Five Melbourne train lines could receive more frequent services under a proposed Labor plan aimed at maximising the benefits of the Metro Tunnel.
Premier Ben Carroll is expected to announce on Friday that, if re-elected at the November 28 state election, Labor will introduce turn-up-and-go services on the Mernda, Hurstbridge, Belgrave, Lilydale and Glen Waverley lines.
Under the proposal, trains would run at least every 10 minutes, with even more frequent services during peak periods.
The $100 million commitment, details of which were provided to this masthead ahead of the official announcement, would see the new timetables operate between 7am and 7pm on weekdays and from 9.30am to 7pm on weekends.
The proposed changes would increase service frequency across most of the five lines. Currently, Mernda and Hurstbridge passengers can wait up to 20 minutes between trains, while Glen Waverley services operate every 15 minutes.
However, commuters travelling beyond Ringwood on the Lilydale and Belgrave lines would not receive the full 10-minute service frequency. Instead, trains on these sections would run every 20 minutes, improving on the current 30-minute intervals.
Passengers travelling between Ringwood and the CBD would benefit from trains running every 10 minutes.
