jeff-kennetts-legacy-lingers-20121002-26xob.html|title=Two decades on, Jeff Kennett's legacy lingers|date=2 October 2012|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=17 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517005334/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/two-decades-on-jeff-kennetts-legacy-lingers-20121002-26xob.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Privatisation===
In 1998, "The Met" was split into two operating units—Hillside Trains and Bayside Trains―each franchised to a different private operator. Ownership of land and infrastructure of rail and tram services was transferred to a new Victorian Government agency, [[VicTrack]]. In addition, a statutory office was created in Government—the [[Director of Public Transport]]—with specific responsibility for entering into franchise agreements with public transport operators to operate rail and tram services throughout Victoria. By 1999, the [[Privatization|privatisation]] process was complete, with [[Connex Melbourne]] and [[M-Train|M>Train]] operating half of the network.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ptua.org.au/campaigns/govern/priv-1999/|title=The First Train-Tram Privatisation: 1999 – Public Transport Users Association (Victoria, Australia)|website=www.ptua.org.au|language=en-AU|access-date=28 April 2018|archive-date=29 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429025234/https://www.ptua.org.au/campaigns/govern/priv-1999/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2003, the parent company of M>Train ([[National Express]]) withdrew from operating public transport in Victoria, and half of the suburban network was transferred to Connex as part of a renegotiated contract.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/12/16/1039656342711.html |title=Train, tram operator quits |work=The Age |date=17 December 2002|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=23 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823123425/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/12/16/1039656342711.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The franchising contracts contained provisions for the new operators to refurbish the Comeng trains, and to replace the older [[Hitachi (Australian train)|Hitachi]] trains. Connex purchased [[Alstom]] [[X'Trapolis 100|X'Trapolis]] sets, while M>Train chose [[Siemens Nexas]] units.<ref name="RGI 1 Apr 2002">{{cite news |title=Hillside EMU shipped to Melbourne |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/hillside-emu-shipped-to-melbourne.html |access-date=24 January 2019 |work=Railway Gazette International |date=1 April 2002 |language=en |archive-date=24 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124152252/https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/hillside-emu-shipped-to-melbourne.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 2005, the State Government commissioned a A$25 million study into the feasibility of a [[Dandenong railway line triplication|third track for the Dandenong line]] to increase capacity for the rapidly growing suburban area. The cost of the triplication process was expected to be as high as A$1 billion, as project activities would have included the organization of corresponding bus services for the rail line, changes to stations and platforms along the line, and the improvement of the signalling system.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/state-trains-running-decades-late/2005/10/23/1130006003305.html|title=State trains running decades late|author=Dan Silkstone|date=24 October 2005|newspaper=The Age|access-date=7 June 2013|archive-date=24 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024075537/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/state-trains-running-decades-late/2005/10/23/1130006003305.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This project was ultimately sidelined and not delivered by the Brumby Government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/money-doubt-on-third-rail-track-to-dandenong-20070506-ge4tpu.html|title=Money doubt on third rail track to Dandenong|last=Cauchi|first=Stephen|date=6 May 2007|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=30 August 2018|archive-date=30 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830110416/https://www.theage.com.au/national/money-doubt-on-third-rail-track-to-dandenong-20070506-ge4tpu.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2006, Professor [[Paul Mees]] and a group of academics estimated that privatisation had cost taxpayers $1.2 billion more than if the system had remained both publicly owned and operated. With the franchise extensions in 2009, taxpayers were to pay an estimated $2.1 billion more by 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/12bn-sting-in-the-rail/2006/04/08/1143916767672.html |title=The Age, 4/8/2009 |access-date=4 December 2009 |archive-date=4 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104105746/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/12bn-sting-in-the-rail/2006/04/08/1143916767672.html |url-status=live }}</ref> However, the [[Institute of Public Affairs]] released its report on Melbourne's privatisation, which assessed it as a modest success and observed that a 37.6% increase in patronage on the metropolitan rail system had reversed years of patronage decline due to poor quality services.<ref name="Allsop 2007">{{cite journal |last1=Allsop |first1=Richard |title=Victoria's public transport: assessing the results of privatisation |journal=IPA Backgrounder |date=April 2007 |volume=19 |issue=1 |url=https://ipa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/archive/ALLSOP_Transport.pdf |access-date=24 January 2019 |archive-date=20 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420174831/https://ipa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/archive/ALLSOP_Transport.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The Auditor General of Victoria also performed a comprehensive audit report into the franchises and found that "the franchises represent reasonable value for money".<ref>Franchising Melbourne's train and tram system (2005:11), The Auditor General of Victoria, {{Cite web| url=http://download.audit.vic.gov.au/files/ptfranchising_report.pdf | title=Franchising Melbourne’s train and tram system | access-date=2 January 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010154638/http://download.audit.vic.gov.au/files/ptfranchising_report.pdf | archive-date=10 October 2009}}</ref>

=== Ridership boom and Metro Trains Melbourne ===
[[File:Melbourne Metropolitan Train Patronage 1998 to 2018.png|thumb|Metropolitan train patronage 1998–2018 based on official state government figures.|385x385px]]

Beginning in the mid-2000s, a rapid increase in patronage of Melbourne's train network occurred. In the three years between the [[Financial Year|financial year]] 2005 and 2008, rail patronage grew by 35 per cent. Trips grew from 148 million in 2004 to more than 200 million in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ptua.org.au/myths/express.shtml|title=Common Urban Myths About Transport|date=2 January 2009|work=Public Transport Users Association|publisher=Public Transport Users Association Inc|access-date=7 June 2013|archive-date=6 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206110812/http://www.ptua.org.au/myths/express.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2007, [[Singapore]]'s [[SMRT Corporation|SMRT]] Transit and [[Hong Kong]]'s [[MTR Corporation Limited]] expressed interest in taking control of Melbourne's suburban rail network from Connex in November 2009, when their contract was to be reviewed.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/private-companies-could-boost-rail-tram-expansion/2007/11/25/1195975867985.html | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | title=Private companies could boost rail, tram expansion | date=26 November 2007 | access-date=16 February 2009 | archive-date=9 February 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209234454/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/private-companies-could-boost-rail-tram-expansion/2007/11/25/1195975867985.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

On 25 June 2009, Connex lost its bid to renew its contract with the Victorian Government. Hong Kong backed and owned [[MTR Corporation]] took over the Melbourne train network on 30 November 2009, operating as a locally themed consortium [[Metro Trains Melbourne]].<ref>Swinburne Institute for Social Research: [http://www.sisr.net/publications/0604transport.pdf Putting the Public Interest back into Public Transport] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091013092605/http://www.sisr.net/publications/0604transport.pdf |date=13 October 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/new-train-tram-operators-for-melbourne-20090625-cxgx.html | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | title=New train, tram operators for Melbourne | first=Mex | last=Cooper | date=25 June 2009 | access-date=27 June 2009 | archive-date=26 June 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626002646/http://www.theage.com.au/national/new-train-tram-operators-for-melbourne-20090625-cxgx.html | url-status=live }}</ref> MTR is a non-public railway owner and operator in Hong Kong where it is well known for constructing Transit Oriented Developments (TODS) above and around its stations. Metro began operation on 1 December 2009, promising to draw on its international experience to improve Melbourne's rail operations.<ref name="Age 25 Jun 2009">{{cite news |last1=Cooper |first1=Mex |title=New train, tram operators for Melbourne |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/new-train-tram-operators-for-melbourne-20090625-cxgx.html |access-date=23 January 2019 |work=The Age |date=25 June 2009 |language=en |archive-date=1 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101122206/https://www.theage.com.au/national/new-train-tram-operators-for-melbourne-20090625-cxgx.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Age 30 Nov 2009">{{cite news |last1=Lucas |first1=Clay |title=Metro plans to stand and deliver |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/metro-plans-to-stand-and-deliver-20091130-k18k.html |access-date=23 January 2019 |work=The Age |date=30 November 2009 |language=en |archive-date=23 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123171241/https://www.theage.com.au/national/metro-plans-to-stand-and-deliver-20091130-k18k.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Transport minister [[Lynne Kosky]] stated that the Government's A$10.5 billion, 10-year major transport plan, announced in May 2006, had significantly underestimated the usage rates of public transport.<ref>{{cite news|title=Gridlock choking life out of city|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/gridlock-choking-life-out-of-city/2007/05/26/1179601737298.html|access-date=7 June 2013|newspaper=The Age|date=27 May 2007|author=Jason Dowling|archive-date=24 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024124251/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/gridlock-choking-life-out-of-city/2007/05/26/1179601737298.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Original assessments had forecast increases of around 3–4%, far short of the 10% seen year-on-year. The State Government responded by purchasing new trains and introducing a new ticketing option that enabled commuters to pay a reduced fare if their journey finished by 7 am.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/off-peak-fares-to-cut-crush/news-story/f5271a08b1f22ba72526b73b830a203a|title=Off-peak fares to cut crush|date=3 September 2007|language=en|access-date=30 August 2018}}</ref>

In 2008, the Brumby Government announced a $14.1 billion [[Victorian Transport Plan]] to augment Melbourne's rail network. The plan included:

* The [[Metro Tunnel]], costing more than $4.5 billion, consists of an underground train network —the first new underground rail line since the construction of the [[City Loop]] 25 years earlier— from Dynon to South Yarra. Aimed at "relieving overcrowding on the busy suburban lines from Melbourne’s west," the underground line was also designed to provide direct rail access to Melbourne University, the Women's Hospital and the Royal Children's Hospital.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/airport-link-15-years-off-in-30b-public-transport-plan-20130327-2guqi.html|title=Airport link 15 years off in $30b public transport plan|author=Richard Willingham|date=28 March 2013|newspaper=The Age|access-date=7 June 2013|archive-date=4 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504075520/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/airport-link-15-years-off-in-30b-public-transport-plan-20130327-2guqi.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/under-city-rail-plan-to-cut-melbourne-congestion/story-e6frf7jo-1225770794938|title=Under-city rail plan to cut Melbourne congestion|author=Stephen McMahon|date=9 September 2009|newspaper=The Herald Sun|access-date=7 June 2013|archive-date=22 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091022161602/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/under-city-rail-plan-to-cut-melbourne-congestion/story-e6frf7jo-1225770794938|url-status=live}}</ref> 
* Rolling stock, $2.65 billion for up to 70 new trains, including 32 [[High Capacity Metro Trains]].
* Rail extensions to Cranbourne East and Mernda, and electrification to Melton.
* Improvements to train operations, for $200 million.
* Upgrades to metro stations, costing $50 million, and new stations in growth areas for $220 million.
* A Park & Ride expansion package costing $60 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/minister-for-public-transport/$14.1-billion-investment-to-move-melbourne-to-a-modern-metro-network.html|title=$14.1 BILLION INVESTMENT TO MOVE MELBOURNE TO A MODERN METRO NETWORK - Premier of Victoria, Australia|website=www.premier.vic.gov.au}}</ref>
*The previously reduced Early Bird ticket was also made free as part of these changes, following a trial on the Frankston and Sydenham lines.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/news/national/free-travel-for-earlybirds/2008/03/07/1204780012433.html|title=Early risers travel free on Melbourne's trains – National – theage.com.au|website=www.theage.com.au|date=7 March 2008|language=en|access-date=12 May 2018|archive-date=12 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512113108/https://www.theage.com.au/news/national/free-travel-for-earlybirds/2008/03/07/1204780012433.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the investment announcement, the plan for the introduction of more than 200 new weekly train services was released to tackle overcrowding on the city's busiest train lines, a problem that had been attributed to a lack of trains and falling reliability.<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/train-jam-relief-plan/2008/04/09/1207420443573.html More trains in railway overhaul] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412221333/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/train-jam-relief-plan/2008/04/09/1207420443573.html |date=12 April 2008 }}, [[The Age]], 9 April 2008</ref>

On 1 May 2009, the State Government announced that they had committed $562.3 million in the 2009 State Budget for the extension of the [[Mernda railway line|Epping line]] 3.5 kilometres north to South Morang. Construction started in 2010 and was completed in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/vic-govt-commits-562m-to-rail-extension-20090501-apt1.html|title=Vic govt commits $562m to rail extension|date=1 May 2009|work=The Age|access-date=1 May 2009|archive-date=1 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501235037/http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/vic-govt-commits-562m-to-rail-extension-20090501-apt1.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Network development and level-crossing removals ===
In May 2011, operations commenced on a new metropolitan timetable, rewritten for the first time since 1996 with over 600 additional weekday services added.<ref name="Age 19 Jan 2011">{{cite news |last1=Lucas |first1=Clay |last2=Millar |first2=Royce |title='Confusing' timetable will cut services to west |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/confusing-timetable-will-cut-services-to-west-20110119-19woz.html |access-date=24 January 2019 |work=The Age |date=19 January 2011 |language=en |archive-date=24 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124152327/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/confusing-timetable-will-cut-services-to-west-20110119-19woz.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ABC 9 May 2011">{{cite news |title=Train timetable changes 'biggest in a decade' |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-05-09/train-timetable-changes-biggest-in-a-decade/2705216 |access-date=24 January 2019 |work=ABC News |date=9 May 2011 |language=en-AU |archive-date=30 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030161429/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-05-09/train-timetable-changes-biggest-in-a-decade/2705216 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2012, a Public Transport Development Authority trading as [[Public Transport Victoria]] (PTV) was established to coordinate, plan and regulate the state's public transport services, including the metropolitan rail system.<ref name="Age 29 Nov 2012">{{cite news |last1=Carey |first1=Adam |title=Government public transport group is secretive and compromised, says lobby president |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/government-public-transport-group-is-secretive-and-compromised-says-lobby-president-20121129-2ahdr.html |access-date=24 January 2019 |work=The Age |date=29 November 2012 |language=en |archive-date=24 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124152354/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/government-public-transport-group-is-secretive-and-compromised-says-lobby-president-20121129-2ahdr.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In the same year, the [[Metcard]] ticketing system was discontinued, completing the controversial network-wide roll-out of the new [[Myki|Myki smart card]] system.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/the-end-is-nigh-for-metcard-20120119-1q8f4.html|title=The end is nigh for Metcard|last=Lucas|first=Clay|date=19 January 2012|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=25 April 2019|archive-date=25 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425045841/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/the-end-is-nigh-for-metcard-20120119-1q8f4.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 27 March 2013, Public Transport Victoria published its [[Network Development Plan – Metropolitan Rail]], detailing a 4-stage plan spread over 20 years to redevelop Melbourne's rail system into a "metro-style" network, by separating train lines and creating point-to-point lines, upgrading to high-capacity signalling and ordering new trains.<ref name="Age 26 Mar 2013">{{cite news |last1=Gough |first1=Deborah |title=Major rail projects expected in 20 years |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/major-rail-projects-expected-in-20-years-20130327-2gt8r.html |access-date=23 January 2019 |work=The Age |date=26 March 2013 |language=en |archive-date=21 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321014244/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/major-rail-projects-expected-in-20-years-20130327-2gt8r.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Noble Park railway station Platform 2 (south-east view)(7 October 2024).jpg|alt=Noble Park station south-west bound view from Platform 2, 2024|thumb|The elevated [[Noble Park railway station]] was rebuilt in 2018 along with four other stations on the [[Gippsland railway line|Gippsland]] and [[South Gippsland railway line|South Gippsland]] lines as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project, which eliminated nine-level crossings on the corridor using elevated rail.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/first-trains-run-on-melbourne-s-sky-rail-20180211-p4yzyn.html|title=First trains run on Melbourne's sky rail|last=Carey|first=Adam|date=11 February 2018|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=25 April 2019|archive-date=25 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425045839/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/first-trains-run-on-melbourne-s-sky-rail-20180211-p4yzyn.html|url-status=live}}</ref>]]

