Recently, I had the opportunity to appear in a Mitchell Shire Council advocacy video supporting the push for a Beveridge train station. It was exciting to be involved because better public transport is something our growing community desperately needs.
Beveridge has grown rapidly, and the current transport options do not match the needs of the community. A train station would provide residents with better access to jobs, education, health services and Melbourne’s wider transport network.
However, while I fully support getting a station built in Beveridge, I think we need to make sure we are building the right station, not just the fastest station.
The current advocacy focus is around a V/Line station at Beveridge. A V/Line station would be a major improvement compared to having no train service at all, but there is a risk that building a standalone regional station could leave Beveridge with limited services for decades.
The bigger opportunity is extending the Upfield line through to Wallan and creating a proper metropolitan rail connection for Melbourne’s northern growth corridor. Previous transport planning has identified that reconnecting and extending the Upfield corridor could help manage growth, improve capacity and allow more services to operate in Melbourne’s north.
Why V/Line is not the complete solution
V/Line trains have an advantage because they are designed for longer-distance travel. VLocity trains can reach higher speeds than metropolitan trains, with V/Line listing speeds of up to 160 km/h for VLocity services.
However, speed is only one part of the problem.
A faster train does not always mean more capacity. V/Line services still need to share parts of the northern corridor with metropolitan trains. This means every train needs a path through the network, often called a “slot”.
The signalling system manages these train movements by keeping safe distances between services. While this is essential for safety, it also creates a limit on how many trains can run through the same section of track.
During busy periods, adding more V/Line services means finding more available train paths, which can be difficult when the corridor is already heavily used by Craigieburn line trains.
The issue is not simply how fast a train can travel, it is whether there is enough space in the timetable to run the number of services the growing population will need.
The Craigieburn corridor capacity problem
The northern rail corridor is becoming increasingly important as suburbs such as Beveridge, Donnybrook and Wallan continue to grow.
The Craigieburn line is already under pressure, and more growth will increase demand. Previous discussions around the Upfield extension have highlighted that the Craigieburn corridor faces capacity challenges and that a different pathway for regional services could help reduce pressure.
The shared corridor also means that disruptions can affect many passengers. If there is an incident, signalling problem or track issue, it can impact both metropolitan passengers and regional passengers because they rely on the same infrastructure.
Why the Upfield extension could be the bigger solution
Extending the Upfield line to Wallan could solve multiple problems at once.
It could:
- Provide Beveridge with a metropolitan rail connection.
- Create more capacity by giving regional services another pathway.
- Reduce pressure on the Craigieburn line.
- Allow both Craigieburn and Upfield lines to move towards more frequent services.
- Better support the growing communities in Melbourne’s north.
A metropolitan service is designed differently from a regional service. Instead of focusing on faster journeys over long distances, it focuses on frequent services, all-day availability and moving large numbers of people.
The long-term goal should be a network where residents can turn up and catch a train without needing to plan their entire day around a timetable.
The risk of building the wrong station
My concern is that if Beveridge receives a station designed only for V/Line services, we may solve today’s problem but create tomorrow’s.
A station that is not designed for future metropolitan services could require expensive upgrades later. This could involve rebuilding platforms, changing signalling, modifying tracks and making other major infrastructure changes.
It would be frustrating to spend significant money building a new station, only to discover that it cannot provide the level of service Beveridge needs as the population continues to grow.
A future-ready station should be designed with the possibility of metropolitan services from the beginning, even if those services are introduced later.
Beveridge deserves a transport solution that lasts
Getting a station at Beveridge is important, but the goal should not simply be having a train station on a map.
The goal should be a reliable, frequent and accessible transport connection that supports the community for generations.
Beveridge is one of Melbourne’s fastest-growing areas. The decisions made today will shape transport in the area for the next 50 years.
I am proud to have been involved in advocating for Beveridge Station, but I hope the conversation continues beyond simply building a station.
The real question is not just “Can we build a station?”
The real question is “Can we build a station that is ready for the future?”