Posts from Upfield Transport Alliance blogsite

The following posts by John Englart have been reposted from Upfield Transport Alliance community campaign to duplicate, upgrade and extend the Upfield rail line in Melbourne’s northern suburbs. A complete set of posts can be found at https://upgradeupfieldline.wordpress.com/. The Resources page is at
https://upgradeupfieldline.wordpress.com/resources/.

Metro tunnel enables Turn up and go trains… just not for the Upfield line

May 13 2025

Increase in off-peak services with trains running at least every 20 minutes on the Upfield line, including late at night and on weekends. But plan falls far short of a promised 70 percent increase in capacity when Metro Tunnel opens.

Embedded video: https://youtu.be/ujfM3bpc-Os 

The Victorian Government announced nearly $5 billion investment yesterday into Melbourne’s train system, to operationalise the Metro tunnel, for upgrading Sunshine Station in preparation for Airport Rail, to deliver turn-up-and-go services for the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines that run through Metro tunnel.

Some $98.7 million will also deliver more frequent services for passengers on other lines. This includes extending the 20 minute service to late at night and at weekends for the Upfield Line and Craigieburn line.

But it falls far short of the 70 percent increase in capacity on the Upfield Line that was promised by the Premier when she was transport minister in 2018. Pascoe Vale MP Anthony Cianflone also promised in 2022 a 71 per cent increase in capacity when Metro Tunnel opened.

On New Years Day The Age reported on budget cuts made in 2024 to the Metro tunnel budget for ancillary projects such as turnbacks at Essendon on the Craigieburn line and Gowrie on the Upfield line that add to the efficiency of the Metro tunnel.

These would have enabled increase in frequency of service to portions of both lines.

For the Upfield line it could have meant a 10 minute peak hour service to Gowrie. That 71 percent increase in capacity promise might have been achieved.

Instead we are thrown crumbs of extending the 20 minute service to late night and the weekends.

We were promised a 70 percent increase, but instead being given something like a 7 percent increase.

What we need

  • We need the State Government to release the 2016 Somerton Link Report
  • We need the Premier and State Labor MPs to keep their commitment for a 70% increase in capacity on the Upfield line when Metro Tunnel Opens.
  • We need an end to the bullshit and a real commitment to duplicate the Upfield line between Gowrie and Upfield, and extend it to Craigieburn, which will relieve capacity on trains using the Broadmeadows line.
  • We need a prioritisation of electrification and extension of the suburban rail network to Wallan
  • We need a 10 minute service on the Upfield line, with ours being one of the worst lines for service frequency in the Melbourne suburban rail network.

Please see our September 25, 2023 article: Demands for Upfield Line track duplication and line extension to Wallan grow, which explains the Rail Network Development Plan and the changing demographics, and the Northern Transport corridor capacity issues raised by Infrastructure Australia.

References:

2 January 2025 – Upfield and Craigieburn lines shafted in Metro tunnel budget cuts

12 May 2025 – Premier of Victoria media release – PT Blitz: More Train Services, Metro Tunnel And Airport Rail https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/pt-blitz-more-train-services-metro-tunnel-and-airport-rail

——————————


Top

Upfield and Craigieburn lines shafted in Metro tunnel budget cuts

January 2 2025

It seems we can’t have good things in the northern and Western suburbs.

The Metro tunnel promised improvements in frequency and service. But network upgrades such as new turnback points at Gowrie and Essendon have been quietly dropped from the final plans for the project.

This means no 10 minute service on the Upfield Line even for peak periods.

John Englart, a Spokesperson for the Upfield Transport Alliance, said “This is penny pinching at its worst. These turnbacks and signaling upgrades were part of the Metro Tunnel Project to deliver efficiencies and a slightly better service.”

“Once again residents and users on the Craigieburn and Upfield lines in the northern suburbs are being shafted. by the Labor Government.”

