This probably has more to do with most electrification projects in Victoria in recent memory being extensions (hence the existing 20-minute off-peak service is extended a couple of stations).

Things like Melton and Sunbury electrification which are often touted illustrate the some of the other benefits – Sunbury would most likely be an extensions of the Sydenham line and would improve matters, since lower capacity V/Line service (express) would likely be replaced by higher capacity all-stations service in the peaks. Most the benefit comes from getting better efficiency of the line utilisation nearer town due to all services having similar run-times and having more capacity on the services.

Melton electrification on the other hand would mean running a weird mix of electric services from Melton and Diesel services from beyond and bumping up service levels to a standard 20-minute frequency to Melton would make a mess of the existing flat junction at Sunshine. It would also make even more interesting the DoT’s exciting plan for a new “outer circle” line – the Tarneit link – to separate V/Line services completely from metros on approach to Melbourne.

Interesting aside – I can’t see too many impediments to operating 9-car or longer V’locity sets express into Southern Cross (with the cost of lengthening any outer stations reasonably cheap). Longer trains don’t fit at the loop stations and a lot of inner city stations would be hard/costly to lengthen. Except by electrifying a couple of platforms in the Southern Cross terminus, I can’t imagine an easier way to provide some peak metro-express capacity than running 9-car or 12-car V/Lines and picking up at 1-2 key suburban stations.

Regarding RIccardo’s Pakenham station comment, people ar obviously prefering the more comfortable trains. Maybe we need an electric Velocity.

Phin, any ideas on how to cost the difference?

http://www.premier.sa.gov.au/news.php?id=3236&page=1

I stand at Pakenham, see people diving for seats on a Vline train while a Connex train sits on the platform opposite unloved. Why is that? The Vline train is diesel and the Connex train is electric.

Re Geelong – I suspect when we see 6 car velos with middle cars used, and some improvements at Laverton that have been promised – the Geelong service will easily accommodate more people.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23742646-2862,00.html

I also think that electrification would increase the patronage because people prefer to catch electric trains.