A key campaign promise of the [[First Andrews Ministry|Andrews government]] before [[2014 Victorian state election|its election in 2014]] was to remove 50 [[level crossing]]s in eight years, the most intensive such program in Melbourne's history.<ref name="Woodcock and Stone 2016 p13">{{cite book |last1=Woodcock |first1=Ian |last2=Stone |first2=John |title=The benefits of level crossing removals: lessons from Melbourne's historical experience |date=2016 |isbn=9780734052049 |page=13 |publisher=University of Melbourne |url=http://mams.rmit.edu.au/51zakugpfi4ez.pdf |access-date=24 January 2019 |archive-date=23 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323030601/http://mams.rmit.edu.au/51zakugpfi4ez.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Because of Melbourne's generally level topography, the suburban rail network was constructed with a large number of level crossings. By 2014, over 170 remained, due to a lack of funding for grade separations after 1918.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Woodcock|first1=Ian|last2=Stone|first2=John|date=2016|title=The Benefits of Level Crossing Removal: lessons from Melbourne's historical experience|url=https://researchbank.rmit.edu.au/view/rmit:43926|journal=University of Melbourne/RMIT University|pages=13|via=RMIT Researchgate|access-date=5 July 2019|archive-date=5 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705062819/https://researchbank.rmit.edu.au/view/rmit:43926|url-status=live}}</ref> The Government's [[Level Crossing Removal Project]] became a resounding political success, despite concerns it was creating poor value-for-money infrastructure and controversy about the selection of elevated rail as a method for removing some crossings.<ref name="ABC 14 Dec 2017">{{cite news |last1=Willingham |first1=state political reporter Richard |title=Dangerous level crossings being missed in Victoria, watchdog says |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-14/level-crossings-selected-for-removal-in-victoria-questioned/9258178 |access-date=24 January 2019 |work=ABC News |date=14 December 2017 |language=en-AU |archive-date=30 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330133802/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-14/level-crossings-selected-for-removal-in-victoria-questioned/9258178 |url-status=live }}</ref>

By 2018, 29 level crossings had been fully grade-separated, well ahead of the government's original schedule, and a further 25 crossings were added to the program to be completed by 2025.<ref name="Age 21 October 2018">{{cite news |last1=Butt |first1=Craig |last2=Towell |first2=Noel |title=Another 25 rail level crossings to go under Labor pledge |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/25-more-rail-level-crossings-to-go-under-labor-pledge-20181021-p50b07.html |access-date=24 January 2019 |work=The Age |date=21 October 2018 |language=en |archive-date=22 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022153453/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/25-more-rail-level-crossings-to-go-under-labor-pledge-20181021-p50b07.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The project includes rebuilding or upgrading 27 train stations, such as [[Bentleigh railway station|Bentleigh]] and [[Clayton railway station, Melbourne|Clayton]] railway stations, or laying new tracks, such as the duplication of {{Convert|1.2|km|abbr=on}} of single-track railway between [[Heidelberg railway station|Heidelberg]] and the rebuilt [[Rosanna railway station|Rosanna]] stations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/about|title=About {{!}} Level Crossing Removal Project|website=levelcrossings.vic.gov.au|language=en|access-date=24 April 2019|archive-date=28 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428182013/https://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/about|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/projects/hurstbridge-rail-line-upgrade|title=Hurstbridge rail line upgrade {{!}} Level Crossing Removal Project|website=levelcrossings.vic.gov.au|language=en|access-date=24 April 2019|archive-date=24 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224211803/https://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/projects/hurstbridge-rail-line-upgrade|url-status=live}}</ref> Large sections of elevated rail have been built on the [[Gippsland railway line|Gippsland line]], and further sections are planned for the [[Mernda railway line|Mernda]] and [[Upfield railway line|Upfield]] lines, including a {{Convert|4|km|4=2|abbr=on}} section on the Mernda line in [[Preston, Victoria|Preston]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-21/new-melbourne-level-crossing-removals-to-include-sky-rail/10401896|title=Andrews pledges 25 new level crossing removals in Melbourne|last=Longbottom|first=Jessica|date=21 October 2018|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=25 April 2019|archive-date=31 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031035950/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-21/new-melbourne-level-crossing-removals-to-include-sky-rail/10401896|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Playground under elevated rail at Mernda, Melbourne August 2018.jpg|alt=Elevated rail at Mernda|thumb|323x323px|New elevated rail lines at [[Mernda]] in Melbourne's north, part of an {{Convert|8|km|abbr=on}} rail extension that opened in August 2018.]]

In mid-2015, the [[Regional Rail Link]] project was completed. It created a new [[Deer Park–West Werribee railway line]] in the city's west, with stations at [[Wyndham Vale railway station|Wyndham Vale]] and [[Tarneit railway station|Tarneit]], as well as adding a pair of non-electrified tracks between [[Sunshine railway station, Melbourne|Sunshine]] and Southern Cross for regional trains. Although the project was intended to provide routes for regional trains to Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo segregated from electrified Metro services, rapid population growth in areas served by the new line meant that V/Line trains had to perform the role of an outer suburban service, causing significant delays and overcrowding.<ref name="Age 10 May 2018">{{cite news |last1=Jacks |first1=Timna |title=Regional Rail Link 'fails' to deliver on extra train services, watchdog says |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/regional-rail-link-fails-to-deliver-all-extra-train-services-promised-watchdog-says-20180510-p4zehc.html |access-date=23 January 2019 |work=The Age |date=10 May 2018 |language=en |archive-date=23 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123171306/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/regional-rail-link-fails-to-deliver-all-extra-train-services-promised-watchdog-says-20180510-p4zehc.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

A redesigned network map was released by PTV at the end of 2016, which replaced an emphasis on fare zones with a delineation of individual lines and service patterns. The new map also incorporated regional services and was designed to be accessible to passengers with the most common types of [[color blindness|colour blindness]].<ref name="Age 28 Dec 2016">{{cite news |last1=Dow |first1=Aisha |title=Rainbow revamp for Melbourne's train network map |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/rainbow-revamp-for-melbournes-train-network-map-20161228-gtizab.html |access-date=23 January 2019 |work=The Age |date=28 December 2016 |language=en |archive-date=23 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123171316/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/rainbow-revamp-for-melbournes-train-network-map-20161228-gtizab.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Metro's contract to operate the suburban network was renewed in 2017 for a further seven years. The renegotiated contracts included higher monthly performance targets, which Metro failed to meet six times in the first year of the contract's operation.<ref name="ABC 12 Sep 2017">{{cite news |last1=Willingham |first1=Richard |title=Metro Trains and Yarra Trams win new $7b contracts with tougher targets |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-12/metro-contract-extended-for-melbournes-train-network/8895462 |access-date=23 January 2019 |work=ABC News |date=12 September 2017 |language=en-AU |archive-date=11 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911170457/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-12/metro-contract-extended-for-melbournes-train-network/8895462 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Age 3 Jan 2019">{{cite news |last1=Jacks |first1=Timna |title=Metro Trains, Yarra Trams awarded millions in bonuses despite late services |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/metro-trains-yarra-trams-awarded-millions-in-bonuses-despite-late-services-20190103-p50pd7.html |access-date=23 January 2019 |work=The Age |date=3 January 2019 |language=en |archive-date=23 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123171301/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/metro-trains-yarra-trams-awarded-millions-in-bonuses-despite-late-services-20190103-p50pd7.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Construction of an extension of the South Morang line to [[Mernda]] commenced in 2016 and was opened on 29 August 2018. The project included {{Convert|8|km|4=2|abbr=on}} of new electrified railway, new stations at [[Middle Gorge railway station|Middle Gorge]] and [[Hawkstowe railway station|Hawkstowe]], and a new terminus at a rebuilt [[Mernda railway station|Mernda station]].<ref name="Age 1 Apr 2018">{{cite news |last1=Boseley |first1=Matilda |title=Mernda train line ahead of schedule |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/mernda-train-line-ahead-of-schedule-20180401-p4z7by.html |access-date=23 January 2019 |work=The Age |date=1 April 2018 |language=en |archive-date=20 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920173024/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/mernda-train-line-ahead-of-schedule-20180401-p4z7by.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Age 19 Aug 2018">{{cite news |last1=Webb |first1=Carolyn |title=We did it! Locals board first trains to Mernda in 59 years |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/we-did-it-locals-board-first-trains-to-mernda-in-59-years-20180819-p4zyfb.html |access-date=23 January 2019 |work=The Age |date=19 August 2018 |language=en |archive-date=23 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123171314/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/we-did-it-locals-board-first-trains-to-mernda-in-59-years-20180819-p4zyfb.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2019, the Victorian Government announced that Public Transport Victoria would be merged with [[VicRoads]] into a new Victorian [[Department of Transport (Victoria, 2019–)|Department of Transport]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/big-merger-vicroads-and-ptv-to-become-one-mega-agency-20190404-p51arj.html|title=Big merger: VicRoads and PTV to become one mega-agency|last=Carey|first=Adam|date=4 April 2019|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=25 April 2019|archive-date=6 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406061828/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/big-merger-vicroads-and-ptv-to-become-one-mega-agency-20190404-p51arj.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Future ==
A number of major expansion projects are under construction or planned for the network. In addition, a number of major upgrades are proposed, including the extension of the [[Level Crossing Removal Project]], which will remove 110 level crossings and rebuild 51 stations across the suburban rail network.
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="7" |Major expansions and upgrades
|-
!Project
!Stage
!Start date
!Completion date
!Length
!Stations
!Description
|-
|[[Metro Tunnel]]
|
|2016
|2025
|9&nbsp;km
|5
|New CBD tunnel
|-
|[[Melbourne Airport rail link|Melbourne Airport Rail]]
|
|2022
|2032

|20&nbsp;km
|2
|Metro line branch to Melbourne Airport
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Suburban Rail Loop]] (SRL)
|1: SRL East
|2022
|2035
|28&nbsp;km
|6
|Orbital metro line, Cheltenham to Box Hill
|-
|2: SRL North
|TBD
|2043–50
|32&nbsp;km
|7
|Box Hill to Melbourne Airport
|-
|3: SRL West
|TBD
|TBD
|TBD
|TBD
|Sunshine to Werribee
|-
|[[Level Crossing Removal Project]]
|
|2016
|2030
|N/A
|51 station rebuilds
|110 road-rail level crossing removals
|-
! colspan="7" |Short extensions and infill stations
|-
|[[East Pakenham railway station|Pakenham East]] extension
|
|2021
|2024
|2&nbsp;km
|1
|New station at Pakenham East<ref>{{Cite web |last=Build |first=Victoria’s Big |date=18 February 2021 |title=New Pakenham East station location announced and 3 more sets of boom gates to go |url=https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/news/level-crossing-removal-project/new-pakenham-east-station-location-announced-and-3-more-sets-of-boom-gates-to-go |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=Victoria’s Big Build |language=en |archive-date=9 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209101005/https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/news/level-crossing-removal-project/new-pakenham-east-station-location-announced-and-3-more-sets-of-boom-gates-to-go |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|New [[Deer Park–West Werribee railway line|Deer Park-West]] 
[[Deer Park–West Werribee railway line|Werribee line]] infill stations
|
|TBD
|TBD
|N/A
|2
|Infill stations at [[Tarneit West railway station|Tarneit West]] and [[Truganina railway station|Truganina]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Delivering New Stations For The West {{!}} Premier of Victoria |url=http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/delivering-new-stations-west |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=www.premier.vic.gov.au |language=en |archive-date=24 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524014311/https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/delivering-new-stations-west |url-status=live }}</ref>
|}

=== Metro Tunnel ===
{{main|Metro Tunnel}}

[[File:Melbourne Metro Rail Tunnel route map blue.svg|thumb|300x300px|Map of the under-construction [[Metro Tunnel]], a 9km tunnel through Melbourne's CBD that is planned to increase capacity at the core of the rail network.]]