The Age reported on the budget cutback on New Years Day. They listed the cuts included:

  • A train turn-back on the Upfield line at Gowrie needed to solve a single-track bottleneck that limits peak hour trains to one every 15 minutes.
  • A turn-back and platform extension at Essendon needed to run more trains on the Craigieburn line.
  • A turn-back at South Yarra to increase services to booming western suburbs on the Werribee and Williamstown lines.
  • The Park Street Link tram line extension in South Melbourne to reroute trams along Spencer Street, rather than Swanston, to boost services in the CBD’s west.

The Metro tunnel project is much needed for freeing up space in the city loop and expanding rail access with five new stations in areas near the CBD. The original $10.9 billion budget gradually blew out $15.6 billion. The 2016 business case said the network-wide upgrades were necessary to take full advantage of the project and needed to coincide with the completion of the tunnel.

According to the Age, the Metro Tunnel business case for day one operations in 2026 showed peak hour trains running every 10 minutes on the Upfield Line (compared to 15 to 20 minutes currently), less than every four minutes on the Craigieburn Line from Essendon (compared to every six minutes), and every five minutes from Werribee (compared to every 10 minutes).

The Network enhancements of turnbacks and signalling upgrades would cost $236 million. Daniel Bowen, a spokeperson for the Public Transport Users Association, told the Age:

“The Metro Tunnel is an opportunity to shake up the timetables and give Melbourne a vastly more usable train network,” he said. “Cutting them … means it will be more difficult to make the most of the capacity boost provided by this huge project.”

In terms of the Upfield Line and Craigieburn lines, Bowen said that without the upgrades, Upfield would continue to have the most infrequent peak-hour trains on the network and overcrowding would be a problem on the Craigieburn line.

Turnbacks at intermediate stations allow an increase in service and capacity for inner areas of Melbourne. They don’t help with those who live further out.

In fact, the way we have seen turnbacks used is for regular services to be short shunted whenever trains are running late. This helps the train service to meet its frequency statistics. But it doesn’t help passengers that live past the turn back, who have to wait much longer for the next service. And passengers are left stranded due to short shuntings, when they left waiting for a train home.

What we really need to address the capacity issues in the Northern Suburbs is the Upfield station upgraded to two platforms, the Upfield Line duplicated between Gowrie and Upfield with a new station at Campbellfield, and the line extended to Craigieburn via the Somerton link.

Upgrading the single platform station at Upfield to two platforms would enable a more frequent service, even with a single track.

These upgrades would allow increasing the frequency of service on the Upfield line to a true 10 minute service. It would also offer Craigieburn passengers an alternate route to the city.

An extension of electrified suburban rail to Wallan is also required, which would help relieve car dependency and congestion in the Hume Highway and Craigieburn bypass. There are many new residential developments north of Craigieburn with the population set to exceed 100,000 over the next decade. Good public transport is needed to service this growing population.

Update: From a 6 year old article in The Age, November 6, 2018: “Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said the Metro Tunnel would deliver major benefits to the Upfield line, by creating space for 70 per cent more passengers in the peak and would ‘pave the way for the future duplication of the line’.”

See also Anthony Cianflone, Labor Candidate now MP for Pascoe Vale during 2022 election campaign at the Metropolitan Transport Forum, promising a 71% increase in services when Metro tunnel opens. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1764267434367861

Clearly the ALP will be braking an election promise if they don’t move the Turnback, at minimum, to Gowrie station, to allow an increase in services on the Upfield Line.

Jacinta Allan is now Premier and we expect her government to fulfill that promise of 70% increase in capacity during peak hours, and move to duplicate and extend the Upfield Line.

