Calder Park Sidings
Saturday 13 April 2024
The train stabling yard at Calder Park is located north of Watergardens station. The first stage opened in December 2014 was a three road yard large enough to stable six 6-car trains, with a second stage adding another three sidings in 2015. As part of the High Capacity Metro Train project, a light maintenance facility is also being constructed at the site.
Metro Tunnel test trains
Saturday 13 April 2024
On the morning of 25 July 2023 the first trains entered the Metro Tunnel via the South Yarra portal to commence the testing program. Additional trains have since been rotated through the tunnel, a full occupation being required on the mainline tracks so they can enter the normally blocked off junction. In November 2023 the first end-to-end testing from Footscray to Hawksburn was completed.
Metro Trains Melbourne - Northern group
Saturday 13 April 2024
Metro Trains Melbourne services on the Werribee, Altona, Williamstown, Sunbury, Craigieburn and Upfield lines that make up the Northern group.
Metro Trains Melbourne - Caulfield group
Sunday 7 April 2024
Metro Trains Melbourne services on the Pakenham, Cranbourne, Frankston and Sandringham lines that make up the Caulfield group.
High Capacity Metro Trains at Newport Workshops
Tuesday 2 April 2024
The new High Capacity Metro Train (HCMT) fleet is being assembled by Downer at the Newport Workshops in Melbourne's west, with the body shells assembled by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles in China.
HCMT transfer, April 2024
Tuesday 2 April 2024
On 2 April 2024 SSR locomotives T363 and T386 with power van BVDY51 delivered the fional brand new HCMT set 70 from Newport to Pakenham East.
Metro Trains Melbourne - Clifton Hill group
Sunday 31 March 2024
Metro Trains Melbourne services on the South Morang and Hurstbridge lines that make up the Clifton Hill group.
Poor service from Metro Trains Melbourne
Sunday 31 March 2024
Woeful service from Metro Trains Melbourne is a running joke - here are some examples.
Metro Trains Melbourne - inner suburban
Saturday 16 March 2024
Metro Trains Melbourne services in the inner suburban area, covering Flinders Street Station, Southern Cross Station, the City Loop, North Melbourne and Richmond.
Melbourne Underground Rail Loop Upgrade Project
Friday 15 March 2024
The Melbourne Underground Rail Loop Upgrade Project includes the installation of new platform smoke extraction systems, upgraded station sprinklers and alarm system at Parliament, Melbourne Central and Flagstaff stations.
Metro Trains Melbourne trackwork
Friday 15 March 2024
Trackwork and maintenance on the Metro Trains Melbourne network
Melbourne suburban Digital Train Radio System
Monday 11 March 2024
The GSM-R based Digital Train Radio System (DTRS) replaced the analogue Urban Train Radio System (UTRS) used for communication on the Melbourne suburban rail network. Approximately 100 base stations make up the system with more than 70 new towers added to cover the network. Work stated in September 2009 and was completed in 2011, with trials of the on train equipment starting in 2012.
Repainting the Flinders Street Viaduct
Friday 16 February 2024
During 2020 -2021 the four tracks of the original Flinders Street Viaducts were progressively closed so that the steel plate girders could be repainted.
Metro Trains Melbourne - Burnley group
Friday 26 January 2024
Metro Trains Melbourne services on the Belgrave, Lilydale, Alamein and Glen Waverley lines that make up the Burnley group.
Metro Trains Melbourne road fleet
Friday 26 January 2024
Metro Trains Melbourne has a number of corporate liveried cars for the use of Authorised Officers
HCMT transfer, January 2024
Thursday 25 January 2024
On 25 January 2024 SSR locomotives P17 and T386 with power van BVDY51 delivered brand new HCMT set 68 from Newport to Pakenham East.
Siemens train recovery, 2024
Monday 8 January 2024
On the morning of Monday 8 January 2024 a Siemens train on a down Sandringham service encountered an issue with the overhead at Richmond Junction, destroying all four pantographs on the train. The Sandringham line was shut down from the day due to the train blocking the line. That evening V/Line shunting locomotive Y156 was despatched from Southern Cross Station to assist in the recovery. It entered the section and coupled up to the Siemens train using a transition coupler, first removing set 749M-2525T-750M and taking it to Flinders Street track 9a, then returning to remove set 772M-2536T-771M from the site as well.
Metro Trains Melbourne training
Thursday 7 December 2023
Training new staff at Metro Trains Melbourne
First public HCMT services on the Sunbury line
Monday 30 October 2023
On 30 October 2023 the first High Capacity Metro Train carried passengers on the Sunbury line, with two morning peak hour services running direct from Sunbury direct to Flinders Street and then through to Pakenham.