In February 2015, the State Government established the [[Melbourne Metro Rail Authority]] to oversee planning for new twin nine-kilometre rail tunnels through the central city, between [[South Kensington railway station|South Kensington station]] and [[South Yarra]]. The Metro Tunnel will have five new underground stations and connect the [[Gippsland railway line|Gippsland line]] with the [[Sunbury railway line|Sunbury]] line, creating a new route through the CBD as an alternative to the [[City Loop]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://metrotunnel.vic.gov.au/about-the-project/faq|title=Frequently asked questions|website=metrotunnel.vic.gov.au|language=en|access-date=11 November 2018|archive-date=4 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904034856/https://metrotunnel.vic.gov.au/about-the-project/faq|url-status=live}}</ref> New underground stations will be built at [[Arden railway station, Melbourne|Arden]], [[Parkville railway station|Parkville]], [[Anzac railway station|Domain]] and there will be two new CBD stations, [[State Library railway station|State Library]] and [[Town Hall railway station, Melbourne|Town Hall]]. Enabling works were underway by 2016 and major construction work on the tunnel and stations began in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/cbd-roads-to-be-closed-for-years-as-melbourne-metro-tunnel-construction-begins-20170116-gts2cp.html|title=CBD roads to be closed for years as Melbourne Metro Tunnel construction begins|last=Lucas|first=Aisha Dow, Clay|date=16 January 2017|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=11 November 2018|archive-date=19 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619035724/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/cbd-roads-to-be-closed-for-years-as-melbourne-metro-tunnel-construction-begins-20170116-gts2cp.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The project has an estimated cost of $11 billion and is scheduled to be complete by 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/melbourne-metro-a-year-ahead-of-schedule-premier-says-20180221-p4z12d.html|title=Melbourne Metro a year ahead of schedule, Premier says|last=Jacks|first=Timna|date=20 February 2018|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=11 November 2018|archive-date=8 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108015347/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/melbourne-metro-a-year-ahead-of-schedule-premier-says-20180221-p4z12d.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2016, the State Government ordered 65 new [[High Capacity Metro Trains]] for delivery from mid-2019, which will eventually become the primary rolling stock used in the Metro Tunnel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/new-2-billion-train-deal-to-create-1000-local-jobs-20160912-gre0wj.html|title=New $2 billion train deal to create 1000 local jobs|last=Willingham|first=Richard|date=12 September 2016|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=25 April 2019|archive-date=25 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425045843/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/new-2-billion-train-deal-to-create-1000-local-jobs-20160912-gre0wj.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April, June and July 2019, a number of rail lines in Melbourne's east were shut down for several weeks to allow construction of the tunnel entrances near Kensington and South Yarra.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/commuters-warned-of-may-misery-with-replacement-buses-ready-to-roll-20190430-p51iie.html|title=Commuters warned of May misery with replacement buses ready to roll|last=Towell|first=Noel|date=30 April 2019|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=15 July 2019|archive-date=15 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715101316/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/commuters-warned-of-may-misery-with-replacement-buses-ready-to-roll-20190430-p51iie.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/more-transport-misery-to-hit-melbourne-commuters-in-july-and-august-20190705-p524fo.html|title=More transport misery to hit Melbourne commuters in July and August|last=Towell|first=Noel|date=5 July 2019|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=15 July 2019|archive-date=15 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715101315/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/more-transport-misery-to-hit-melbourne-commuters-in-july-and-august-20190705-p524fo.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The first tunnel boring machine began to be assembled in North Melbourne in June 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/massive-metro-tunnel-boring-machines-coming-together/|title=Massive Metro Tunnel Boring Machines Coming Together|date=5 June 2019|website=Premier of Victoria|language=en-US|access-date=15 July 2019|archive-date=7 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607013738/https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/massive-metro-tunnel-boring-machines-coming-together/|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2021, TBM Meg broke through at the future site of Town Hall station, marking the completion of tunnelling for the project. TBM Millie, Alice and Joan completed tunnelling over the previous month. The tunnelling phase lasted 20 months.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Major tunnelling works complete as all four TBMs reach final stop|url=https://metrotunnel.vic.gov.au/about-the-project/news/major-tunnelling-works-complete|access-date=17 July 2021|website=metrotunnel.vic.gov.au|language=en|archive-date=4 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604042641/https://metrotunnel.vic.gov.au/about-the-project/news/major-tunnelling-works-complete|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Airport rail link ===
{{main|Melbourne Airport rail link}}
[[File:Melbourne Airport Rail link map.png|alt=Map of Melbourne Airport Rail, an under construction rail link to Melbourne Airport.|thumb|Map of the proposed Melbourne Airport Rail Link]]

A rail link to [[Melbourne Airport]] has been proposed repeatedly since the airport's construction, with a variety of routes and service models suggested, but construction has never commenced. In July 2018, the Federal and State Governments each pledged A$5 billion (for a total of A$10 billion) to construct a rail link. The Federal Government proposed four possible routes for the link, with one proposal running via a direct tunnel to [[Highpoint Shopping Centre]] and the others linking to existing stations in Broadmeadows, Flemington or Sunshine.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-11/melbourne-airport-rail-link-gets-$5bn-from-federal-government/9643054|title=Turnbull announces $5b funding for Melbourne Airport–CBD rail link|date=11 April 2018|work=ABC News|access-date=30 August 2018|language=en-AU|archive-date=12 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412064936/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-11/melbourne-airport-rail-link-gets-$5bn-from-federal-government/9643054|url-status=live}}</ref>

An assessment of the four routes conducted by [[Rail Projects Victoria]] culminated in the route via Sunshine station being selected.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-22/melbourne-airport-rail-construction-set-to-start-by-2022/10022642|title=Melbourne Airport rail construction set to start by 2022|date=22 July 2018|work=ABC News|access-date=30 August 2018|language=en-AU|archive-date=29 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829144319/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-22/melbourne-airport-rail-construction-set-to-start-by-2022/10022642|url-status=live}}</ref> The line with run through the Metro Tunnel and will include a new intermediate station at [[Keilor East railway station|Keilor East]] to serve Melbourne's north-west. Construction began in 2022, however by May 2023 the project was indefinitely paused, placing the expected completion by 2029 into doubt.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SRL Airport Takes Flight As Works Begin {{!}} Premier of Victoria |url=http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/srl-airport-takes-flight-works-begin |access-date=31 October 2022 |website=www.premier.vic.gov.au |language=en |archive-date=31 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031021224/https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/srl-airport-takes-flight-works-begin |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ilanbey |first=Sumeyya |date=17 May 2023|title=Melbourne Airport Rail workers redeployed as project officially paused |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/melbourne-airport-rail-workers-redeployed-as-project-officially-paused-20230517-p5d93a.html |access-date=28 May 2023|website=The Age |language=en}}</ref>

=== Suburban Rail Loop ===
{{main|Suburban Rail Loop}}

In August 2018, in the run-up to the [[2018 Victorian state election]], the State Government pledged $300 million to complete a business case and secure funding to construct a new railway through suburban Melbourne.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/28/massive-melbourne-suburban-train-loop-pledged-by-victorian-government|title=Massive Melbourne suburban train loop pledged by Victorian government|last=Henriques-Gomes|first=Luke|date=28 August 2018|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=30 August 2018|archive-date=21 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921060336/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/28/massive-melbourne-suburban-train-loop-pledged-by-victorian-government|url-status=live}}</ref> The project is designed to link major activity centres and amenities such as hospitals, shopping centres, universities, and Melbourne Airport. The proposal would connect most existing railway lines through middle suburbs and enable easier intra-suburban travel.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-28/melbourne-suburban-train-loop-promised-by-labor/10172184|title=Melbourne's $50b rail loop the 'biggest public transport project in history'|date=28 August 2018|work=ABC News|access-date=30 August 2018|language=en-AU|archive-date=1 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001022445/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-28/melbourne-suburban-train-loop-promised-by-labor/10172184|url-status=live}}</ref>[[File:Melbourne rail map with former lines and planned extensions.svg|thumb|300x300px|Diagram showing Melbourne's passenger rail network, including former and planned lines.]]The Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) would connect the existing station at [[Cheltenham railway station, Melbourne|Cheltenham]] with other existing stations at [[Clayton railway station, Melbourne|Clayton]], [[Glen Waverley railway station|Glen Waverley]], Box Hill, Heidelberg, [[Reservoir railway station|Reservoir]], Fawkner, Broadmeadows, Sunshine and Werribee. It will also link to new stations to be built in areas that have long been promised rail connections, including [[Monash University, Clayton campus|Monash University]], Burwood, Doncaster, Bundoora and Melbourne Airport. The first stage, SRL East, from Cheltenham to Box Hill is under construction and will open by 2035, with other sections progressively opening until the full line is operational by 2050.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/melbourne-suburban-rail-loop-what-readers-think-20180828-p5006z.html|title=Melbourne suburban rail loop: What readers think|last=Koob|first=Simone Fox|date=28 August 2018|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=30 August 2018|archive-date=6 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906053756/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/melbourne-suburban-rail-loop-what-readers-think-20180828-p5006z.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-29/victorian-rail-suburban-loop-plan-divides-experts/10179340|title='A mega project on steroids': Experts divided on Melbourne rail loop plan|date=29 August 2018|work=ABC News|access-date=30 August 2018|language=en-AU|archive-date=30 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830000523/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-29/victorian-rail-suburban-loop-plan-divides-experts/10179340|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Other planned extensions ===
{{Main|Proposed Melbourne rail extensions}}
The State Government is currently preparing a business case for electrification and extension of the [[Frankston railway line|Frankston line]] to [[Baxter railway station|Baxter]] in Melbourne's South.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://transport.vic.gov.au:443/getting-around/public-transport/baxter-electrification-business-case|title=Baxter electrification business case|last=Department of Economic Development|first=Jobs|website=transport.vic.gov.au|language=en-au|access-date=5 January 2019|archive-date=29 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929015233/https://transport.vic.gov.au/getting-around/public-transport/baxter-electrification-business-case|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Federal Government committed $225 million towards the project in its 2017–2018 budget.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/guy-turnbull-all-aboard-the-450-million-baxter-rail-link-20180716-p4zrsw.html|title=Guy, Turnbull all aboard the $450 million Baxter rail link|last=Towell|first=Noel|date=16 July 2018|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=5 January 2019|archive-date=6 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206104513/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/guy-turnbull-all-aboard-the-450-million-baxter-rail-link-20180716-p4zrsw.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the 2018 Victorian state election, the State Government also announced its [[Western Rail Plan]], which would quadruplicate and electrify the rail lines to [[Melton railway station, Melbourne|Melton]] and [[Wyndham Vale railway station|Wyndham Vale]], allowing Metro services.<ref name="Build">{{Cite web|url=https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/western-rail-plan|title=Western Rail Plan|last=Build|first=Victoria's Big|date=1 November 2018|website=bigbuild.vic.gov.au|language=en|access-date=5 January 2019|archive-date=2 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302215402/https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/western-rail-plan|url-status=live}}</ref> Under this plan, Metro and [[V/Line|V/Line regional services]] would be separated, allowing for higher speed trains to be introduced to [[Geelong V/Line rail service|Geelong]] and [[Ballarat V/Line rail service|Ballarat]]. A new connection between Sunshine and Southern Cross Station to be built as part of the Airport rail link could add extra capacity for regional and metro lines.<ref name="Build"/> According to the Government, these lines could be fully electrified to Geelong and Ballarat and run at speeds of up to {{Convert|250|km/h|4=0|abbr=on}}, significantly above the {{Convert|160|km/h|abbr=on}} limit of current [[V/Line VLocity|V/Line VLocity trains]].<ref name="Jacks">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/geelong-to-melbourne-in-45-minutes-under-labor-s-regional-rail-plan-20181016-p509uu.html|title=Geelong to Melbourne in 45 minutes under Labor's regional rail plan|last=Jacks|first=Timna|date=15 October 2018|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=5 January 2019|archive-date=9 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509235425/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/geelong-to-melbourne-in-45-minutes-under-labor-s-regional-rail-plan-20181016-p509uu.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Planning for the fast rail and electrification of the lines to Melton and Wyndham Vale will occur alongside planning for the Airport rail link, with construction set to start by 2022.<ref name="Jacks"/>

=== Level crossing removals ===
[[File:Burke Road Pilling Works, 2015 (02).jpg|thumb|The first level crossing removal under the project taking place at [[Gardiner railway station|Gardiner]], August 2015]]

{{Main|Level Crossing Removal Project}}
In 2015, the [[Andrews Government]] had announced a rail project that would oversee the removal of the remaining level crossings in metropolitan Melbourne. The key benefits of the project include:

* Improving safety
* Reducing congestion
* Improving reliability
* Increased service capacity

In 2016, the first level crossing removal was done on Burke Road, Glen Iris which resulted in a rebuild Gardiner station. Since then a total of 67 level crossings were removed through various methods.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |date=21 June 2022 |title=Project overview |url=https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/level-crossing-removal-project/about/project-overview |access-date=29 March 2023 |website=Victoria’s Big Build |language=en |archive-date=29 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329032424/https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/level-crossing-removal-project/about/project-overview |url-status=live }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Level crossing removals by year<ref name=":12" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 August 2024 |title=Level Crossing Removal Project |url=https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/level-crossing-removal-project |archive-date= |access-date=21 August 2024 |website=Victoria’s Big Build |language=en}}</ref>
!Year
!Crossings removed
!Stations rebuilt
!New stations
|-
!2016
|8 
|7
|
|-
!2017
|3
|1
|1
|-
!2018
|18
|7
|3
|-
!2019
|2
|1
| rowspan="4" |
|-
!2020
|12
|5
|-
!2021
|13
|6
|-
!2022
|11
|5
|-
!2023
|7
|4
|1
|-
!2024
|10
|6
|1
|-
!Total
|'''84'''
|'''42'''
|'''6'''
|}

== Infrastructure ==

=== Railway ===
{{Table alignment}}
{| class="wikitable defaultright col1left" style="float: right; clear: right; width: 400px"
! colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | Route length of Melbourne rail network within the metropolitan area in km (2019)<ref name="NetworkLength2019" />{{Note|BITRE's 2021 Yearbook uses 2019 BITRE data.}}
|-
| Passenger only
| 220
|-
| Freight only
| 28
|-
| Shared passenger and freight
| 181
|-
|
|
|-
| Electrified
| 370
|-
| Not electrified
| 59
|-
| style="font-weight:bold;" | Total
| 429
|}
The rail network within the Melbourne metropolitan area includes dedicated passenger lines, dedicated freight lines, and lines shared by the two types of traffic. Nearly all passenger traffic and some intrastate freight operates on {{track gauge|victorian|allk=on}}, while all interstate freight traffic operates on {{track gauge|sg|allk=on}}.

