FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
19 January 2026
Western Metropolitan MP David Ettershank has called on Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams to dig deep and commit to building the Altona North train station by 2030.
The station has an estimated price tag of between $140-240 million.
Mr Ettershank said Infrastructure Victoria had recommended the new station on the Werribee line in its latest 30-year strategy, and Hobsons Bay Council also sees it as essential.
Mr Ettershank said Infrastructure Victoria found that a new train station would lead to an estimated 1,000 train boardings per week by 2031, growing to 1500 by 2041.
“Think about how many cars that would take off our crowded roads, making life easier for bike riders and pedestrians,” he said.
“More and more families are moving to the area, especially with the opening of the Altona North Haven housing estate that has 3,000 new homes.
“Altona North has also been identified by the state government as a key activity centre, but it has not had a train station since the closure of Paisley Station in the 1980s, and the section of line from Newport to Laverton via Altona North has the longest gap between any station on the metropolitan train network.”
Altona North brimming with potential for new homes
“Two years ago, the Allan government said 70 per cent of all new housing would be built in established suburbs like Altona North; instead, only 48 per cent of new houses are in old suburbs. Instead, new homes are most likely to be in outer new housing estates.
“The West has a big problem with sprawling outer suburbs that have no infrastructure. The Allan government just hasn’t got their settings right.
The West Metro has again told the parliament of ‘the horrendous congestion in the outer west’.
“According to Infrastructure Victoria, a new station would allow the growing number of nearby residents to reduce travel times and access three times more jobs within 45 minutes of their homes,” Mr Ettershank said.
“More trains could run to service the new station, providing extra weekend and evening services to passengers travelling from Footscray to Newport and Laverton to Werribee. Altona North present an opportunity to get homes built where people want to live — but they must have access to transport.””
Infrastructure Victoria had also recommended three rapid bus routes: West Tarneit to Highpoint, Point Cook to Watergardens and Melton to Broadmeadows by 2030.
The strategy outlines more ‘active transport’, with priority corridors to make cycling safer and for people using micromobility devices like electric scooters.”
Mr Ettershank said the western suburbs of Melbourne are the fastest-growing region in Australia.
“It is past time for the Victorian government to recognise this and fund the much-needed infrastructure for the increasing population,” he said.
