news
Altona Transport Network Adjustments Underway as Level Crossing Works Continue
Rail, bus and road changes shape daily travel patterns in the suburb
How we reported this
The Maidstone Street level crossing removal project is underway with a new road bridge under construction, closing Ajax Road at the intersection from November 2025 until mid-2027 while single-track train operations bypass Altona station from November 2025 to late April 2026.
Rail and Bus Options
Altona is served by two railway stations on the Werribee line’s Altona Loop, Altona and Westona, with early morning, late night and all weekend services running via the loop. The main bus routes through Altona are 411 and 412, operating at 20-minute frequency on weekdays and 40-minute frequency on weekends between Laverton and Footscray, plus the 903 Smartbus which terminates in Altona. These services provide the documented public transport backbone while road works affect other movements.
Road Network Pressures
The suburb shows heavy reliance on private vehicles along with daily traffic congestion, missing pedestrian and cycling links, and significant road barriers at busy intersections. Altona lies 13 km south-west of Melbourne’s CBD in the City of Hobsons Bay and recorded a 2021 population of 11,490. The combination of ongoing bridge works and existing road constraints continues to shape local travel conditions.
Officials have scheduled the Ajax Road closure and single-track rail bypass as part of the documented level crossing removal, with the new road bridge intended to replace the existing crossing. Residents and commuters continue to use the remaining rail stations, bus routes and alternative roads during the construction window that extends into mid-2027.
Travel planning remains necessary while Ajax Road stays closed and the bridge project progresses. Users of the 411, 412 and 903 bus services or the Altona and Westona stations can check current timetables for the most direct connections available under the current configuration.