<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> Victorian minister for public transport Terry Mulder has outlined the state governmentâs plans in anticipation of delivery of more Alstom XâTrapolis trains late next year. </span> <p>Major works to bring new trains to the Werribee line as part of the $115 million Bayside Rail Project are underway this month, Mulder said on Friday.<br /><br />“These works will prepare the line for the arrival of new X’Trapolis trains in late 2015 – the newest trains to join Metro’s rail network,” Mulder said.<br /><br />Melbourne’s train network is host to a large number of X’Trapolis model trains, with manufacturer Alstom also delivering X’Trapolis models to lines in Paris, Chile and South Africa.<br /><br />“The $115 million Bayside Rail Project will improve train reliability and punctuality on the Werribee, Williamstown and Frankston lines by upgrading signalling and other rail infrastructure to allow X’Trapolis trains to run on these lines for the first time,” Mulder continued.<br /><br />“The trains have additional safety features such as CCTV cameras in every carriage, each one providing a direct video link to the train driver.<br /><br />“In a $176 million Victorian Coalition Government order, an additional eight X’Trapolis trains are also on order for the Frankston, Werribee and Williamstown lines. The first of the new order will carry passengers in 2015. The trains will be stabled and maintained at Newport,” he added.<br /><br />The minister said works to upgrade the Newport train maintenance depot would include replacing timber sleepers, upgrading manual signalling to become automated, and installing two new sets of points to enable trains to move in and out more easily.<br /><br />Public Transport Victoria chief Mark Wild said that tracks, power supplies, signalling and overhead wiring were being upgraded to allow X’Trapolis trains to operate.<br /><br />“Works will continue during a weekend closure of the Altona Loop on the Werribee line on Sunday 19 October. Further work will be carried out during evenings until early November 2014,” Wild said.<br /><br />“Travel times may be extended by up to 20 minutes on weekends and up to 30 minutes on weeknights while these works take place. Passengers should allow extra time to complete their travel.”</p>