Most suburban passenger lines operated by the metropolitan rail franchisee, currently [[Metro Trains Melbourne]], are [[Electrification (rail)|electrified]] with 1500 [[volt|V]] [[direct current|DC]] [[overhead catenary]]. Many of the suburban lines share tracks with regional passenger trains operated by [[V/Line]], and some V/Line services provide "peri-urban" service to areas of Melbourne not reached by the electrified network.<ref name="VAGO 2017">{{cite book |title=V/Line Passenger Services |date=August 2017 |publisher=Victorian Auditor-General's Office |location=Melbourne |page=37 |url=https://www.audit.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2017-08/20170809-VLine-Passenger-Services.pdf |access-date=23 April 2019 |archive-date=16 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190316171112/https://www.audit.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2017-08/20170809-VLine-Passenger-Services.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Metro also operates an isolated section of unelectrified passenger line between [[Frankston railway station|Frankston]] and [[Stony Point railway station|Stony Point]].<ref>{{cite report |title=Understanding Australia's urban railways |date=July 2012 |location=Canberra |publisher=Australian Government: Department of Infrastructure and Transport |isbn=978-1-921769-75-7 |issn=1440-9569 |url=https://www.bitre.gov.au/sites/default/files/report_131.pdf |access-date=19 June 2023 |page=36 |ref={{sfnref|BITRE|2012}} }}</ref>

The network is centred on Flinders Street and Southern Cross stations in the CBD, which are joined directly by a six-track viaduct and indirectly by the underground four-track [[City Loop]]. From this central core, nearly all tracks pass through the three major junction stations of [[North Melbourne railway station|North Melbourne]], [[Jolimont railway station|Jolimont]], and [[Richmond railway station, Melbourne|Richmond]]; and from there extend outwards to the west, north-east and east of the city respectively. There are few connections between the radial lines outside of the central city.{{sfn|BITRE|2012|p=35}} Capital investment in the network since 1990 has focused on relieving "bottlenecks" near the central core caused by the large number of lines converging, most significantly with the [[Regional Rail Link]] project which provided additional capacity between [[Sunshine railway station, Melbourne|Sunshine]] and the city.{{sfn|BITRE|2012|pp=36–37}}

[[File:Melbourne-signalling-stanchions.jpg|thumb|Quadruple track near [[Caulfield railway station|Caulfield station]], showing [[railway signalling|signalling]] and [[overhead lines#Overhead catenary|overhead wiring]], January 2007]]

Much of the metropolitan network is [[Double-track railway|double track]] or multiple pairs of tracks. There are small sections of [[Triple-track railway|triple track]], which are used to allow express trains to overtake stopping trains in peak hour. Nearly the entirety of the [[Altona railway line, Melbourne|Altona]] and Stony Point branches are single track, and many of the outer suburban passenger lines also have sections of single track, usually where demand for frequent services is low.{{sfn|BITRE|2012|p=36}}

The metropolitan network has a large number of [[level crossings]]. Many have been gradually removed by [[grade separation|grade separating]] road and rail traffic: by 2016, some 228 grade separations had been undertaken in the Melbourne area, leaving 170 level crossings, although very few projects of this nature had been undertaken in the latter half of the 20th century. The [[Level Crossing Removal Project]], which began in 2014, aimed to increase the rate of level crossing removals to over 6 each year for at least 8 years, and the project was later extended for a further four years.<ref name="Woodcock and Stone 2016">{{cite book |last1=Woodcock |first1=Ian |last2=Stone |first2=John |title=The benefits of level crossing removals: lessons from Melbourne's historical experience |date=2016 |page=13 |url=http://mams.rmit.edu.au/51zakugpfi4ez.pdf |access-date=23 April 2019 |archive-date=20 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420005805/http://mams.rmit.edu.au/51zakugpfi4ez.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Stations ===
{{main|List of Metro Trains Melbourne railway stations}}
There are 218 stations in Melbourne, operated by [[Metro Trains Melbourne]].

==== Host stations and premium stations ====
Host stations and premium stations are categories of railway stations on the suburban rail network. A premium station is staffed from first train to last, seven days a week, while a host station is staffed only during the morning peak.<ref>{{cite web |title=Melbourne Train Network |url=https://www.metrotrains.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/PTV_M_Train_Network-Map_A4P_JAN_2016_HR.pdf |publisher=Public Transport Victoria |access-date=1 December 2019 |archive-date=29 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160229071120/http://www.metrotrains.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/PTV_M_Train_Network-Map_A4P_JAN_2016_HR.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Of the 221 (current as of February 2024) stations on [[Melbourne]]'s railway network, there are 82 premium stations, in addition to the five [[City Loop]] stations.

Although plans for the premium station program were unveiled in 1991 (under the guise of "Safe Stations"),<ref name="newsrailnov91">{{cite magazine |date=November 1991 |title=General News |magazine=Newsrail |publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society |page=364}}</ref> the program was commenced in 1994 by the [[Public Transport Corporation]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.robx1.net/victkt/metcard/html/history.htm |title=Metcard – A brief history |publisher=robx1.net |access-date=27 March 2008 |archive-date=2 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002152743/http://www.robx1.net/victkt/metcard/html/history.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> with [[Mount Waverley railway station|Mount Waverley]] being the first station given premium status.<ref name="Newsrail">{{cite magazine |date=October 1997 |title=Upgrading Eltham to a Premium Station |magazine=Newsrail |publisher=Australian Railway Heritage Society (Victorian Division) |page=310}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mount Waverley |url=http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=infrastructure&name=Mount%20Waverley |work=VICSIG |access-date=20 October 2013 |archive-date=13 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713081609/http://vicsig.net/index.php?page=infrastructure&name=Mount%2520Waverley |url-status=live }}</ref> By the end of 1995 the number of staffed stations increased from 35 to 51.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.robx1.net/victkt/metcard/html/premium.htm |title=Metcard – Premium stations |publisher=robx1.net |access-date=27 March 2008 |archive-date=27 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227003921/http://www.robx1.net/victkt/metcard/html/premium.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> It was proposed to upgrade further stations to premium status in the future.

The host station program was introduced by the [[Government of Victoria (Australia)|Victorian Department of Transport]] in the early 2000s to ensure that over 80% of suburban rail passengers started their journey from a staffed (host or premium) station.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}

==== Passenger information ====
{{anchor|PRIDE}}
<gallery class="center" widths="200">
File:Pridebox-Melbourne.jpg|A Connex style PRIDE Talking Box panel at [[East Camberwell railway station|East Camberwell]] station, July 2005. These types of PRIDE boxes were installed at Melbourne stations between 2005 and 2020.
File:Croydon railway station Platform 1 PRIDE box (5 October 2024).jpg|A new style Metro/PTV PRIDE Talking Box panel at [[Croydon railway station, Melbourne|Croydon]] station, October 2024. These types of PRIDE boxes were installed at Melbourne stations since 2020.
File:Melbourne LED 2 Line PID.svg|A diagram of a two-line LED {{Tooltip|PID|Passenger Information Display}}
File:CRT TV Information Metlink.png|A diagram of a CRT {{Tooltip|PID|Passenger Information Display}} screen pair (no longer in use)
File:Newer LCD (Smaller) used at most Melbourne Train Stations.png| Newer style smaller black and white LCD PID commonly seen at non-city railway stations. 
File:Network status board.jpg|A network status board at [[Highett railway station|Highett station]], September 2014
File:New Colour screen LCD PID used at Flinders Street Station.png|Newer style colour LCD PID used on the platforms at [[Flinders Street Station]]
</gallery>

Timetable information is available to passengers at stations through the PRIDE II system, which is an electronic [[Public transport timetable|timetable]] and announcement system, and stands for Passenger Real-time Information Dissemination Equipment. The system consists of:
* The control system, situated at [[Metrol, Melbourne rail network|Metrol]].
* Control stations, at which staff update information, and announcements and CCTV recordings are dealt with for nearby stations.
* [[Public address]] systems at each station on the network. The PRIDE system automatically announces when a train is due soon, delayed, or cancelled; this is done via the rail telephone network.
* PRIDE "talking boxes" installed on each platform of all stations.
* Electronic passenger information displays.

Control data comes from two locations: Metrol, and control stations. Next train data and times are automatically updated by the train control systems, with manual overrides also possible.

All stations are provided with "talking boxes" which have two buttons and a small [[loudspeaker|speaker]].
The green button, when pressed, contacts the PRIDE controller over the rail telephone network, identifying itself by the [[dual-tone multi-frequency|DTMF]] tones that correspond to the ID number assigned to the box. The system then reads out times and destinations for the next three services to depart that platform (or, in the case of stations with a single island platform with departures either side, both platforms). The red button when pressed, gives the user two way communication with the closest control station.

Busy stations are often provided with an electronic [[light-emitting diode|LED]] {{Tooltip|PID|Passenger Information Display}}s, which indicate the destination, time, stopping pattern summary, and minutes to departure for the next train on the platform.

Stations on the [[City Loop]], in addition to [[North Melbourne railway station|North Melbourne]], [[Richmond railway station, Melbourne|Richmond]], and [[Box Hill railway station, Melbourne|Box Hill]] stations, originally had [[CRT screen]] {{Tooltip|PID|Passenger Information Display}}s, however all of these have since been replaced by [[widescreen]] [[liquid crystal display|LCD]] screens. These displays show in detail the destination, scheduled and actual departure time, and all stations the next train stops at. Also shown is the destination and time of the following two-to-three trains, and the system is capable of providing suggested connections and warn of service interruptions.

On 26 September 2010, the PRIDE system was upgraded with new voice announcements. The voice was female, and advised passengers to touch on and off when using Myki.<ref>{{cite web|title=Metro Trains go female|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tgr0STnslIA|work=Video|access-date=28 September 2010|archive-date=11 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211191408/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tgr0STnslIA&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=dead}}</ref>

As part of the Bayside Rail Upgrade, stations on the [[Frankston railway line|Frankston line]] received new "network status boards". The LCD screens provided travel information on all of Melbourne's 16 railway lines, as well as tram & bus services, including delays, replacement services or planned disruptions.<ref>[http://ptv.vic.gov.au/projects/rail-projects/bayside-rail-project/network-status-boards/ Network Status Boards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915072650/http://ptv.vic.gov.au/projects/rail-projects/bayside-rail-project/network-status-boards/ |date=15 September 2014 }} Public Transport Victoria</ref>

=== Safeworking ===
[[File:Signal-and-train-stop-melbourne.jpg|thumb|A signal with associated train stop in the raised position to the right, October 2005]]

Most lines in Melbourne operate under an automatic block system of safeworking with three-position power signalling. That allows [[railway signal|signals]] to be operated automatically by the passage of trains, enforcing a safe distance between them. At junctions, signals are manually controlled from [[signal box]]es, with [[interlocking]]s used to ensure conflicting paths are not set. The [[Flemington Racecourse railway line|Flemington Racecourse line]] has two-position automatic signalling, a variant of the three-position system.

The outer end of the [[Hurstbridge railway line|Hurstbridge line]] used to be operated with [[Token (railway signalling)|token based systems]] and two-position manual signalling, under which access to the line was based upon possession of a token. That system was discontinued in 2013.

[[Train stop]]s are used to enforce stop indications on signals. Should a train pass a signal at danger, the train's brakes will automatically be applied. Trains are also fitted with [[pilot valve]]s, a form of [[dead man's switch]] that applies the brakes should the driver fail to maintain a foot or hand pilot valve in a set position.<ref name="safe">{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/Doi/Internet/transport.nsf/AllDocs/0C6245228F9F50A3CA2570AE0012723F?OpenDocument
 |title       = Rail system safety
 |work        = Department of Infrastructure website
 |access-date  = 22 December 2007
|url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090520043834/http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/DOI/Internet/transport.nsf/AllDocs/0C6245228F9F50A3CA2570AE0012723F?OpenDocument
 |archive-date = 20 May 2009
|df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> The "VICERS" [[Dead-man's vigilance device|vigilance control]] and [[event recorder]] system is also being currently fitted to suburban trains to provide an additional level of safety.<ref name="safe" />

=== Train control ===
The main control room for the rail network is [[Metrol, Melbourne rail network|Metrol]]. Located in the Melbourne CBD, it controls [[railway signalling|signals]] in the inner suburbs, tracking the location of all trains, as well as the handling the distribution of real time passenger information, and manages disruptions to the timetable. Additional signal boxes are located throughout the network, in direct communication with Metrol.

