The Victorian Freight Plan: 2025-2030: Victoria Delivers outlines the approach to freight and logistics, including initiatives to improve rail freight connectivity, productivity and network resilience across Victoria
Victoria's freight network includes road, rail and intermodal connections that support the movement of freight across the state.
Projects underway include:
- regional rail upgrades,
- Port Rail Transformation Project,
- North East Link(opens in a new window),
- the West Gate Tunnel(opens in a new window),
- the Port Rail Shuttle Network.
Planning for a new interstate rail freight terminal has also commenced.
The Victorian Freight Plan 2025-2030: Victoria Delivers includes actions relating to rail freight, freight infrastructure and freight network planning.
To better understand how Victoria’s road, rail and intermodal assets interact to move freight efficiently, watch the video below.
About rail networks
The Victorian interstate, regional and metropolitan rail networks are owned by VicTrack and leased to the Department of Transport and Planning.
The Department of Transport and Planning sub-leases sections of the network to a network manager (the access provider), which is responsible for operations, maintenance, customer service and local asset management.
The network managers are:
- Metro Trains Melbourne for the broad-gauge network in the Melbourne metropolitan area
- V/Line, for the regional broad-gauge and standard-gauge network
- Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), for the interstate standard-gauge network, including the Maroona-Portland and Benalla-Oaklands lines.
Rail freight terminals
Rail freight terminals are largely privately leased to freight operators.
Regional container terminals operate at:
- Dennington,
- Dooen,
- Merbein,
- Donald,
- Ultima,
- Tocumwal, and
- Barnawartha.
Customer-specific container terminals are located at Deniliquin and Maryvale.
Metropolitan intermodal terminals are located at Laverton and Spotswood, and Port Rail Shuttle terminals are planned for Somerton, Altona and Dandenong South.
Major new interstate terminals at Truganina and Beveridge are being assessed to serve the ARTC Inland Rail project.
Bulk aggregate terminals are located at Kilmore East, Brooklyn, and Westall. Cement terminals are also located at Somerton and Dandenong South.
Grain trains operate from an extensive network of regional terminals to Port of Melbourne, Port of Geelong and Port of Portland and to a metropolitan terminal at Kensington.
The Port of Melbourne is a key freight hub with rail terminals at West Swanson, Appleton and Victoria Docks.
The Dynon Rail Freight Terminal at North Dynon is jointly operated by VicTrack and Qube Logistics and handles interstate and intrastate freight trains.
The Melbourne Freight Terminal at South Dynon is the main interstate rail terminal and is leased to Pacific National as an open-access terminal. It also includes shared facilities for refuelling and maintenance.
Current projects
Statement of Freight Network Capability
The Department of Transport and Planning developed the Statement of Freight Network Capability (Statement) to clearly state the rail network’s capability and when it's available for carrying goods.
This Statement is meant to make things clear for both customers and the operators who run the trains.
If there are any material changes in the rail network's standards, capacity, use, or availability, a new Statement will be made.
It's important to remember that the information is just a guide, we encourage everyone involved to check with the network managers for the most accurate information.
Releasing the Statement is the first step in making a new rail freight access regime in the state.
This document is currently being updated,.
Rail Access Guidelines and Rail Access Maximum Pricing
The new Rail Access Guidelines, which support the application of the Rail Access Maximum Pricing for the financial year 2024 – 2025, under Section 38J(2) of the Rail Management Act 1996, came into effect on 1 July 2024.
The Rail Management Act 1996 sets out the Victorian Rail Access Regime, allowing the responsible Ministers to set rail access maximum prices and establish rail access guidelines, replacing the previous system administered by the Essential Services Commission.
Rail Access Guidelines
The Rail Access Guidelines have been developed to provide an overview of the Victorian Rail Access Regime and provide guidance to access providers and access seekers in relation to the requirements of rail access arrangements.
View the Rail Access Guidelines(opens in a new window)
Rail Access Maximum Pricing
The Rail Access Maximum Pricing specifies the maximum prices for declared rail transport services provided by Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM), V/Line, Victorian Rail Track (VicTrack) and Pacific National.
View the Rail Access Maximum Pricing
Capital upgrades to the regional rail network
We've made major investments in freight rail to improve the movement of goods across Victoria.