References:

Patrick Hatch, The Age, January 1, 2025 — 2.02pm, Quiet cuts to Metro Tunnel scope raise questions over what services will actually be delivered https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/metro-tunnel-promises-more-trains-more-often-but-will-it-deliver-20241211-p5kxj5.html

Timna Jacks, The Age, November 6, 2018, Sluggish Upfield’s service boost still seven years away, https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/sluggish-upfield-s-service-boost-still-seven-years-away-20181106-p50e8u.html

Posted on January 2, 2025
By John Englart

——————————

Top

Demands for Upfield Line track duplication and line extension to Wallan grow

September 25 2023

For the second time in a week residents in Melbourne’s north gathered at Gowrie Station in Fawkner calling for the Andrews Government to duplicate the line to Upfield and extend it north to Craigieburn and Wallan.

Now is the time for the State Government to start work on upgrading the Upfield line. The first stage would be upgrading the single track between Gowrie and Upfield stations to duplicated track done as a priority. Upgrade of Upfield station to dual platform should be part of this work and build the Campbellfield Station, which would provide good public transport access for Campbellfield Plaza.

A second stage would be extending the tracks along the Somerton line to Roxburgh Park and to Craigieburn. This would require grade separation of the inland rail track at Roxburgh Park and incorporate station access at Roxburgh Park.

A third stage would involve extending the dual track, with electrification through Donnybrook and Mickleham to Wallan.

By 2031 the population north of Craigieburn in areas such as Kalkallo, Mickleham, Donnybrook, Beveridge and Wallan is projected to be between 90,000 and 100,000.

This is a matter of addressing social equity in providing good transport for the northern suburbs, with many of us having high car dependency, mortgage stress and cost of living pressures. Good public transport can ease some of that pressure.

Infrastructure Australia identified the importance of addressing the Melbourne outer northern suburbs to CBD transport capacity issues several years ago:

Problem
“The 2015 Australian Infrastructure Audit noted that by 2031 the Hume Freeway would become the most congested corridor in Victoria, with a total delay cost of around $172 million per year. The Audit also projects that demand for rail transit in the corridor, on the Craigieburn Line, will exceed capacity by a factor of four by 2031. In the absence of transport capacity improvements, the Audit indicates that daily vehicle movements on the Hume Freeway would grow from 43,100 in 2011 to 107,400 by 2031, making the rail line the most crowded in Melbourne.

“Traffic demand growth along the corridor is expected to be driven by population and employment growth in the area. Victorian Government projections indicate that population in the corridor is expected to almost double between 2015 and 2031, while the Northern Growth Corridor Plan indicates the corridor has the capacity to accommodate between 83,000 and 105,000 new jobs.”

Proposed initiative
“Develop options to address demand for transport services in the corridor.”

Infrastructure Australia report 2020 – See our report

There has been silence from the Andrews government on track duplication and extension to Wallan, even though they spent $5 million in 2018 (noted in budget papers) to produce the Somerton link report which has been kept under wraps since, with local MPs kept in the dark on its contents. (See email request for this report and response from Minister for Transport Infrastructure, September 2018)

The Andrews government promises improvement of frequency on the Upfield Line when the bottleneck in the city loop is resolved with the Metro tunnel opens. But they don’t say the increase in services will only be for peak times and will terminate at Coburg, so all the residents living further north will continue to miss out on any improvement.

Trains will continue to be short shunted on an as needs basis at Coburg so Metro trains can meet its statistics commitments for level of service.

Addressing the bottleneck of the single track between Gowrie and Upfield is the only way to expand increased frequency to all residents along the train line.

As part of the State’s big build, Major Roads Victoria  have just spent $518 million on a 4.5km stretch of the M80 ring road from Sydney Road to Edgars Road that includes where the Craigieburn bypass meets the ring road. 

The 2019 Rail Futures study called for Upfield Line Track Duplication and extension to Craigieburn by 2024, and double track extension and electrification to Wallan by 2028.

Climate Action Merribek, one of our member organisations, noted the drop in the Labor vote in 2022 across the northern suburbs within the northern transport corridor and proposed that silence on improving public transport may have contributed to that result.

Where is the investment in upgrading the rail transport for the north?