===Terminology===
The railways in Melbourne generally use British-derived terminology. For example:
* ''Up'' refers to the direction "towards Melbourne".
* ''Down'' refers to the direction "away from Melbourne", or "towards the country".
* ''Points'' refers to what are known as [[railroad switch]]es, or crossovers in American English.
* ''Signal box'' refers to the signal control installation (''tower'' in American terminology).
* ''Gunzel'' terminology for a railway enthusiast

==Patronage==
The following table lists patronage figures for the network during the corresponding financial year. Australia's financial years start on 1 July and end on 30 June. Major events that affected the number of journeys made or how patronage is measured are included as notes.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap;"
|+Melbourne metropolitan train patronage by financial year
<!--2000s-->
! rowspan=3 {{Vert header|2000s}}
! Year
| 2000–01 || 2001–02 || 2002–03 || 2003–04 || 2004–05 || 2005–06 || 2006–07 || 2007–08 || 2008–09 || 2009–10
|-style="vertical-align: top;"
! Patronage<br /><span style="font-size:90%">(millions)</span>
| 130.3
| 131.8
| 133.8
| 134.9
| 145.1<br />{{efn|name=2004–05}}
| 159.1<br />{{efn|name=2005–06}}
| 178.6
| 201.2
| 213.9
| 219.3
|- style="font-size:85%"
! Reference
|colspan="10"|<ref name="track record">{{cite web |title=Track Record – Public Transport Victoria |url=http://ptv.vic.gov.au/about-ptv/ptv-data-and-reports/track-record-2/ |publisher=Public Transport Victoria |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130912223649/http://ptv.vic.gov.au/about-ptv/ptv-data-and-reports/track-record-2/ |archive-date=12 September 2013 |date=12 September 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<!--2010s-->
|- style="border-top:2px solid"
! rowspan=3 {{Vert header|2010s}}
! Year
| 2010–11 || 2011–12 || 2012–13 || 2013–14 || 2014–15 || 2015–16 || 2016–17 || 2017–18 || 2018–19 || 2019–20
|-style="vertical-align: top;"
! Patronage<br /><span style="font-size:90%">(millions)</span>
| 228.9
| 222.0
| 225.5
| 232.0
| 227.5
| 233.4
| 236.8
| 240.9
| 243.2
| 187.6<br />{{efn|name=2019–22}}
|-style="font-size:85%"
! Reference
| colspan="3"|<ref name="track record" />
<!--2013-14-->
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Annual-Report 2013–14 |url=http://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/PTV/PTV%20docs/AnnualReport/PTVH1216-PTV-Annual-Report-2013_2014_Online.pdf |publisher=Public Transport Victoria |access-date=3 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912105802/http://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/PTV/PTV%20docs/AnnualReport/PTVH1216-PTV-Annual-Report-2013_2014_Online.pdf |archive-date=12 September 2015 |page=27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<!--2014-15-->
|<ref>{{cite web |title=2014–15 Annual Report |url=https://static.ptv.vic.gov.au/siteassets/PTV/PTV%20docs/AnnualReport/PTV_Annual_Report_2014-2015.pdf |publisher=Public Transport Victoria |access-date=3 October 2018 |page=27 |archive-date=3 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003181806/https://static.ptv.vic.gov.au/siteassets/PTV/PTV%20docs/AnnualReport/PTV_Annual_Report_2014-2015.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<!--2015-16-->
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Annual Report 2015–16 |url=https://static.ptv.vic.gov.au/PTV/PTV%20docs/AnnualReport/1477349157/PTV-Annual-Report-2016.pdf |publisher=Public Transport Victoria |access-date=3 October 2018 |page=44 |archive-date=21 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421233629/https://static.ptv.vic.gov.au/PTV/PTV%20docs/AnnualReport/1477349157/PTV-Annual-Report-2016.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<!--2016-17-->
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Public Transport Victoria Annual Report 2016–17|url=https://static.ptv.vic.gov.au/PTV/PTV%20docs/AnnualReport/1507786483/PTV_Annual-Report_2016-2017.pdf|publisher=Public Transport Victoria|access-date=17 October 2017|page=22|archive-date=17 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017151127/https://static.ptv.vic.gov.au/PTV/PTV%20docs/AnnualReport/1507786483/PTV_Annual-Report_2016-2017.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
<!--2017–18-->
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Public Transport Victoria Annual Report 2017–18|url=https://static.ptv.vic.gov.au/PTV/PTV%20docs/AnnualReport/1537917277/2017-18-Annual-Report-accessible-version.pdf|publisher=Public Transport Victoria|access-date=3 October 2018|page=12|archive-date=3 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003141415/https://static.ptv.vic.gov.au/PTV/PTV%20docs/AnnualReport/1537917277/2017-18-Annual-Report-accessible-version.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
<!--2018-19-->
|<ref name="ptvannualreport201819">{{cite web |title=Public Transport Victoria Annual Report 2018–19 |url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/PTV-default-site/footer/data-and-reporting/annual-report/PTVH4043-Annual_Report_2019-A4-v1_ONLINE.pdf |publisher=Public Transport Victoria |access-date=13 October 2022 |archive-date=22 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822171929/https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/PTV-default-site/footer/data-and-reporting/annual-report/PTVH4043-Annual_Report_2019-A4-v1_ONLINE.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
<!--2019-20-->
|<ref name="datavicmonthlypatronage">{{cite web |title=Monthly public transport patronage by mode |url=https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/monthly-public-transport-patronage-by-mode |website=Data Vic |publisher=Department of Transport |access-date=13 October 2022 |archive-date=6 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906215931/https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/monthly-public-transport-patronage-by-mode |url-status=live }}</ref>
<!--2020s-->
|- style="border-top:2px solid"
! rowspan=3 {{Vert header|2020s}}
! Year
| 2020–21 || 2021–22 || 2022–23 || 2023–24
|-style="vertical-align: top;"
! Patronage<br /><span style="font-size:90%">(millions)</span>
| 81.7 <br />{{efn|name=2019–22}}
| 99.5 <br />{{efn|name=2019–22}}
| 157.1 <br />{{efn|name=2019–22}}
| 182.5 
|-style="font-size:85%"
! Reference
<!--2020–21-->
|<ref name="datavicmonthlypatronage" />
<!--2021–22-->
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Department of Transport Annual Report 2021–22 |url=https://transport.vic.gov.au/-/media/tfv-documents/dot-annual-report/dot-annual-report-2021-22.pdf?la=en&hash=283DEA4C2841D245DC0F981905353EF5 |website=Department of Transport |publisher=State Government of Victoria |access-date=13 October 2022 |archive-date=13 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013111426/https://transport.vic.gov.au/-/media/tfv-documents/dot-annual-report/dot-annual-report-2021-22.pdf?la=en&hash=283DEA4C2841D245DC0F981905353EF5 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<!--2022–23-->
|<ref>{{Cite web| title=Department of transport and planning - Annual Report 2022-23 | url=https://www.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-11/Department-of-Transport-and-Planning-Annual-Report-2022-23-%28accessible%29.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241123063545/https://www.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-11/Department-of-Transport-and-Planning-Annual-Report-2022-23-(accessible).pdf | archive-date=2024-11-23}}</ref>
<!--2023–24-->
|<ref name="dtpannualreport2324" />
|-<!--GRAPH-->
| colspan="12" style="text-align:center;"|
{{Graph:Chart|width=400|height=130|colors=#478BCC|type=rect
|xAxisTitle=Financial year
|xAxisAngle=-45
|x=2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22
|yAxisTitle=Patronage (millions)
|y=130.3, 131.8, 133.8, 134.9, 145.1, 159.1, 178.6, 201.2, 213.9, 219.3, 228.9, 222.0, 225.5, 232.0, 227.5, 233.4, 236.8, 240.9, 243.2, 187.6, 81.7, 99.5,
}}
|}
{{notelist|refs=
{{efn|name=2004–05|Patronage estimates use a different methodology from 2004–05, resulting in a "step-change" in patronage estimates from 2003–04 to 2004–05.}}
{{efn|name=2005–06|Figures exclude additional patronage associated with the 2006 Commonwealth Games.}}
{{efn|name=2019–22|Patronage was severely impacted by the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria|COVID-19 pandemic]].}}
}}

==Metropolitan services==
{{main|Metro Trains Melbourne}}
{{Scalable image|Melbourne metropolitan train network diagram.png|900px|Schematic map of the Melbourne metropolitan train network showing current and under-construction lines.
|alt=Schematic map of the Melbourne metropolitan train network showing current and under-construction lines.}}

===Operations===
Despite initially being constructed and operated as private railways in the 1850s, following the establishment of the government-owned [[Victorian Railways]] in 1858 Melbourne's suburban railway system has been state operated for the majority of its existence. In the 1920s Victorian Railways was the operator of the world's busiest railway station ([[Flinders Street railway station|Flinders Street]]) and one of the world's busiest railway networks.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4717137|title=WORLD'S BUSIEST STATION.|date=11 January 1922|work=Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957)|access-date=28 April 2018|pages=15}}</ref> Following several high-profile collisions in the early 20th century, a number of network safety processes were implemented by the operator to improve passenger safety.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://museumsvictoria.com.au/railways/theme.aspx?lvl=2&IRN=508|title=Victorian Railways, Museum Victoria, Australia|last=Victoria|first=Museum|website=museumsvictoria.com.au|language=en|access-date=28 April 2018|archive-date=29 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429091818/https://museumsvictoria.com.au/railways/theme.aspx?lvl=2&IRN=508|url-status=live}}</ref>

The agency name was shortened to [[Victorian Railways|VicRail]] in the early 1980s and then, later in the decade, the metropolitan system became known as Metropolitan Transit ('[[Metlink|The Met]]') and the regional system became known as V/Line. In preparation for privatisation the suburban system was split into Bayside Trains and Hillside Trains by the [[Kennett Ministry]] in 1998. Privatisation was completed in 1999 and [[M-Train]] and [[Connex Melbourne]] won the tender to operate Bayside, and Hillside trains, respectively. Following M>Train's inability to renegotiate financial arrangements, in 2004 Connex Melbourne assumed responsibility for the entire network. Current operations are provided by [[Metro Trains Melbourne]], an [[MTR Corporation]] joint venture.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=https://www.arhsvic.org.au/component/content/article/2-general/32-railway-history-in-victoria-1950-now|title=Victorian Railways History 1975 – 1999|date=2017|website=Australian Railway Historical Society Victorian Division Inc.|access-date=28 April 2018|archive-date=29 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429092055/https://www.arhsvic.org.au/component/content/article/2-general/32-railway-history-in-victoria-1950-now|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''Operator timelines'''
{{Horizontal timeline
|from=1853
|to=1953
|inc=10
|axis-nudge=-0.5em

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|styleDefault-1-border=none;text-align:right
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|styleDefault-5-border=none;text-align:left
|styleDefault-5-texttop=0em;left:0.5em;
|styleDefault-6-border=none;text-align:left
|styleDefault-6-texttop=0em;left:0.5em;
|styleDefault-7-border=none;text-align:left
|styleDefault-7-texttop=0em;left:0.5em;
|styleDefault-14-border=none;text-align:left
|styleDefault-14-texttop=0em;left:0.5em;

|stylePri-boxcolour=#FFC154
|stylePri-border=none;border:2px solid #E5AD4B;text-align:left
|stylePri-texttop=0em;left:0.5em;

|stylePriOp-boxcolour=#47B39C
|stylePriOp-border=none;border:2px solid #3FA18C;text-align:left
|stylePriOp-texttop=0em;left:0.5em;

|styleGov-boxcolour=#EC6B56
|styleGov-border=none;border:2px solid #D4604D
|styleGov-texttop=0em;

|row1=timeline
|row1-style=styleDefault
|row1-1-to=1853.0548
|row1-2-to=1854.6986
|row1-2-style=stylePri
|row1-3-to=1865.4959
|row1-3-style=stylePriOp
|row1-4-text=[[Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company]] (1853–1865)

|row2=timeline
|row2-style=styleDefault
|row2-1-to=1853.1068
|row2-2-to=1857.4822
|row2-2-style=stylePri
|row2-3-to=1860.6749
|row2-3-style=stylePriOp
|row2-4-text=[[Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company]] (1853–1860)

|row3=timeline
|row3-style=styleDefault
|row3-1-to=1853.1068
|row3-2-to=1856.2158
|row3-2-style=stylePri
|row3-3-text=[[Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company]] (1853–1856)

|row4=timeline
|row4-style=styleDefault
|row4-1-to=1856.2158
|row4-2-to=1859.0466
|row4-2-style=stylePri
|row4-3-to=1983.4959
|row4-3-style=stylePriOp
|row4-3-text=[[Victorian Railways]] (1856–1983)

|row5=timeline
|row5-style=styleDefault
|row5-1-to=1857.8986
|row5-2-to=1859.1068
|row5-2-style=stylePri
|row5-3-to=1862.2466
|row5-3-style=stylePriOp
|row5-4-text=[[Melbourne and Suburban Railway Company]] (1857–1862)

|row6=timeline
|row6-style=styleDefault
|row6-1-to=1857.8986
|row6-2-to=1859.9671
|row6-2-style=stylePri
|row6-3-to=1862.3315
|row6-3-style=stylePriOp
|row6-4-to=1865.6685
|row6-4-style=styleGov
|row6-4-text=MRC
|row6-5-text=[[St Kilda and Brighton Railway Company]] (1857–1862)

|row7=timeline
|row7-style=styleDefault
|row7-1-to=1859.1507
|row7-2-to=1860.8361
|row7-2-style=stylePri
|row7-3-to=1864.5000
|row7-3-style=stylePriOp
|row7-4-to=1867.6548
|row7-4-style=stylePri
|row7-5-text=[[Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company]] (1859–1867)

|row8=timeline
|row8-style=styleDefault
|row8-1-to=1862.2466
|row8-2-to=1865.4959
|row8-2-style=stylePriOp
|row8-5-text=[[Melbourne Railway Company]] (1862–1865)

|row9=timeline
|row9-style=styleDefault
|row9-1-to=1865.4959
|row9-2-to=1878.4986
|row9-2-style=stylePriOp
|row9-3-text=[[Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company|Melbourne and Hobson's Bay United Railway Company]] (1865–1878)

|row10=timeline
|row10-style=styleDefault
|row10-1-to=1874.2055
|row10-2-to=1876.5082
|row10-2-style=stylePri
|row10-3-to=1923.9178
|row10-3-style=stylePriOp
|row10-4-text=[[Deniliquin and Moama Railway Company]] (1874–1923)

|row11=timeline
|row11-style=styleDefault
|row11-1-to=1875
|row11-2-to=1888.8716
|row11-2-style=stylePri
|row11-3-to=1888.8716
|row11-3-style=stylePriOp
|row11-4-to=1904.6612
|row11-4-style=stylePri
|row11-4-text=← Only train (14 Nov 1888)
|row11-5-to=1906.0313
|row11-5-style=styleFade1
|row11-6-to=1907.4014
|row11-6-style=styleFade2
|row11-7-to=1908.7715
|row11-7-style=styleFade3
|row11-8-to=1910.1416
|row11-8-style=styleFade4
|row11-9-to=1911.5117
|row11-9-style=styleFade5
|row11-10-to=1912.8818
|row11-10-style=styleFade6
|row11-11-to=1914.2519
|row11-11-style=styleFade7
|row11-12-to=1915.6220
|row11-12-style=styleFade8
|row11-13-to=1916.9918
|row11-13-style=styleFade9
|row11-14-text=[[Rosstown Railway]] (1875–1904~1916)