Metro Trains Melbourne first aiders
Friday 18 August 2023
In June 2010 Metro Trains Melbourne commenced placing 3rd party first aid staff at major stations during morning peak, to assist ill passengers while keeping trains moving.
Rebranding Connex to Metro Trains Melbourne
Wednesday 16 August 2023
Metro Trains Melbourne took over operation of the Melbourne suburban rail network from Connex on 30 November 2009, with rebranding of trains and stations commencing right away.
Albion signal failure, 2023
Friday 4 August 2023
On Friday 4 August 2023 signal ALB545 failed at Albion, delaying outbound trains on the Sunbury line as each train was required to stop and receive a caution order from the signaller before they could proceed.
Siemens train recovery, 2023
Tuesday 1 August 2023
On Monday 31 July 2023 a Powercor 22kV power line fell across the railway line at Laverton, causing a power surge on the 1500V DC traction power supply, bringing down the overhead, and cooking two Siemens trains. The next day N456 was out sent to assist, recovering the stranded Siemens trains as individual 3-car sets.
Hurstbridge Line Duplication
Sunday 30 July 2023
The Hurstbridge Line Duplication is building new stations at Greensborough and Montmorency; and duplicating the rail track between Greensborough and Montmorency and between Diamond Creek and Wattle Glen.
High Capacity Signalling testing at West Footscray
Thursday 13 July 2023
In July 2023 testing commenced on the High Capacity Signalling equipment between the Metro Tunnel portal at South Kensington and the turnback platform at West Footscray station, with further testing completed in February 2024.
West Footscray test trains, July 2023
Friday 7 July 2023
In July 2023 Sprinter and Siemens trains operated over the suburban tracks between Sunshine and North Melbourne, testing the train control interfaces at North Melbourne/South Kensington and West Footscray/Tottenham, following commissioning of the new signalling system between the Metro Tunnel portal and the West Footscray turnback.
X'Trapolis 2.0 mock-up
Friday 2 June 2023
In 2023 Alstom produced a mock-up of the upcoming X'Trapolis 2.0 train being built for Melbourne, to get design feedback from train drivers as well as passenger, accessibility and specialist groups.
Metro Trains Melbourne Community Day
Saturday 1 April 2023
On 1 April 2023 Metro Trains Melbourne held a community open day at the Metro Academy training centre in Kensington.
Comeng test train to Glen Waverley
Wednesday 1 February 2023
On Wednesday 1 February 2023 Comeng set 545M-1123T-546M travelled along the Glen Waverley line on a CGI video recording run.
Caulfield - Dandenong driver training
Saturday 28 January 2023
Driver training trains on the Caulfield - Dandenong rail corridor before the official commencement of passenger services over the new rail viaducts
Arbory Bar at Flinders Street Station
Sunday 22 January 2023
Arbory Bar operated in 2015 on the site of Flinders Street Station platform 11 after Metro Trains leased out the land, and has been taking over the adjacent platform 10 ever since.
X'Trapolis Sunbury line validation train
Wednesday 21 December 2022
On 21 December 2022 X'Trapolis train 184M-1392T-193M and 142M-1371T-141M travelled to Sunbury, Watergardens and Calder Park to validate that an X'Trapolis train could use the stabling sidings at all three locations. This followed the first X'Trapolis test train to Sunbury on 4 June 2016.
Melbourne tram and train passenger counting
Wednesday 14 September 2022
Various technologies have been used to count passengers on trains and trams - old fashioned counting, and hi-tech Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and CCTV based system.
Macaulay Light Repair Centre
Monday 16 May 2022
The Macaulay Light Repair Centre is located off at Upfield line at North Melbourne, and is used for the stabling of trains as well as light repairs.
Night Network Melbourne
Tuesday 23 November 2021
'Night Network' is the brand name for all night trains and trams across Melbourne on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as a revamped Nightrider bus service.
Infrastructure Evaluation Vehicle IEV102
Sunday 31 October 2021
Converted from carriage MTH102 by SSR Bendigo in 2010, as of March 2011 this inspection carriage has been used to check up of the status of the overhead wiring along Melbourne's suburban railway network.
HCMT High Capacity Signalling testing at Epping
Monday 25 October 2021
In 2019 work started on the installation of trial High Capacity Signalling equipment between Epping and South Morang stations. A pair of X'Trapolis trains completed the initial testing from September 2020, with High Capacity Metro Trains entering the test program from August 2021.
