Premier Ben Carroll will announce on Friday that five Melbourne train lines, Mernda, Hurstbridge, Belgrave, Lilydale and Glen Waverley, will have turn-up-and-go services with trains running every 10 minutes on most sections from 7am to 7pm on weekdays and 9.30am to 7pm on weekends, if Labor wins the November 28 state election. The $100 million pledge aims to maximise benefits from the Metro Tunnel, which opened.
The new timetables represent a significant boost in services for most of the five lines. Mernda trains, currently running up to every 20 minutes, would run every 10 minutes; Hurstbridge trains would run every 10 minutes as far as Greensborough, down from 20. Glen Waverley trains would run every 10 minutes, down from 15. The only exception is for commuters using stations after Ringwood on the Lilydale and Belgrave lines: trains on that outer section would run every 20 minutes, down from every 30. From Ringwood to the CBD, services would be every 10 minutes.
“A turn-up-and-go service is what Victorians deserve, and only Labor will deliver it,” Carroll said in a statement. “Under Labor, you’ll wait less time for a train and pay less to catch it.”
The pledge comes after the Metro Tunnel’s “big switch” timetable in February, which introduced 10-minute services on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines that run through the tunnel. In August, extra weekly services were added to the Craigieburn and Upfield lines, and the new cross-city Sandringham-to-Werribee service also gained 10-minute weekday frequencies. If delivered, Labor’s fresh announcement would be the biggest uplift to the eastern and north-eastern lines since the tunnel opened.
On Thursday, Carroll committed $420 million to add 550 V/Line services to outer suburban and regional communities during off-peak hours, with commuters along the Melton and Wyndham Vale lines the main beneficiaries. The Coalition has offered a different approach for Melbourne’s west, pledging hybrid trains that can use V/Line tracks to deliver a metropolitan-style commuter service sooner than full electrification. Labor has also promised a weekly public transport fare cap of $30 if re-elected, replacing half-price fares that expire on January 1. The Coalition has not matched the fare cap but has promised a $50 weekly cap on road tolls, which Labor then matched and sought to top by promising a $30 limit.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Commuters on five major lines would see substantially shorter wait times, improving daily travel for thousands of passengers.
- The pledge is a key election pitch for Labor as it seeks to retain government in a tight race, highlighting the benefits of the Metro Tunnel investment.
- If implemented, the changes would represent the largest service boost for eastern and north-eastern Melbourne since the tunnel opened, potentially shifting commuting patterns and car use.
Background
The Metro Tunnel, a project of the former Andrews government, opened in early 2025. Its “big switch” timetable in February 2025 already delivered 10-minute frequencies on the three lines (Sunbury, Cranbourne, Pakenham) that run through it, freeing capacity in the City Loop. Labor has long promised that the tunnel would enable major service improvements across the network. The Coalition has not matched Labor’s train frequency pledge but has focused on improving western suburbs services with hybrid trains.
Key Perspectives
Premier Ben Carroll (Labor): Argues turn-up-and-go services are what Victorians deserve and that only Labor will deliver them, with shorter waits and lower fares.
The Coalition: Has pledged to boost services in Melbourne’s west using hybrid trains on V/Line tracks as an interim step before electrification, and has promised a $50 weekly cap on road tolls (which Labor later matched and topped with a $30 cap).
What to Watch
- The outcome of the November 28 state election and whether Labor retains government.
- If re-elected, the detailed timetable rollout and whether the promised frequencies are delivered on schedule.
- Any Coalition response or competing pledge on eastern and north-eastern lines before election day.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
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- SupportedLabor promises turn-up-and-go train services on five Melbourne lines.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “On Friday, Premier Ben Carroll will promise that the Mernda, Hurstbridge, Belgrave, Lilydale and Glen Waverley lines will have turn-up-and-go services”
- Partly supportedCarroll has pledged the services if re-elected, as part of a $100 million boost for eastern and north-eastern lines.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “On Friday, Premier Ben Carroll will promise that the Mernda, Hurstbridge, Belgrave, Lilydale and Glen Waverley lines will have turn-up-and-go services – meaning trains come every 10 minutes, and more regularly in peak periods – if he remains in power after the November 28 state election. Details of the $100 million commitment have been provided to this masthead before the announcement.”
- SupportedThe five lines would have 10-minute services during the stated weekday and weekend hours if Labor wins the November 28 election.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The new timetables will apply from 7am to 7pm on weekdays, and from 9.30am to 7pm on weekends.”
- SupportedThe $100 million commitment aims to maximise the benefits of the Metro Tunnel, which has opened.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Five Melbourne lines would have trains running at least every 10 minutes until 7pm every day under a Labor plan that seeks to maximise the benefits of the Metro Tunnel.”
- SupportedMernda trains would improve from up to every 20 minutes to every 10 minutes; Hurstbridge trains would run every 10 minutes as far as Greensborough, down from 20; and Glen Waverley trains would run every 10 minutes, down from 15.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Trains currently run up to every 20 minutes for Mernda and Hurstbridge passengers, and every 15 minutes on the Glen Waverley line. [...] Mernda Line : Trains every 10 minutes, down from 20 minutes. Hurstbridge : Trains every 10 minutes as far as Greensborough, down from 20. [...] Glen Waverley Line : Trains every 10 minutes, down from 15.”
- SupportedThe Lilydale and Belgrave services after Ringwood would run every 20 minutes instead of every 30, while services from Ringwood to the CBD would run every 10 minutes.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Trains run every half an hour on this section of the network, which would come down to every 20 minutes. From Ringwood to the CBD, services will be every 10 minutes.”
- SupportedCarroll said, “A turn-up-and-go service is what Victorians deserve, and only Labor will deliver it,” in a statement.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““A turn-up-and-go service is what Victorians deserve, and only Labor will deliver it,” Carroll said in a statement.”
- SupportedCarroll said, “Under Labor, you’ll wait less time for a train and pay less to catch it.”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““Under Labor, you’ll wait less time for a train and pay less to catch it.””
- SupportedThe February “big switch” timetable brought 10-minute services to the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines, and August brought extra weekly services to the Craigieburn and Upfield lines.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The lines that run through the Metro Tunnel – Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham – already have 10-minute services after the “big switch” timetable was launch in February. In August, an extra 115 weekly services were added to the Craigieburn line and 77 weekly services added to the Upfield line.”
- SupportedIf delivered, the announcement would be the biggest uplift to the eastern and north-eastern lines since the Metro Tunnel opened.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Labor’s fresh announcement, if delivered, would be the biggest uplift to the eastern and north-eastern lines since the tunnel opened.”
- SupportedOn Thursday, Carroll committed $420 million for 550 additional V/Line services during off-peak hours, with Melton and Wyndham Vale commuters the main beneficiaries.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “On Thursday, Carroll committed $420 million to add 550 V/Line services to outer suburban and regional communities during off-peak hours. Commuters along the Melton and Wyndham Vale lines will be the main beneficiaries.”
- SupportedLabor has promised a $30 weekly public transport fare cap if re-elected, while the Coalition has promised a $50 weekly road-toll cap that Labor matched and sought to beat with a $30 limit.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Labor has also promised a weekly public transport fare cap of $30 if re-elected, to replace half-price fares that will expire on January 1. The Coalition has not matched this commitment but has promised a $50 weekly cap on road tolls, which Labor then matched and sought to top by promising a $30 limit.”