|styleFade1-boxcolour=#ffc765
|styleFade1-border=none;
|styleFade2-boxcolour=#ffcd76
|styleFade2-border=none;
|styleFade3-boxcolour=#ffd387
|styleFade3-border=none;
|styleFade4-boxcolour=#ffd998
|styleFade4-border=none;
|styleFade5-boxcolour=#ffe0a9
|styleFade5-border=none;
|styleFade6-boxcolour=#ffe6ba
|styleFade6-border=none;
|styleFade7-boxcolour=#ffeccb
|styleFade7-border=none;
|styleFade8-boxcolour=#fff2dc
|styleFade8-border=none;
|styleFade9-boxcolour=#fff8ed
|styleFade9-border=none;

|row12=timeline
|row12-style=styleDefault
|row12-1-to=1882.1479
|row12-2-to=1905.5
|row12-2-style=stylePriOp
|row12-3-text=?? (Grampians railway line) (1882–1905)

|row13=timeline
|row13-style=styleDefault
|row13-1-to=1887.5
|row13-2-to=1888.6421
|row13-2-style=stylePri
|row13-3-to=1890.6192
|row13-3-style=stylePriOp
|row13-4-to=1911.9178
|row13-4-style=stylePri
|row13-5-to=1917.8795
|row13-5-style=stylePriOp
|row13-6-to=1924.7514
|row13-6-style=styleGov
|row13-6-text=VR
|row13-7-text=Altona Beach Estates (1887–1923)

|row14=timeline
|row14-style=styleDefault
|row14-1-to=1889.5
|row14-2-to=1952.0877
|row14-2-style=stylePriOp
|row14-1-text=Shires of [[Shire of Swan Hill|Swan Hill]]/[[Shire of Kerang|Kerang]] ([[Kerang–Koondrook Tramway]]) (1889–1952)

|row15=timeline
|row15-style=styleDefault
|row15-1-to=1890.36
|row15-2-to=1892.89
|row15-2-style=stylePriOp
|row15-3-text=[[Shire of Yarrawonga|Yarrawonga Shire Council]] ([[Katamatite railway line|Katamatite Tramway]]) (1890–1892)

|row32=scale
|caption=First 100 years<br />{{Legend inline|#FFC154|No operations|border=#E5AD4B}}{{·}}{{Legend inline|#47B39C|Operations|border=#3FA18C}}{{·}}{{Legend inline|#EC6B56|Operations by another company|border=#D4604D}}<br />All but the [[Rosstown Railway]] eventually became part of the [[Victorian Railways]] 
}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Operators: government-owned & onwards
|-
! 1st government-owned<br />Pre 1983 !! [[Metropolitan Transit Authority (Victoria)|Metropolitan]]/[[State Transport Authority (Victoria)|State]] Transport Authority (MTA/STA)<br />1983–1989 !! [[Public Transport Corporation]] (PTC)<br />1989–1998 !! [[Public Transport Corporation|PTC]] (pre privatisation split)<br />1997–1999 !! colspan="3" | Privatisation & onwards<br />Post 1999
|-
| rowspan="4" | '''[[Victorian Railways]]''' (VR): 1856–1974<br /><br />VR as '''VicRail''': 1974–1983
| rowspan="2" | [[State Transport Authority (Victoria)|STA]] as '''[[V/Line]]''': 1983–1989
| rowspan="5" | [[Public Transport Corporation|PTC]] as '''The Met''': 1989–1998<br /><br />PTC as '''[[V/Line]]''': 1989–1995<br /><br />PTC as '''[[V/Line|V/Line Passenger]]''': 1995–1998<br /><br />PTC as '''[[V/Line|V/Line Freight]]''': 1995–1997
| '''[[V/Line|V/Line Passenger]]'''<br />1998–1999
| [[National Express]]<br />as '''[[V/Line|V/Line Passenger]]''': 1999–2002
| colspan="2" | '''[[V/Line|V/Line Passenger]]'''<br />2002–Current
|-
| '''[[V/Line|V/Line Freight]]'''<br />1997–1999
| '''[[Freight Australia|Freight Victoria]]'''<br />1999–2000
| '''[[Freight Australia]]'''<br />2000–2004
| '''[[Pacific National]]'''<br />2004–Current
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Metropolitan Transit Authority (Victoria)|MTA]] as '''The Met''': 1983–1989
| '''Bayside Trains''' §<br />1998–1999
| [[National Express]] as '''[[M-Train|M>Train]]''' §: 2000–2004
| rowspan="2" | '''[[Connex Melbourne]]'''<br />2004–2009
| rowspan="2" | '''[[Metro Trains Melbourne]]'''<br />2009–Current
|-
| '''Hillside Trains''' †: 1998–1999
| '''[[Connex Melbourne]]''' †<br />2000–2004
|}
§Bayside Trains / M>Train – Caulfield and Northern groups<br />
†Hillside Trains / Connex (2000–2004) – Clifton Hill and Burnley groups, Showgrounds services

=== Fleet ===

==== Current fleet ====
The majority of the current suburban train fleet in Melbourne is owned by [[VicTrack]], with the train operator (currently [[Metro Trains Melbourne]]) responsible for maintaining the fleet.<ref name="doiwho">{{cite web|url=http://www.transport.vic.gov.au/DOI/Internet/transport.nsf/AllDocs/B324F53A00F987B9CA2571F50007F1BB?OpenDocument|title=Department of Transport: Who's who in Victoria's public transport network|publisher=Department of Transport, State Government of Victoria, Australia|access-date=14 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523081606/http://www.transport.vic.gov.au/DOI/Internet/transport.nsf/AllDocs/B324F53A00F987B9CA2571F50007F1BB?OpenDocument|archive-date=23 May 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> All trains on the Melbourne suburban network are electric and driver-only operated. Guards on suburban trains were discontinued between 1993 and 1995.<ref name="vrhist">{{cite web|url=http://www.victorianrailways.net/vr%20history/history.html|title=VR History|publisher=victorianrailways.net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530050949/http://www.victorianrailways.net/vr%20history/history.html|archive-date=30 May 2008|url-status=dead|access-date=20 May 2008}}</ref>

All trains are fitted with power-operated sliding doors which are closed by the driver, but opened by passengers. The doors of newer model HCMT, X'Trapolis and Siemens trains are opened electronically with a button, whilst Comeng trains are slid manually using handles. Trains are fitted with air conditioning, closed-circuit cameras, and emergency intercom systems. Trains are fixed into three car units and may operate alone or in pairs, except for the HCMT trains which run in singular seven car sets.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
!Names
!Image
!Alternative names
!Entered service
!Number built
!Key information
|-
|[[Comeng (train)|Comeng]]
|[[File:Melboure Comeng 381M Metro.jpg|center|frameless|120x120px]]
|
|1981–1988
|95 (3 carriage)
|Named as a "Commonwealth Engineering" portmanteau. Refurbished 2000–2003 by [[EDI Rail]] and [[Alstom]]. Feature power operated doors that must be pulled open by hand but are closed automatically by the driver. First trains to feature air conditioning.
|-
|[[Siemens Nexas|Siemens]]
|[[File:Siemens train in Metro Trains Melbourne Livery.jpg|center|frameless|120x120px]]
|Siemens Nexas
|2003–2006
|72 (3 carriage)
|Refurbished with seat removals and extra railings since 2016. The first openly articulated trains with passengers able to move between carriages without opening any doors. Frequent overrunning caused lawsuits and disruptions to fix alleged braking faults.
|-
|[[X'Trapolis 100|X'Trapolis]]
|[[File:Metro-liveried-XTrapolis-train-863M.jpg|center|frameless|120x120px]]
|X’Trapolis 100, X’Traps
|2002–2004<br />2009–present
|180 (3 carriage)<br />+32 under construction
|Body shells built in France, remaining assembled in Ballarat. Eight separate orders have been lodged for X'Trapolis trains. Remodelled since 2009 with 2+2 seat configurations to increase passenger capacity/flow.
|-
|[[High Capacity Metro Trains]]
|[[File:319A2344.jpg|center|frameless|120x120px]]
|HCMT
|2020
| 70 (7 carriage)
|Currently on use on the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines. To run through to Sunbury when the Metro Tunnel opens in 2025 and the Airport line in 2029. Built in [[Changchun]], [[China]] and Victoria using 60% local content.
|}

==== Future fleet ====
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
!Names
!Image
!Alternative names
!Entering service
!Number built
!Key information
|-
|[[X'Trapolis 2.0]]
|[[File:Front of Xtrapolis 2.0 Mockup Exterior, Melbourne (52948704879).jpg|center|frameless|120x120px]]
|
|2024–2026
|25 (6 carriage) under construction
|Replacing Comeng fleets, will be used on Craigieburn, Frankston and Upfield lines.
|}

==== Decommissioned fleet ====
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
!Name
!Image
!Alternative names
!Entered service
!Retired service
!Number built
!Key information
|-
|[[Swing Door (train)|Swing Door]]
|[[File:SwingDoorNewport.jpg|center|frameless|120x120px]]
|Dog Box
|1887
|c.1959–1970
|294
|Named after the outward swinging carriage doors. Converted to electric traction from 1917.
|-
|[[Tait (train)|Tait]]
|[[File:Tait Kensington.jpg|center|frameless|120x120px]]
|Reds, Red Rattlers
|1910
|1974–1984
|623
|Named after [[Thomas James Tait|Sir Thomas James Tait]], Chairman of Commissioners of the Victorian Railways. Converted to electric traction from 1919. Banned from the City Loop due to the fire hazard of wooden frames.
|-
|[[Harris (train)|Harris]]
|[[File:Victoria Railway Museum 112.jpg|center|frameless|120x120px]]
|Blues, Greasers
|1956
|1988–1989
|436
|Named after [[Norman Charles Harris]], Chairman of Commissioners of the Victorian Railways. Most contained asbestos and were buried in Clayton in the 1980s; 16 were refurbished between 1982 and 1988 (see below), 49 vehicles were converted to [[V/Line H type carriage|H type carriages]] for shorter distance country services. Three motors preserved; one as static exhibits at Newport Railway Museum, and two pending restoration at Newport Workshops.
|-
|[[Hitachi (Australian train)|Hitachi]]
|[[File:Refurbished-Hitachi-train-42m.jpg|center|frameless|120x120px]]
|Martin & King, Stainless Steel
|1972
|2003–2014
|118&nbsp;×&nbsp;3 carriage sets
|Named due to the design by Hitachi, air conditioning. Three Hitachi motor carriages form part of the restaurant Easey's in Collingwood.
|-
|[[Harris (train)|Refurbished Harris]]
|[[File:Victoria Railway Museum 113.jpg|center|frameless|120x120px]]
|Grey Ghosts
|1982
|1990–1994
|16
|Refurbished from the original Harris vehicles between 1982 and 1988 (see above). 10 vehicles were converted to [[V/Line H type carriage|H type carriages]] for shorter distance country services. One motor preserved as static exhibit at Newport Railway Museum.
|-
|[[4D (train)|4D]]
|[[File:Melbourne 4D Train.jpg|center|frameless|120x120px]]
|Double Deck Development and Demonstration
|1992
|2006
|1&nbsp;×&nbsp;4 carriage set
|Prototype double deck train. 
|}