Notes on the Rail Network Development Plan and demographics

Some notes from Network Development Plan – Metropolitan Rail (December 2012 as updated in 2016)

The Network Development Plan sets out stages and priorities for development of Melbourne’s suburban rail network.

The plan sets out 4 stages, and we are currently in Stage 2 of the plan. It is possible for elements of the plan to be delayed or moved forward according to political priorities and other projects. The extension from South Morang to Mernda was in stage 4 to be done in the early 2030s but a local campaign and political decision brought this project forward, and was completed in 2019.

Just to note: there is no mention of re-instatement of Campbellfield Station in the plan.

Stage 2 (within 10 years) – ie 2012-2022):

– Upfield second platform
Note: Stage 2 includes Metro tunnel, forecast to open in 2025. When the Metro tunnel opens, 6 services an hour at peak time on the Upfield line would involve interweaving a service from Upfield with a service terminating either at Coburg or Gowrie. The Second Platform at Upfield is also needed. See section 11.4. There is already a failure to implement a second platform at Upfield according to this timetable.

Stage 3 (within 15 years) – ie 2012-2027)

– Reinstatement of the Somerton to Upfield link

Note see sections 13.4 and 14.8. The line between Gowrie to Upfield would need duplication in combination with constructing the Somerton Link (See 14.8)

Stage 4 (within 20 years) – ie 2012-2032)

– Electrification projects to Geelong and Wallan

– Extension to Mernda and new stabling facilities (already completed in 2019)

Note: See section 15.6 (Sandringham to Wallan) and 16.3 (Electrification to Wallan)

Take note that stages do not denote specific years, and work for later stages is sometimes dependent on previous stages. Also note that projects can be advanced: the extension of South Morang to Mernda extension was a stage 4 project for early 2030s completed in 2019.

Population Growth north of Craigieburn

The Network Development Plan presupposes a certain level of residential development for demand for rail services, but may be greatly underestimating the development that has already taken place in the ten years since it was first written in 2012 and will take place in the next 20 years.. It also does not take into account more recent climate imperative to encourage mode share use from private vehicles to increased public and active transport.

So what are the present population forecasts for some of the important locations north of Craigieburn?

City of Hume, City of Whittlesea and Mitchell Shire all have substantial residential developments that would feed people into using the Upfield extension to Wallan. 

Kalkallo: 5,049 in 2021, forecast to be 9,624 in 2026, 13,145 in 2031, 17,369 by 2041.

Mickleham: 15,011 in 2021, forecast to be 24,486 in 2026, 34,312 in 2031, 47,670 by 2041.

Donnybrook: 2,232 in 2021, forecast to be 12,103 in 2026, 25,829 in 2031, 52,664 by 2041

Beveridge: 4,642 in 2021, Forecast for 2022 is 6,034, forecast to grow to 78,191 by 2041

Wallan: Forecast for 2022 is 16,444, forecast to grow to 49,871 by 2041.

Infrastructure Australia Northern suburbs Transport corridor early stage Proposal (first proposed 2016)

Melbourne outer northern suburbs to CBD capacity upgrade

“The 2019 Australian Infrastructure Audit forecasts that daily vehicle movements on the Hume Freeway would grow from 54,577 in 2016 to 105,682 by 2031.


“The Audit analysis shows that both AM and PM peak-period traffic volumes will be at capacity by 2031, causing congestion and significant delays along the corridor.

“Rail patronage is forecast to increase from 700 to 9,000 trips per AM peak on a weekday.”

Rail patronage could be much more than 9,000 if suburban rail was extended to Wallan and feeder bus routes and direct safe cycling routes with secure bike parking was provided at stations on the line. 

It is more important that the Upfield line be extended to Wallan before considering expansion of the Craigieburn bypass, which is already reaching congestion levels at certain peak times.

Providing good public transport to reduce car dependency for outer suburbs is important to reduce congestion on arterial roads like the Hume Freeway and Craigieburn Bypass as well as inner urban suburbs. It is also an equity issue for those who cannot drive in these new suburbs..