These upgrades have increased the capacity of freight-only rail lines, allowing trains to carry larger loads and travel more efficiently.
The improvements have also reduced temporary speed restrictions, helping freight move more reliably on the network.
The works included replacing sleepers, ballast and other infrastructure, including:
- Rail replacement on high-use trunk lines
- New rail-joint works and/or welding to remove stress points at rail ends
- Extra ballast to lift lines to the required ballast depth to distribute heavier loads
- Assessment and upgrade of culverts and bridges to withstand higher loads, and
- renewing level crossing equipment along almost 400 kilometres of critical freight-only rail lines.
Big Build: regional rail freight upgrades
We're delivering the Murray Basin Rail Project(opens in a new window).
This project has a total investment of $800 million. Works have included:
- track and signalling upgrades, reopening and standardisation of the Ararat-Maryborough line, and standardisation of the Maryborough-Mildura and Ouyen-Murrayville lines.
- standardising the gauge of the track brings it into line with the national standard.
Works underway or in the delivery phase include:
- a further track upgrade of the Ararat-Maryborough line,a new siding at Donald, and upgraded sidings at Yelta and extensions to passing loops.
Learn more on the Victoria’s Big Build website(opens in a new window).
Mode Shift Incentive Scheme
Since 2012-13, we’ve invested more than $51 million in the Mode Shift Incentive Scheme (MSIS) to make regional intermodal freight more cost-effective for rail freight operators and Victorian exporters.
These rail freight operators play a crucial role in moving Victorian produce from the farm gate for export, including meat, dairy, grain, hay, fruit, oats, beans and wine.
Terminals at Dooen, Mildura, Tocumwal and Warrnambool take part in the scheme.
North Geelong C signal box automation
Automating the North Geelong C signal box along with other signalling work has:
- doubled grain train at the Geelong grain loop, and increased unloading capacity at the Port of Geelong.
- Removing manual signalling has improved safety, increased rail access into the Port and allowed more trains per day to unload.
- Automation allows two trains to enter the loop at the same time. This means the 24-hour Train Control Centre can control permitting around-the-clock operations.
Port Rail Shuttle Network
The PRSN is a $58 million initiative that will improve short-haul rail freight moves around Melbourne and encourage private-sector investment in new rail connections and terminals.
This means trucks will deliver or pick up containers from outer metropolitan rail terminals at Somerton, Dandenong South and Altona instead of crossing the city to the port.
Grants have been allocated to Austrak, Salta and SCT Logistics to connect their terminals to the existing rail network.
Port Rail Transformation Project
The Port of Melbourne is delivering new port-rail infrastructure. This includes on-dock rail facilities at Swanson Dock.
Learn more about the $125 million Port Rail Transformation Project.(opens in a new window)
Rail network planning
New intermodal freight precincts
We’re planning to deliver new intermodal freight precincts at Truganina in Melbourne’s west and Beveridge in Melbourne’s outer north to service the state’s growing freight and logistics sector.
Learn more about Victoria's new intermodal freight precincts.
Renewing the Principal Freight Network
The Principal Freight Network (PFN) has been reviewed and updated. Stakeholder consultation in 2020-21 led to 20 amendments.
The updated PFN has been incorporated into the Victorian Planning Provisions to protect key freight corridors and places.
The PFN is a strategic network of current and recognised future freight places and connecting movement corridors that are of national, state or regional significance and accommodate freight of significant quantity, value or importance.
Shepparton Rail Freight Planning Study
The Shepparton Rail Freight Planning Study is complete. Technical information from the study may inform future planning and potential upgrades, subject to future funding requests and broader rail network priorities.
In 2024, as part of a $14 million upgrade to the regional freight corridor, V/Line crews replaced more than 22,000 sleepers, laid 30 kilometres of new rail, and added 3,500 tonnes of ballast between Strathmerton and Tocumwal.
Final planning is underway for the expansion of the broad-gauge rail yard in Tocumwal, set to begin later this year.
Webb Dock Freight Link
The Port of Melbourne’s 2050 Port Development Strategy proposes a Webb Dock Freight Link to be delivered by 2030.
The link will connect Webb Dock with Swanson Dock via a dedicated heavy rail freight line.
We’re working with the Port of Melbourne and the Fishermans Bend Taskforce to identify and protect an alignment for the link.
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