Editing Frankston line (section)

== Future ==

=== Level Crossing Removals ===
[[File:Cheltenham Station Platforms Melbourne 2020-11-07.jpg|thumb|Cheltenham station was lowered to remove the adjacent crossing at Charman road]]
The [[Level Crossing Removal Project]] has announced the removal of all 23 remaining level crossings on the Frankston line, to be completed in stages from 2016 to 2029.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=The National |date=2022-10-08 |title=Making Frankston Line Level Crossing Free |url=https://www.nationaltribune.com.au/making-frankston-line-level-crossing-free/?tt=1665272712 |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=The National Tribune |language=en-AU}}</ref> Different removal packages have been announced in 2014, 2018, and 2022 to coincide with different state elections and to be delivered in stages up until 2029.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carmody |first=Broede |date=2016-08-01 |title=Frankston line reopens as level crossing program rolls on |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/frankston-line-reopens-as-level-crossing-program-rolls-on-20160801-gqifm6.html |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=The Age |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-02 |title=Five more level crossings on the Frankston line to be gone by November {{!}} Level Crossing Removal Project |url=https://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/media/news/five-more-level-crossings-on-the-frankston-line-to-be-gone-by-november |access-date=2023-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702022209/https://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/media/news/five-more-level-crossings-on-the-frankston-line-to-be-gone-by-november |archive-date=2 July 2021 }}</ref><ref name=":0" /> All of the various removals have involved the rail under or rail over methods, with some crossing closures also undertaken by the Project. At the conclusion of the project, all level crossings between the city and Frankston station will be full grade operated through a variety of methods.<ref name=":0" />

=== Return to City Loop ===
{{Main|City Loop#Future}}

When the new cross-city rail corridor being built by the [[Metro Tunnel]] opens in 2025 there will be a reorganisation of the Melbourne rail network.<ref name=":42">{{Cite web |title=PTV Network Development Plan Metropolitan Rail Overview |url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/PTV-default-site/footer/legal-and-policies/growing-our-rail-network-2018-2025/PTV_Network-Development-Plan_Metropolitan-Rail_Overview_2016update.pdf |access-date=18 December 2012 |website=Public Transport Victoria}}</ref> The [[Department of Transport and Planning|Victorian Department of Transport and Planning]] plans to return the Frankston line to the City Loop, with dedicated use of the Caulfield group tunnel track.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Planning |first=Department of Transport and Planning |title=Transport strategies and plans |url=https://dtp.vic.gov.au:443/about/planning/transport-strategies-and-plans |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=dtp.vic.gov.au |language=en-au}}</ref> This will mean Frankston line trains will no longer through-run with Werribee and Williamstown line trains, and will again stop at City Loop stations [[Flagstaff railway station|Flagstaff]], [[Melbourne Central railway station|Melbourne Central]] and [[Parliament railway station|Parliament]].<ref name=":6" /> Werribee and Williamstown services would instead continue onto the [[Sandringham railway line|Sandringham line]].<ref name=":6" />

Stage 4 of the [[Network Development Plan – Metropolitan Rail]] proposed that the [[Craigieburn railway line|Craigieburn]] and Frankston lines be joined via a reconfigured City Loop sometime in the 2030s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Growing Our Rail Network 2018–2025 |url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/footer/legal-and-policies/growing-our-rail-network-2018-2025/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=Public Transport Victoria |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Baxter Extension ===
[[File:Baxter railway station, Melbourne b.jpg|thumb|[[Baxter railway station|Baxter station]] on the [[Stony Point railway line|Stony Point line]], April 2008|alt=The tired single platform of Baxter station in a rural environment ]]
In 2013, as part of Public Transport Victoria's [[Melbourne Network Development Plan|Network Development Plan]] for metropolitan rail, an extension of the Frankston line to Baxter was earmarked to begin in the "long-term", which would equate to at least 2033. The proposal would link Frankston to Baxter through an electrified dual-line following the Stony Point line.<ref name=":1" /> In 2018, the [[Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division)|Liberal Party]] announced a project to extend electrified services to Baxter during the [[2018 Victorian state election|2018 state election]].<ref>[https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/state-liberal-leader-matthew-guy-supports-duplication-electrification-of-rail-line-to-baxter/news-story/bfafeeea15be68889b16bf725027a6fe State Liberal leader Matthew Guy supports duplication, electrification of rail line to Baxter] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216095435/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/state-liberal-leader-matthew-guy-supports-duplication-electrification-of-rail-line-to-baxter/news-story/bfafeeea15be68889b16bf725027a6fe|date=16 February 2021}} Herald Sun 26 January 2018</ref> The project would have included the removal of all crossings between Frankston and Baxter, duplication and electrification works, the reconstruction and redevelopment of the stations at Leawarra and Langwarrin respectively to facilitate electrification.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Towell |first=Noel |date=2018-07-16 |title=Guy, Turnbull all aboard the $450 million Baxter rail link |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/guy-turnbull-all-aboard-the-450-million-baxter-rail-link-20180716-p4zrsw.html |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=The Age |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Neil |date=2018-07-23 |title=Liberals' electric plan ends at Baxter |url=https://www.mpnews.com.au/2018/07/24/liberals-electric-plan-ends-at-baxter/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=MPNEWS |language=en-US}}</ref> 

The [[Liberal Party of Australia|Federal Liberals]] announced $450 million of joint funding for the project promised between the state and federal governments.<ref name=":4" /> The incumbent [[Daniel Andrews|Andrews]] [[Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch)|Labor]] government argued that the project was not needed, instead prioritising funding to other projects across the state.<ref name=":4" /> A business case commissioned by the government was completed in 2019 with no further progress being made.<ref name=":19">{{cite web |title=Baxter electrification business case |url=https://transport.vic.gov.au/getting-around/public-transport/baxter-electrification-business-case |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106065315/https://transport.vic.gov.au/getting-around/public-transport/baxter-electrification-business-case |archive-date=6 January 2019 |website=Transport for Victoria}}</ref>

Again in the lead up to the [[2022 Victorian state election|2022 state election]], the Liberal opposition supported the electrification to Baxter.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Cowburn |first=Brodie |date=2022-10-10 |title=Promise to pay for Baxter extension |url=https://www.mpnews.com.au/2022/10/10/promise-to-pay-for-baxter-extension/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=MPNEWS |language=en-US}}</ref> The incumbent [[Second Andrews ministry|Andrews government]] made no commitments to the Baxter rail extension, instead continuing construction on level crossing removal works along the Frankston line.<ref name=":5" /> The 2022 state election resulted in another Labor victory, with the Andrews government pushing ahead with these works, with the extension to Baxter remaining stagnant ever since.