There have been a number of pieces written about Upfield train line developments over the past few months. This is an attempt to highlight the main issues affecting locals in Coburg.
Train frequency has been a long running issue for Upfield commuters. There are currently only three trains per hour during peak hour, while other lines such as Sandringham run up to eight.
Better frequency is not an option until the track is duplicated all the way to Upfield, as only one train can run on the track at any one time. This results in excessively long wait times, particularly for those who live or travel north of Coburg. Local community member and councillor Sue Bolton has been advocating for track duplication for some time, saying that she knows of people who have lost jobs or missed exams and medical appointments due to the single track. “Once a train is running late, it terminates at Coburg, leading to a cancellation for everyone north of Bell St” she says.
There is no plan within the Upfield line developments to duplicate the single track which runs from Gowrie to Upfield stations and causes a bottleneck on the Northern part of the line (see: diagram above), though there has been a long-lasting campaign for track duplication.
The government has claimed that until the Metro tunnel is completed in 2025, frequency on the Upfield Line is still constrained by congestion in the city loop (the track also being shared by the Sunbury and Craigieburn lines).
If higher frequency for the remainder of the line is in fact dependent on the Metro tunnel, it seems that now would be the perfect time to build that infrastructure. Upfield line closures are imminent and works are predicted to go on for three months.
The Upfield Transport Alliance points out that “public inconvenience is not included in cost benefit” and states that “if works can be done concurrently, it is a major saving for the community”. In light of this, it hardly makes sense to close the line twice in five years for major works.
The Coburg Meddler 