=== Lines ===
Melbourne's metropolitan network includes 16 electrified suburban lines and 1 non-electrified line.<ref name=":0" /> Many lines have been lengthened over time, most notably the [[Mernda railway line|Mernda line]] from [[Epping railway station, Melbourne|Epping]] to [[South Morang railway station|South Morang]] in 2012 and again to [[Mernda railway station|Mernda]] in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/projects/mernda-rail-extension-project|title=Mernda rail extension project {{!}} Level Crossing Removal Authority|website=levelcrossings.vic.gov.au|language=en|access-date=29 April 2018|archive-date=27 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227005603/https://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/projects/mernda-rail-extension-project|url-status=live}}</ref> Lines have also changed terminus or layout, including the forthcoming changes to the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines as part of the [[Melbourne Metro Rail Project]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/projects/rail-projects/Works-to-transform-the-Cranbourne-Pakenham-corridor/|title=Works to transform the Cranbourne Pakenham corridor|website=www.ptv.vic.gov.au|language=en|access-date=29 April 2018|archive-date=29 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429091927/https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/projects/rail-projects/Works-to-transform-the-Cranbourne-Pakenham-corridor/|url-status=live}}</ref> Numerous [[Proposed Melbourne rail extensions|proposals for new lines or extensions]] not yet constructed have been made, including the long-outstanding [[Doncaster railway line]] and [[Rowville railway line]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/apr/12/turnbull-puts-up-5bn-for-melbourne-airport-rail-link|title=Turnbull puts up $5bn for Melbourne airport rail link|last=Davey|first=Melissa|date=12 April 2018|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=29 April 2018|archive-date=25 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625050131/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/apr/12/turnbull-puts-up-5bn-for-melbourne-airport-rail-link|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Electrified lines ====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!colspan="2"|Line
!First Service
! style="width: 120px;" | Image
!Length
!Stations
! style="width: 200px;" | Rolling stock
|-
|style="background-color:#{{rcr|Melbourne|Alamein}};"width="0.5em"|
![[Alamein railway line|Alamein]]
|1898<ref name="elect84">{{cite book |last=S.E. Dornan and R.G. Henderson |title=Electric Railways of Victoria |publisher=Australian Electric Traction Society |year=1979 |isbn=0-909459-06-1 |page=84}}</ref>
|[[File:Burwood_Railway_Station_Platform_View.jpg|frameless|120x120px]]
|14.9&nbsp;km (9.3&nbsp;mi)
|18
| rowspan="2" |{{bulleted list|[[X'Trapolis 100]]}}
|-
|style="background-color:#{{rcr|Melbourne|Belgrave}};"width="0.5em"|
![[Belgrave railway line|Belgrave]]
|1889<ref name="A Victorian Narrow Gauge Railway pages 429-432">A Victorian Narrow Gauge Railway ''[[The Railway Magazine]]'' issue 480 June 1937 pages 429–432</ref>
|[[File:Belgrave_Railway_Station_Buildings.jpg|frameless|120x120px]]
|41.8&nbsp;km (26&nbsp;mi)
|31
|-
|style="background-color:#{{rcr|Melbourne|Craigieburn}};"width="0.5em"|
![[Craigieburn railway line|Craigieburn]]
|1860
|[[File:Overview_of_Ascot_Vale_railway_station,_Melbourne.jpg|frameless|120x120px]]
|27&nbsp;km (16.8&nbsp;mi)
|18
|{{bulleted list|[[Comeng (train)|Comeng]]|[[Siemens Nexas]]}}
|-
|style="background-color:#{{rcr|Melbourne|Cranbourne}};"width="0.5em"|
![[Cranbourne railway line|Cranbourne]]
|1888<ref name=":112">{{Cite web |title=What year did your railway station open? {{!}} Public Transport Users Association (Victoria, Australia) |url=https://www.ptua.org.au/2018/08/03/railway-stations-years-opened/ |access-date=9 December 2022 |archive-date=9 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209095505/https://www.ptua.org.au/2018/08/03/railway-stations-years-opened/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[File:High Capacity Metro Train arriving at Hughesdale station — July 2022.jpg|frameless|120x120px]]
|43.92&nbsp;km (27.29&nbsp;mi)
|24
|{{bulleted list|[[High Capacity Metro Train]]}}
|-
|style="background-color:#{{rcr|Melbourne|Frankston}};"width="0.5em"|
![[Frankston railway line|Frankston]]
|1881<ref name=":112222">{{Cite web |title=What year did your railway station open? {{!}} Public Transport Users Association (Victoria, Australia) |url=https://www.ptua.org.au/2018/08/03/railway-stations-years-opened/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209095505/https://www.ptua.org.au/2018/08/03/railway-stations-years-opened/ |archive-date=9 December 2022 |access-date=9 December 2022}}</ref>
|[[File:Bonbeach_Northbound_View.JPG|frameless|120x120px]]
|43.23&nbsp;km (26.86&nbsp;mi)
|28
|{{bulleted list|[[Comeng (train)|Comeng]]|[[Siemens Nexas]]|[[X'Trapolis 100]]}}
|-
|style="background-color:#{{rcr|Melbourne|Glen Waverley}};"width="0.5em"|
![[Glen Waverley railway line|Glen Waverley]]
|1861<ref>{{citation |title=Map of Melbourne and Suburban Company Lines, 1857–1862 |url=http://museumsvictoria.com.au/railways/image.aspx?PID=4796 |access-date=14 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080808150939/http://museumvictoria.com.au/railways/image.aspx?PID=4796 |url-status=live |archive-date=8 August 2008}}</ref>
|[[File:Metro_Trains_Melbourne_X'trapolis_at_Darling_(2).jpg|frameless|120x120px]]
|21.3&nbsp;km (13.2&nbsp;mi)
|20
| rowspan="4" |{{bulleted list|[[X'Trapolis 100]]}}
|-
|style="background-color:#{{rcr|Melbourne|Hurstbridge}};"width="0.5em"|
![[Hurstbridge railway line|Hurstbridge]]
|1888
|[[File:Xtrapolis_train_on_Hurstbridge_Line_near_Diamond_Creek_(50896244573).jpg|frameless|120x120px]]
|36.7&nbsp;km (22.8&nbsp;mi)
|24
|-
|style="background-color:#{{rcr|Melbourne|Lilydale}};"width="0.5em"|
![[Lilydale railway line|Lilydale]]
|1882<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 December 1882 |title=OPENING OF THE LILLYDALE RAILWAY. |pages=16 |work=Leader (Melbourne, Vic. : 1862 – 1918, 1935) |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197988156 |access-date=29 August 2020}}</ref>
|[[File:Lilydale_Southbound_View_Platform_1.jpeg|frameless|120x120px]]
|37.8&nbsp;km (23.5&nbsp;mi)
|27
|-
|style="background-color:#{{rcr|Melbourne|Mernda}};"width="0.5em"|
![[Mernda railway line|Mernda]]
|1889<ref name="vr">{{cite web |title=VR History |url=http://www.victorianrailways.net/vr%20history/history.html |access-date=6 May 2008 |publisher=victorianrailways.net |archive-date=30 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530050949/http://www.victorianrailways.net/vr%20history/history.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[File:Mernda_Station_December_2021_1.jpg|frameless|120x120px]]
|33.1&nbsp;km (20.6&nbsp;mi)
|25
|-
|style="background-color:#{{rcr|Melbourne|Pakenham}};"width="0.5em"|
![[Pakenham railway line|Pakenham]]
|1877<ref name="A Victorian Narrow Gauge Railway pages 429-432"/>
|[[File:HCMT_Train,_Dandenong,_Melbourne.jpg|frameless|120x120px]]
|56.9&nbsp;km (35.4&nbsp;mi)
|27
|{{bulleted list|[[High Capacity Metro Train]]}}
|-
|style="background-color:#{{rcr|Melbourne|Sandringham}};"width="0.5em"|
![[Sandringham railway line|Sandringham]]
|1859<ref name=":112222"/>
|[[File:Comeng_running_a_down_Sandringham_service_at_Prahran_Station.jpg|frameless|120x120px]]
|18.09&nbsp;km (11.24&nbsp;mi)
|14
|{{bulleted list|[[Comeng (train)|Comeng]]|[[Siemens Nexas]]}}
|-
|style="background-color:#{{rcr|Melbourne|Sunbury}};"width="0.5em"|
![[Sunbury railway line|Sunbury]]
|1921
|[[File:Diggers_Rest_Station.JPG|frameless|120x120px]]
|40.3&nbsp;km (25&nbsp;mi)
|16
|{{bulleted list|[[Comeng (train)|Comeng]]|[[Siemens Nexas]]|[[High Capacity Metro Train]]}}
|-
|style="background-color:#{{rcr|Melbourne|Upfield}};"width="0.5em"|
![[Upfield railway line|Upfield]]
|1884
|[[File:Upfield-Bike-Path-and-railway-line-looking-south-towards-Tinning-Street.jpg|frameless|120x120px]]
|20.1&nbsp;km (12.5&nbsp;mi)
|14
|{{bulleted list|[[Comeng (train)|Comeng]]|[[Siemens Nexas]]}}
|-
|style="background-color:#{{rcr|Melbourne|Werribee}};"width="0.5em"|
![[Werribee railway line|Werribee]]
|1859
|[[File:威蓝町站.jpg|frameless|120x120px]]
|32.9&nbsp;km (20.4&nbsp;mi)
|17
| rowspan="2" |{{bulleted list|[[Comeng (train)|Comeng]]|[[Siemens Nexas]]|[[X'Trapolis 100]]}}
|-
|style="background-color:#{{rcr|Melbourne|Williamstown}};"width="0.5em"|
![[Williamstown railway line|Williamstown]]
|1859
|[[File:Williamstown_Beach_Station_(3).jpg|frameless|120x120px]]
|16.2&nbsp;km (10.1&nbsp;mi)
|12
|}

===== Non-electrified lines =====
*[[Deer Park–West Werribee railway line]] (non-electrified train service operated by V/Line)
*[[Stony Point railway line]] (non-electrified train service beyond Frankston)

===== Stony Point line and metropolitan V/Line services =====
[[Stony Point railway line|Stony Point]] line services operate as shuttles from [[Frankston railway station|Frankston]] station with passengers to and from [[Flinders Street railway station|Flinders Street]] required to change trains. It is the only non-electrified line operated by Metro Trains, with services being operated using [[V/Line Sprinter|Sprinter]] diesel multiple units leased from [[V/Line]].

[[Deer Park–West Werribee railway line|Wyndham Vale (Geelong line)]] services are operated by [[V/Line]] and depart from [[Southern Cross railway station|Southern Cross]], but are within the metropolitan ticketing zone. Wyndham Vale/Geelong trains also stop at Ardeer and Deer Park, along with Tarneit. Only Wyndham Vale and Ballarat trains stop at Ardeer, not Geelong trains.

5 morning peak and 3 afternoon peak trains operate to and from Wyndham Vale. One weekday morning service and numerous football services operate to Wyndham Vale.

Sunbury services used to also be operated by V/Line until 2012 when the electrical network was extended to Sunbury and these trains also stopped at Diggers Rest; Sunbury passengers can still catch V/Line trains to or from Bendigo. The redundant carriages were moved onto Bacchus Marsh services instead. V/Line trains used to also operate to Donnybrook, stopping at Craigieburn but since the electrical network was extended to Craigieburn in 2007, trains have stopped terminating at Donnybrook.

=== Service patterns ===
{{main|Metro Trains Melbourne#Service patterns}}
Metropolitan services are operated by [[Metro Trains Melbourne]]. Railway lines and service patterns are often classified into groups, which are:
*Burnley group
**[[Lilydale railway line|Lilydale]], [[Belgrave railway line|Belgrave]], [[Alamein railway line|Alamein]] and [[Glen Waverley railway line|Glen Waverley]] line (blue)
*Caulfield group
**[[Pakenham railway line|Pakenham]] and [[Cranbourne railway line|Cranbourne]] line (light blue)
**[[Sandringham railway line|Sandringham]] line (pink)
*Clifton Hill group
**[[Mernda railway line|Mernda]] and [[Hurstbridge railway line|Hurstbridge]] line (red)
*Northern group
**[[Sunbury railway line|Sunbury]], [[Craigieburn railway line|Craigieburn]] and [[Upfield railway line|Upfield]] line (yellow)
*Cross-City group
**[[Frankston railway line|Frankston]], [[Werribee railway line|Werribee]] and [[Williamstown railway line|Williamstown]] line (green)
**[[Stony Point railway line|Stony Point]] line (non-electrified train service beyond Frankston)
*Special event services
**[[Flemington Racecourse railway line|Flemington Racecourse/Showgrounds]]

All lines (except for the Frankston, Werribee, Williamstown and Sandringham lines) use the city loop. The Clifton Hill Group runs clockwise all day and the Caulfield Group runs Counter-Clockwise all day. The Burnley Group runs counter-clockwise in the morning and switches to clockwise in the afternoon. The Northern Group runs clockwise in the morning and counter-clockwise on the afternoon. As of 1 January 2021, Frankston and Newport (Werribee and Williamstown) trains have been completely removed out of the City Loop. When the Metro Tunnel opens in 2025, Pakenham, Cranbourne and Sunbury line trains will be removed from the loop, and the Frankston line will move back into the Caulfield loop. Also at this time, the Werribee line will run direct to Sandringham and vice versa.

Melbourne uses [[clock-face scheduling]] in off-peak periods, but generally not in [[rush hour]], due to the network operating near to infrastructure capacity and having to accommodate single-line sections, flat junctions, and regional diesel-hauled trains.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/metro-warns-of-capacity-crunch-within-two-years-on-some-train-lines-20170704-gx4giy.html|title=Metro warns of capacity crunch within two years on some train lines|last=Carey|first=Adam|date=4 July 2017|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=29 April 2018|archive-date=29 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429093308/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/metro-warns-of-capacity-crunch-within-two-years-on-some-train-lines-20170704-gx4giy.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Frequencies vary according to time of day, day of week and by line. In some places, usually [[interchange station]]s, services on two lines combine to provide more frequent services on common sections of tracks. All services become 24-hour from Friday morning to Sunday evening, with at least one departure every hour after 12am.<ref name=":1" />

Along with other Australian railways, Melbourne uses the British terminology of "[[rail terminology#U|up]]" and "[[rail terminology#D|down]]", with "up" being defined as toward Flinders Street station in the CBD.