References

——————————

Top

Questions to Kathleen Matthews Ward MP regarding Upfield Train Line Upgrade

August 30 2023

On 7th August John Englart and Jan Carr from the Upfield Transport Alliance met with Kathleen Matthews Ward, MP for Broadmeadows.

We discussed the need to upgrade and extend the Upfield line in the context of the northern transport corridor and urban development in the northern suburbs. This takes into account the projected growth in population in the new residential suburbs and the capacity of the present Criagieburn line, as well as social equity considerations.

Duplication of track between Gowrie and Upfield, new station at Campbellfield, track extension to Craigieburn and eventually Wallan to serve the growing residential suburbs as part of transport equity.

Some focus on how public transport will be provided when Upfield line is closed for Brunswick level crossing removal.

We asked Kathleen to ask to see the Somerton Link report completed for $5 million in 2018, which has not been released to the public.

It was a friendly conversation, but few answers we can report. This list was given to Kathleen.

Upfield Line Upgrade questions

  1. Re: closure of the Upfield line whilst the level crossings are removed in Brunswick.
    1. When will the work to remove level crossings begin and how long do they anticipate the Upfield Line will be closed?
    2. What arrangements will be in place to provide public transport to those users getting on and off on stations between Coburg and Upfield? e.g. will a shuttle train service be operated between Upfield and Coburg or will there be replacement buses?
    3. What arrangements will there be to provide an equal service to people with disabilities when the Upfield Line is closed?
  2. Re: Duplication of the single-track line between Gowrie and Upfield.
    1. When does the State Government intend to duplicate the line between Gowrie and Upfield?
    2. What will it cost to duplicate this 4km (approx.) of track between Gowrie and Upfield?
    3. Is it necessary to remove the level crossing at Barry Road (close to Upfield Station) before the line can be duplicated?
  3. Increasing frequency to 10 minutes on the Upfield Line
    1. How will parity with other parts of the metro rail system be guaranteed in operating a 10-minute service along the entire Upfield Line?
    2. Is the intention of the state government to only operate a 10-minute service between the city and Coburg once the metro tunnel is completed?
    3. Is the plan to increase frequency to every 10 minutes only in peak hours?
    4. Is there a plan to increase frequency of evening trains currently operating every 30 minutes?
    5. What would it cost to install the necessary signalling and cross over at Gowrie to permit trains to operate at 10-minute intervals to and from Gowrie
  4. Extending the Upfield Line
    1. When is the State Government extending the Upfield Line to Roxburgh Park/Summerton?
    2. When is the State Government releasing the $5 million 2018 report on the Summerton Link?
    3. When is the State Government extending the Upfield Line to rapidly growing areas north of Roxburgh Park to Wallan?
    4. Can it be confirmed that the State Government is moving to driverless trains and will use the Upfield Line to trial this?
    5. What is the time line for driverless trains on the Upfield Line?
  5. Train Station at Campbellfield
    1. When is the state government reinstating the much-needed railway station at Campbellfield?
    2. What is the cost of building a station at Campbellfield?

——————————

Top

Vote for the Upfield Train Line

October 28 2022

Single track at Upfield station

Dear Upfield passengers, as you are aware – service frequency and reliability is still poor. The Moreland-Bell skyrail has done nothing to give people in the northern suburbs from Flemington to Upfield (and beyond) a decent train service that is comparable to other parts of metropolitan Melbourne.

Unfortunately, the current government continues to claim that the completion of the Metro Tunnel 1 (late 2025) will see 6 services per hour during peak times, instead of the current 3-4.

But with the 4km section of single track from Gowrie to Upfield, this could only be achieved if a train-turnaround point is installed, likely at Gowrie or Coburg. And this would mean only passengers living at these station or south would benefit. Of course, it also means there is no plan/commitment by the current government to extend the Upfield Line into the northern growth corridor where the population is booming.

