Community
6 September, 2026
Liberals pledge six carriages, all services
SIX carriage trains will become “the norm” across every Warrnambool service if the Liberals are elected to govern in November.
Earlier this week Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell and Shadow Minister for Public Transport Matthew Guy met with locals at the Warrnambool station to say there would be “light at the end of the tunnel” for frustrated passengers.
“We have a clear pathway to deliver six-carriage trains across every Warrnambool service, with five VLocity trains to be redeployed to the south west,” Ms Britnell said.
The Liberals’ suburban train commitment for Melbourne’s western suburbs will free up 25 three-carriage VLocity trains, with five to be redeployed for use on the Warrnambool line.
This will provide the additional rolling stock needed to ensure every Warrnambool service can operate as a six-carriage train, with the possibility of additional services to be considered.
According to Ms Britnell, this week’s announcement builds on the Liberals’ commitment earlier this year to increase capacity on the Warrnambool line – and could now clearly identify the source for the additional trains.
If elected in November, the Liberals have committed to immediately redeploy the current surplus stock to ensure the majority of the Warrnambool line will have six carriages, seven days a week.
“For too long Labor has told us this can’t be done. We kept pushing because south west passengers deserve better than being told to simply put up with overcrowded trains.
“Five additional VLocity trains for the Warrnambool line means we can deliver six-carriage trains across every service and finally give south west passengers the capacity they deserve.”
Shadow Minister for Transport Matthew Guy said Warrnambool line passengers deserve increased capacity and reliability.
“We’re offering more capacity, better services and a railway that respects people who rely on it,” he said.
Like many others, Warrnambool’s Bob McMillan regularly catches the train to and from Melbourne for medical appointments and said he welcomed this latest announcement.
“A lot of friends my age also travel on the train regularly, some needing to go to Melbourne for cancer treatment, and they need to be able to sit down,” Mr McMillan.
“Expecting people, especially those our age, to stand for hours on a train is just not possible; it’s imperative they have a seat.
“We would also like to see the return of the café on one of the carriages. Now that we have this pledge of more seats, let’s hope the café is next.”