==== Fares and tickets ====
[[File:Clayton railway station - Melbourne - Concourse entrance.jpg|alt=Myki fair gates at Clayton station.|thumb|Myki fare gates at [[Clayton railway station, Melbourne|Clayton station]] in January 2021.]]
{{main|myki}}

The [[myki]] [[smart card|smart-card]] ticketing system is the main ticketing system currently in use across Melbourne, introduced in 2010. Prior to December 2012 Melbourne also used a magnetic strip [[paper ticket]] system known as the [[Metcard]], first introduced to the railway network in 1996. On 29 December 2012 Metcard was no longer available for use on Melbourne's public transport and completely replaced by myki. Multi-modal tickets were first introduced in Melbourne in 1969 and prior to this train, tram and bus services all had separated ticketing systems.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.robx1.net/victkt/intro.htm|title=Melbourne's Multi-Modal Based Ticketing Systems 1969 to present|website=www.robx1.net|access-date=29 April 2018|archive-date=11 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411113146/http://www.robx1.net/victkt/intro.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Clear}}

==Regional services==
[[File:20210131100023 IMG 9790.jpg|thumb|[[V/Line VLocity|VLocity]] and [[V/Line Sprinter|Sprinter]] DMUs await their departure from Melbourne's Southern Cross in January 2021]]
{{Main|V/Line}}
[[V/Line]] [[List of regional railway stations in Victoria|regional services]] share tracks with several suburban train lines from the outskirts of Melbourne to the regional railway terminus at Southern Cross station (with the [[Traralgon V/Line rail service]] terminating at Flinders Street station). The Pakenham line has the longest shared track section which is used by V/Line services to [[Traralgon railway station|Traralgon]] and [[Bairnsdale railway station|Bairnsdale]]. The Sunbury and Craigieburn lines also share lesser sections of track with counterpart regional lines.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/how-decades-of-neglect-ran-the-vline-network-off-the-rails-20160120-gm9td5.html|title=How decades of neglect ran the V/Line network off the rails|last=Morton|first=Tony|date=21 January 2016|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=29 April 2018|archive-date=29 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429091952/https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/how-decades-of-neglect-ran-the-vline-network-off-the-rails-20160120-gm9td5.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Regional Rail Link]] project separated suburban services from regional trains on the [[Geelong V/Line rail service|Geelong]], [[Ballarat V/Line rail service|Wendouree (Ballarat)]] and [[Bendigo V/Line rail service|Bendigo]] lines. A ceremonial start of construction was held in August 2009 and the project was completed in June 2015.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.railgeelong.com/gallery/events/rrl-first-sod
|title=Regional Rail Link – turning of the first sod
|work=Rail Geelong – Gallery
|publisher=railgeelong.com
|access-date=29 August 2009
|archive-date=24 September 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924050302/http://www.railgeelong.com/gallery/events/rrl-first-sod/
|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/premier/construction-starts-on-the-$4.3-billion-regional-rail-link.html
 |title       = CONSTRUCTION STARTS ON THE $4.3 BILLION REGIONAL RAIL LINK
 |work        = Media Release: Premier of Victoria
 |publisher   = premier.vic.gov.au
 |date        = 27 August 2009
|access-date  = 29 August 2009
|url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20090904223051/http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/premier/construction-starts-on-the-$4.3-billion-regional-rail-link.html
 |archive-date = 4 September 2009
|df          = dmy
}}</ref>{{Clear}}

==Freight services==
[[File:Melbourne-steel-terminal.jpg|thumb|[[NR class]] locomotive at the Melbourne Steel Terminal, off Footscray Road in June 2006]]
{{Main|Freight railways in Melbourne}}

Melbourne also has an extensive network of railway lines and yards to serve freight traffic. These freight lines are of two gauges—{{RailGauge|Victorian}} [[Victorian broad gauge|broad gauge]] and {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}, and are not electrified. In the inner western suburbs of the city, freight trains operate on dedicated lines, but in other areas freight trains share tracks with the suburban [[Metro Trains Melbourne]] and regional [[V/Line]] passenger services. The majority of freight terminals are located in the inner suburbs around [[Port of Melbourne]], others are located between the Melbourne CBD and Footscray.

Until the 1980s a number of suburban stations had their own [[rail yard|goods yards]], with freight trains running over the suburban network, often with the [[Victorian Railways E class (electric)|E]] or [[Victorian Railways L class (electric)|L class]] [[electric locomotive]]s.{{Clear}}

==Heritage services and preservation==
[[File:R711 Steamrail Open Day 2007.jpg|right|thumb|250px|2007 open day at the Steamrail Victoria depot: [[Victorian Railways R class|R 711]] beside an [[Victorian Railways L class (electric)|L class]] electric locomotive and [[Swing Door (train)|Swing Door]] suburban train, March 2007]]
Melbourne also has 3 tourist railways, 3 main line heritage operators, and 1 railway museum.

Organised [[railway preservation]] commenced in Victoria with the formation of the [[Puffing Billy Railway|Puffing Billy Preservation Society]] in 1955, and operating under the Emerald Tourist Railway Board from 1977.<ref>{{cite web | title = Preservation | work = Puffing Billy | url = http://www.puffingbilly.com.au/fan/heritage/histpbps.htm | access-date = 19 February 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061008232730/http://www.puffingbilly.com.au/fan/heritage/histpbps.htm |archive-date = 8 October 2006}}</ref> Formed to operate the [[Narrow gauge lines of the Victorian Railways|narrow gauge]] {{convert|2|ft|6|in|mm|abbr=on}} gauge railway in the [[Dandenong Ranges]] near Melbourne, the group continues to operate the railway today.

The demise of the last of the steam locomotives in Victoria commenced in the 1960s, with the [[Australian Railway Historical Society]] and Association of Railway Enthusiasts working with the Victorian Railways to have a number of locomotives preserved for the future.<ref>{{cite book | publisher = A.R.H.S. (Victoria Div) | title = Excursion to Fyansford | date = 20 April 1965 }}</ref> In 1962 the [[Australian Railway Historical Society Museum]] was established at [[Williamstown North]] to house static exhibits,<ref>{{cite web | title = About us | work = ARHS Railway Museum | url = http://www.railwaymuseum.org.au/aboutus.html | access-date = 19 February 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090303040233/http://www.railwaymuseum.org.au/aboutus.html | archive-date = 3 March 2009 | url-status = dead}}</ref> and [[Steamrail Victoria]] was formed in 1965 to assist in the restoration of locomotives and carriages for use on [[Restored trains|special trains]].<ref>{{cite web | title = About Us | work = Steamrail Victoria | url = http://www.steamrail.com.au/srv_aboutus.html | access-date = 19 February 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080319000244/http://www.steamrail.com.au/srv_aboutus.html |archive-date = 19 March 2008}}</ref>

* [[707 Operations]], Newport
* DERMPAV (Diesel Electric Rail Motor Preservation Association of Victoria), Newport
* [[Puffing Billy Railway]], Belgrave
* [[Mornington Railway]], Mornington
* [[Newport Railway Museum]], Newport
* [[Steamrail Victoria]], Newport
* [[Yarra Valley Railway]], Healesville

== Legislation, governance and access ==

=== Key statutes ===
{{Main|Transport Integration Act}}
{{See also|Director of Public Transport|V/Line|VicTrack|Transport Act 1983|Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983}}
The prime rail statute in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] is the [[Transport Integration Act]].  The Act establishes the [[Department of Transport (Victoria, 2008–13)|Department of Transport]] as the integration agency for Victoria's transport system.  The Act also establishes and sets the charters of the state agencies charged with providing public transport rail services and managing network access for freight services, namely the [[Director of Public Transport]] and [[V/Line]].  In addition, the Act creates [[VicTrack]] which owns the public rail network and associated infrastructure.  Another important statute is the Rail Management Act 1996<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/LTObject_Store/LTObjSt3.nsf/DDE300B846EED9C7CA257616000A3571/742548D962C75039CA257761002C52FD/$FILE/96-79a050.pdf |title=Rail Management Act 1996<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=30 October 2010 |archive-date=19 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319022403/http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/LTObject_Store/LTObjSt3.nsf/DDE300B846EED9C7CA257616000A3571/742548D962C75039CA257761002C52FD/$FILE/96-79a050.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> which confers powers on rail operators and provides for a rail access scheme for the state's rail network.

=== Safety ===

==== Regulation ====
{{Main|Rail Safety Act}}
{{See also|Director, Transport Safety}}
The safety of rail operations in [[Melbourne]] is regulated by the [[Rail Safety Act|Rail Safety Act 2006]] which applies to all commercial passenger and freight operations as well as tourist and heritage railways.<ref>Official copy of the [[Rail Safety Act]] from the Victorian Government legislation web site – http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/LTObject_Store/LTObjSt3.nsf/DDE300B846EED9C7CA257616000A3571/6D4190C62DE6207FCA257761002C568A/$FILE/06-9a016.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706122710/http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/LTObject_Store/LTObjSt3.nsf/DDE300B846EED9C7CA257616000A3571/6D4190C62DE6207FCA257761002C568A/$FILE/06-9a016.pdf |date=6 July 2011 }}</ref> The Act creates a framework containing safety duties for all rail industry participants and requires rail operators who manage infrastructure and rolling stock to obtain accreditation prior to commencing operations.  Accredited rail operators are also required to have a [[Safety Management Systems|safety management system]] to guide their operations.

[[Sanctions (law)|Sanctions]] applying to the safety scheme established under the [[Rail Safety Act]] are contained in the Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983.<ref>See Part 7 of the Act.  Official copy of the Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983 from the official Victorian Government legislation site – http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/LTObject_Store/LTObjSt5.nsf/DDE300B846EED9C7CA257616000A3571/7BB774D3E0245B77CA2577CE00030B90/$FILE/83-9921a153.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317105704/http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/LTObject_Store/LTObjSt5.nsf/DDE300B846EED9C7CA257616000A3571/7BB774D3E0245B77CA2577CE00030B90/$FILE/83-9921a153.pdf |date=17 March 2011 }}</ref> The safety [[regulatory agency|regulator]] for the rail system in [[Melbourne]] is the [[Director, Transport Safety]] (trading as [[Director, Transport Safety|Transport Safety Victoria]]) whose office is established under the [[Transport Integration Act|Transport Integration Act 2010]].

==== Investigation ====
{{Main|Chief Investigator, Transport Safety}}
Rail operators in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] can also be the subject of no blame investigations conducted by the [[Chief Investigator, Transport Safety]] or the [[Australian Transport Safety Bureau]](ATSB).  The Chief Investigator is charged by the [[Transport Integration Act]]<ref>[[Transport Integration Act 2010]], Part 7.</ref> with conducting investigations into rail safety matters including incidents and trends.  ATSB, on the other hand, has jusridiction over the same matters where they occur on the Defined Interstate Rail Network.

=== Ticketing and conduct ===
Ticketing requirements for public transport in [[Melbourne]] are mainly contained in the Transport (Ticketing) Regulations 2006<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/LTObject_Store/LTObjSt5.nsf/DDE300B846EED9C7CA257616000A3571/C6D777772BB02CD3CA2577A5007CB77B/$FILE/06-86sr004.pdf |title=Transport (Ticketing) Regulations 2006<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=30 October 2010 |archive-date=7 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307161104/http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/LTObject_Store/LTObjSt5.nsf/DDE300B846EED9C7CA257616000A3571/C6D777772BB02CD3CA2577A5007CB77B/$FILE/06-86sr004.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> and the Victorian Fares and Ticketing Manual.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/fares-tickets/victorian-fares-and-ticketing-manual|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514122346/http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/fares-tickets/victorian-fares-and-ticketing-manual/|url-status=dead |title=Victorian Fares and Ticketing Manual – Metlink – Your guide to public transport in Melbourne and Victoria<!-- Bot generated title -->|archivedate=14 May 2011}}</ref> Rules about safe and fair conduct on trains and trams in [[Melbourne]] are generally contained in the [[Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/PubLawToday.nsf/a12f6f60fbd56800ca256de500201e54/6ff43affd338ea35ca2577c60082b59c!OpenDocument |title=Victorian Law Today Act<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=30 October 2010 |archive-date=7 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307161208/http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/PubLawToday.nsf/a12f6f60fbd56800ca256de500201e54/6ff43affd338ea35ca2577c60082b59c!OpenDocument |url-status=live }}</ref> and the Transport (Conduct) Regulations 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/PubLawToday.nsf/b12e276826f7c27fca256de50022686b/2e01dcbed2e5778cca2574e20017da2c!OpenDocument |title=Victorian Law Today Statutory Rule<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=30 October 2010 |archive-date=20 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920232220/http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/PubLawToday.nsf/b12e276826f7c27fca256de50022686b/2e01dcbed2e5778cca2574e20017da2c!OpenDocument |url-status=live }}</ref> If Metro does not reach its Punctuality and Delivery goals they will give out compensation to eligible customers. In the month of December 2014, Metro Trains had a delivery rate of 98.5%, and a Punctuality rate of 93.60%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metrotrains.com.au/metro-performance/ |title=Metro Performance {{!}} Metro Trains |access-date=30 January 2015 |archive-date=31 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150131232123/http://www.metrotrains.com.au/metro-performance/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014, Metro Trains were accused of not stopping at underpopulated suburbs' stations in order to arrive on time, this practise has been condemned by the general public and the media. They have offered compensation to affected passengers.

=== Tourist and heritage railways ===
{{Main|Tourist and Heritage Railways Act}}
Tourist and Heritage Railways in [[Melbourne]] and [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] are currently governed by provisions in the Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983.  In future, they will be regulated by the recently enacted [[Tourist and Heritage Railways Act|Tourist and Heritage Railways Act 2010]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/PubStatbook.nsf/f932b66241ecf1b7ca256e92000e23be/e2cbeabed816bbcdca2577c1001d6f7a!OpenDocument |title=Victorian Statute Book Act<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=30 October 2010 |archive-date=12 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312161246/http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/PubStatbook.nsf/f932b66241ecf1b7ca256e92000e23be/e2cbeabed816bbcdca2577c1001d6f7a!OpenDocument |url-status=live }}</ref> which commenced in October 2011.

==See also==
* [[Transport Act 1983]]

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Further reading and reviews==
* ''A review of Melbourne's Rail Franchising reforms'' Currie, Graham (2009) Journeys, [https://web.archive.org/web/20110815213035/http://www.ltaacademy.gov.sg/doc/J09Nov-p36Currie_RailFranchising.pdf Singapore Land Transit Authority Academy]
* ''Refranchising Melbourne's metropolitan train and tram networks'' Deloitte Touche Thomatsu (2007), [https://web.archive.org/web/20100403021226/http://www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/gamut/pdf/value-assesment.pdf Department of Infrastructure]
* ''The reliability of Melbourne's trains 1993–2007'' Mees, Dr. Paul (2007); [https://web.archive.org/web/20100403021220/http://www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/gamut/pdf/train-reliability.pdf University of Melbourne Urban Planning Program paper] 
* {{cite book | last = Churchman | first = Geoffrey B. | authorlink = | title = Railway Electrification in Australia and New Zealand | publisher = IPL Books | date = 1995 | location = Sydney & Wellington  | page = | pages = 44–69 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 0-908876-79-3 }}

==External links==
* [http://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/ Public Transport Victoria] – official website of Melbourne's public transport authority
* [http://www.vicsig.net/ Vicsig] – Victorian railways enthusiast website
* [http://www.railpage.com.au/ Railpage Australia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829231301/http://www.railpage.com.au/ |date=29 August 2007 }} – enthusiast website
* [http://www.vlinecars.com/ V/LineCars.com] – Comprehensive V/Line carriage information & enthusiast website

{{Australian rail}}
{{MelbournePublicTransport}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Railways in Melbourne}}
[[Category:Public transport in Melbourne]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Melbourne|Railways in Melbourne]]