Those living north of the Metro Ring Road would continue to be highly car-dependent, resulting is growing traffic congestion on roads through Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Campbellfield.

For true frequency and reliability on the Upfield line we need to get the line duplicated and a second platform at Upfield at the minimum, as soon as possible.

At a Pascoe Vale candidate’s forum on Wednesday night it was highly disappointing that the ALP candidate Anthony Cianflone made no commitment to lobby for the needed real improvements to the Upfield Line service.

If his party is re-elected, it has only committed to shutting the Upfield train line for 1-2 years to remove level crossings through Brunswick and completing Metro Tunnel 1, which only solves the line’s city-end bottleneck. The Brunswick level crossing removals would of course be the perfect time to make the above changes; duplication between Gowrie and Upfield to allow a 10-minute service frequency through all northern suburbs.

Similarly at the MTF Transport Forum Brunswick ALP candidate Mike Williams said while duplication was important, it was a different issue. He failed to support resolving the northern bottleneck with duplication concurrent with Brunswick Level Crossing Removal.

Duplicating the Upfield Line in the next term of government would also set the scene for extension of the line, providing transport equity for those living in the middle-outer northern suburbs of Melbourne, which will reduce traffic on streets.

Population is already growing and forecast to reach over 90,000 people by 2031 in the growth areas north of Craigieburn around Kalkallo, Mickleham, Donnybrook, Beveridge and Wallan. The Craigieburn line is also approaching capacity. We need the Upfield line duplicated, and extended via Somerton to Craigieburn and Wallan.

Please take the time over the next week to contact all of those vying for your vote on Nov 26 in both the upper and lower houses and show them that you understand the above, and the consequences of inaction by them and a failure to represent. Ask what commitments they can make to improve the Upfield Line and make it a frequent and reliable train service for the north.

The north must not be taken for granted any longer.

Here is a link to the recording of Wednesday night’s Active Transport Forum, where candidates vying for lower house seat of Pascoe Vale (Moreland Road to Boundary Road) discussed their parties’ plans for public transport, and improved walkability and safe cycling routes to public transport and other local destinations such as shops and schools.

Video -> https://youtu.be/lW4o90veqfY

————————————————–

Top

Upfield Line extension needed for northern suburbs transport corridor capacity issue

February 26 2020

Northern Suburbs Transport capacity – Infrastructure Australia

The latest report by Infrastructure Australia highlights that within 11 years the Hume Freeway will be the most congested corridor in Victoria, and the Craigieburn line will exceed capacity by a factor of four.

The transport capacity issue problem is listed as to be addressed in 10-15 years. This is far too long to wait given population growth of this region.

Now is the time for the State Government to start work on upgrading the Upfield line. The first stage would be upgrading the single track between Gowrie and Upfield stations to duplicated track done as a priority, during closure of the Upfield line due to elevation of the rail in Coburg with level crossing removal. Upgrade of Upfield station to dual platform should be part of this work.

A second stage would be extending the tracks along the Somerton line to Roxburgh Park and to Craigieburn. This would require grade separation of the inland rail track at Roxburgh Park and incorporate station access at Roxburgh Park. Campbellfield Station should be built, which would provide good public transport access for punters visiting The Meadows.

A third stage would involve extending the dual track, with electrification through Donnybrook and Mickleham to Wallan.

The Upfield bike path should be extended built as part of the staged construction.

We can’t afford to wait till 2030 for this work to start. Metro Tunnel will open in 2025. This will provide spare capacity in the loop for Upfield trains, but without addressing the single track problem in the north part of the line reliability and frequency cannot be addressed. Track duplication and upgrade to Upfield Station ideally should also be complete by 2025.

The Somerton extension to Craigieburn should also be completed by 2025, when Metro tunnel opens.

