The number of trains stopping at Caroline Springs station will double when a new V/Line timetable comes into effect in August.
The state government released the new timetable last week which will deliver an extra 142 services across the network from August 27.
Due to demand for services at Caroline Springs station, all Ballarat line trains will stop at the station between 9am and 4pm.
Currently only about half of all trains departing Bacchus Marsh stop at Caroline Springs but once the new timetable comes into effect, all trains departing Bacchus March and Wendouree will stop at the new station during the day.
Caroline Springs will also get five extra services on Saturdays and four on Sundays that will see the frequency between weekend trains whittled down from 90 to 60 minutes.
A new evening service will run on weeknights and a late night service that currently operates on Fridays will run every night of the week.
Deer Park station will also benefit from the timetable changes. More off-peak and weekend services on the Geelong line will stop there, giving Deer Park commuters an extra 200 services each week.
Kororoit MP Marlene Kairouz said the new V/Line timetable was a “massive win for local passengers”.
“We’re funding and delivering more services while we get on with our $518 million upgrade of the Ballarat line to run more trains, more often through Melbourne’s west,” she said.
The upgrade is duplicating a 17-kilometre section of single track between Deer Park and Melton to allow for the electrification of the train line to Melton. Completion is tipped for late 2019.
As part of the new timetable, some services will depart earlier or later and have different stopping patterns. New train timetables will be available on the V/Line website in late July.