Comeng retirement transfer, 9 October 2021
Saturday 9 October 2021
On 9 October 2021 retired Comeng sets 307M-1004T-308M and 309M-1005T-310M were transferred by T386, T381 and T363 from Newport Workshops to Tottenham Yard via Melbourne Yard for long term storage.
Comeng retirement transfer, 25 September 2021
Saturday 25 September 2021
On 25 September 2021 retired Comeng sets 408M-1054T-407M and 475M-1088T-476M were transferred by T395 and T364 push-pull from Newport Workshops to Tottenham Yard for long term storage.
Comeng retirement transfer, 11 September 2021
Saturday 11 September 2021
On 11 September 2021 retired Comeng sets 325M-1013T-326M and 479M-1090T-480M were transferred by P16 and P18 from Newport Workshops to North Shore in Geelong for long term storage.
Comeng retirement transfer, 4 September 2021
Saturday 4 September 2021
On 4 September 2021 retired Comeng sets 491M-1096T-492M and 339M-1020T-340M were transferred by P16 and P18 from Newport Workshops to North Shore in Geelong for long term storage.
12 car Comeng train
Thursday 2 September 2021
After a Comeng train 578M-1139T-577M and 598M-1149T-597M failed at Flinders Street on 2 September 2021, 6-car consist 329M-1015T-366M and 371M-1036T-372M coupled up to it to form a 12-car Comeng train to transfer the failed set to the Calder Park sidings. You can find a video of the movement here.
Comeng retirement transfer, 28 August 2021
Saturday 28 August 2021
On 28 August 2021 retired Comeng sets 301M-1001T-302M and 303M-1002T-304M were transferred by P16 and P18 from Newport Workshops to North Shore in Geelong for long term storage.
Comeng retirement transfer, 21 August 2021
Saturday 21 August 2021
On the evening of 18 August 2021 retired Comeng sets 320M-1107T-321M and 363M-1032T-364M were transferred push-pull by T386 and T385 from Newport Workshops, stabling at Tottenham Yard until they were transferred on 21 August to North Shore in Geelong for long term storage.
Comeng Life Extension project
Thursday 8 April 2021
The Comeng Life Extension project commenced in 2017 to update the interior and exterior of Melbourne's fleet of Comeng trains in order to keep them in service until 2022-27.
High Capacity Metro Trains enter service
Sunday 27 December 2020
On 27 December 2020 the first High Capacity Metro Train carried passengers, HCMT set 11 did the honours running a single service from Pakenham to Flinders Street Station and return. The day was low key, with no special ceremonies to mark the occasion and little media attention, the train full of the families of those who built the train, and a gaggle of railfans who found out that the train was running.
Sunbury line train stuck at South Kensington, December 2019
Monday 30 December 2019
On 30 December 2019 trains on the Werribee line were disrupted due to a power failure, so Metro sent a citybound Sunbury line train across to the platforms at South Kensington station to pick up stranded passengers. Unfortunately the power was also off at there, so the train came to a halt halfway into the platform, blocking both pairs of tracks!
Stuck brakes on a Comeng train, November 2019
Sunday 17 November 2019
On 17 November 2019 Comeng carriage 641M was in the middle of a down Sunbury service when the brakes got stuck on, leaving a trail of smoke from North Melbourne to Middle Footscray, before the train finally came to a halt, shutting down rail services on the line for an hour.
HCMT set 7 delivery transfer, October 2019
Thursday 24 October 2019
On the morning of 24 October 2019 the seventh High Capacity Metro Train set was transferred from the Downer facility at Newport Workshops to the future HCMT depot at Pakenham East. Southern Shorthaul Railroad ran the transfer, with P16 and T386, generator van BVDY51, and finally the HCMT set. The braking system has now been certified for mainline use following tests of earlier trains at Pakenham East, so no braking wagons needed to accompany the movement.
HCMT set 6 delivery transfer, September 2019
Monday 30 September 2019
On the morning of 30 September 2019 the sixth High Capacity Metro Train set was transferred from the Downer facility at Newport Workshops to the future HCMT depot at Pakenham East. Southern Shorthaul Railroad ran the transfer, with S312 and T385 in the lead, followed by a mix of SSR flat wagons loaded with empty spoil containers, then by P18, P17, generator van BVDY51, and finally the HCMT set. The emergency brake was operational onboard the new train, but the ECP service brake was not, hence additional braking wagons were required to accompany the movement.