The extension to Wallan could occur by 2027-2028.
It is vital that good public transport is in place for the growing residential suburbs on Melbourne’s northern periphery. This will reduce traffic congestion and parking issues in suburbs closer to Melbourne. It is also a social equity issue enabling access to those who don’t drive, such as teenagers. Good public transport provision also means the possibility of fewer vehicles needed per family, a cost saving for families and in terms of reduced congestion and pollution.

Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan and Premier Daniel Andrews need to step up and address the increasing lack of good public transport in Melbourne’s northern region, given the population growth, which will become a crisis if not addressed in a reasonable time frame.

Sustainable Transport Campaigner John Englart at Extend the Upfield Bike Path campaign has provided an overview of cycling issues in the northern suburbs with projects listed in the Infrastructure Australia 2020 priority list.

Here is what the Infrastructure Australia report said on the Melbourne outer northern suburbs to CBD capacity upgrade:

Problem
“The 2015 Australian Infrastructure Audit noted that by 2031 the Hume Freeway would become the most congested corridor in Victoria, with a total delay cost of around $172 million per year. The Audit also projects that demand for rail transit in the corridor, on the Craigieburn Line, will exceed capacity by a factor of four by 2031. In the absence of transport capacity improvements, the Audit indicates that daily vehicle movements on the Hume Freeway would grow from 43,100 in 2011 to 107,400 by 2031, making the rail line the most crowded in Melbourne.

“Traffic demand growth along the corridor is expected to be driven by population and employment growth in the area. Victorian Government projections indicate that population in the corridor is expected to almost double between 2015 and 2031, while the Northern Growth Corridor Plan indicates the corridor has the capacity to accommodate between 83,000 and 105,000 new jobs.”

Proposed initiative
Develop options to address demand for transport services in the corridor.

Next steps
Proponent to be identified.

——————————————-
Our Call page (published 22/12/2018)
https://upgradeupfieldline.wordpress.com/our-call/

Our Call

20-minute train services at peak hour, train cancellations & overcrowding are normal on the Upfield Line.

The trains are infrequent because there is only a single track north of Gowrie. That means trains can’t pass each other and only a single train can be run.

The only way to improve services is to duplicate the Upfield track.

The State Government has NO plans to duplicate the Upfield track and increase trains on the Upfield Line for 15 years.

The urgent priority for the Upfield Transport Alliance is to get the single track to Upfield duplicated now. It could be done at the same time as the level crossing removals on the southern part of the line.

With massive housing developments happening, especially in Brunswick and Coburg and adjacent to the train line and as the Northern growth corridor expands we need more public transport to meet growth and increased demand and call for:

  • Duplication of track from Gowrie to Upfield
  • Extension of the Upfield line to Craigieburn & Wallan
  • Rebuilding Campbellfield station at Camp Road
  • All buses to run from the first train to the last train
  • Extend the Upfield bike path to Upfield

Endorsements

The Upfield Transport Alliance is endorsed by:

  • Fawkner Residents Association,
  • Brunswick Residents Network,
  • Sustainable Fawkner,
  • Moreland Community Action on Transport,
  • Upgrade the Upfield Bike Path to Upfield Campaign,
  • Climate Action Moreland,
  • Upgrade Upfield Corridor Committee.
  • The Public Transport Users Association
  • Moreland Bicycle Users Group
  • Fawkner Community House
  • Protectors of Public Lands

——————————–

Top

Sign the petition

Petition page: https://upgradeupfieldline.wordpress.com/sign-the-petition/

UPDATE: This petition to Victoria’s Legislative Council has now closed. It was presented to the parliament by Northern Metropolitan MLC Fiona Patten in September 2019. The E-petition accompanied a paper petition that carried more than 3000 signatures calling for duplication of the Upfield Line.

To sign the e-petition please click through to https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/council/petitions/electronic-petitions/view-e-petitions/details/12/109

or click on the image below:

Legislative Council e-petition

You can also download the petition and help us collect more signatures:
Duplicate Upfield Line Petition (PDF)

—————————————————-