Melbourne's Mernda and Hurstbridge Train Services Resume After Derailment

On Monday morning, Melbourne's Mernda and Hurstbridge train lines are set to resume operations following a significant disruption caused by a derailment that affected over 100,000 commuters last week. The incident occurred on Sunday night, July 14, 2025, when a city-bound X’Trapolis 100 train derailed near Clifton Hill station, bringing services to a halt and forcing passengers to seek alternative travel arrangements.

The derailment took place around 10:30 PM and involved a carriage coming off the tracks between Rushall and Clifton Hill stations. This resulted in damage to approximately 100 meters of track as the train struck multiple stanchions that support the overhead wiring, contrary to initial reports suggesting it hit only one. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the incident raised immediate concerns regarding the safety and reliability of Melbourne's rail infrastructure.

According to a spokesperson from Metro Trains, services on the affected lines will resume with the first service on Monday morning. However, neither the Department of Transport nor Metro has provided a detailed public explanation regarding the cause of the derailment or assurances about passenger safety, leaving many commuters anxious about the reliability of future services.

An investigation is currently underway by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and Victoria’s Office of the Chief Investigator. As reported by an ATSB representative, substantive updates are not expected until a preliminary report is published in approximately two months. The investigation aims to ascertain the underlying causes of the derailment and whether changes to infrastructure or procedures are necessary to prevent future occurrences.

Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen emphasized the importance of a thorough investigation, remarking, "While this incident appears to be a freak accident, it is crucial to identify any potential infrastructure or procedural failings that need to be addressed to ensure passenger safety."

Metro's Chief Executive Raymond O’Flaherty acknowledged the disruption and stated that passengers would be entitled to compensation if the derailment caused Metro to fall below its monthly reliability targets. Bowen criticized Metro's compensation scheme as narrow, urging the company to consider special arrangements for the affected commuters given the scale of the disruption.

The last significant derailment incident within Melbourne's passenger train network occurred in February 2016, also involving an X’Trapolis train. An ATSB investigation into that incident revealed it was caused by a poorly maintained track joint and insufficient lubrication on the train’s wheels, raising concerns about maintenance practices within the rail system.

As Melbourne's rail authorities prepare to resume services, the community remains on high alert, eagerly anticipating the findings of the ongoing investigations to ensure the safety and reliability of the city’s public transport system. The outcomes of this incident may have far-reaching implications for operational protocols and infrastructure investment in Melbourne’s rail network, impacting future commuter experiences significantly.