AttemptsRailways was made to caterexperienced forincreased growing patronage ininto the 19401940s [[Ashworth Improvement Plan]], but overthe coursefunding of [[Worldrailway Warimprovements II]]was fundscurtailed foronce investmentwar inwas thedeclared railways[[World wereWar not availableII]].<ref name=lee185>{{cite book |author=Lee, Robert |title=The Railways of Victoria 1854-2004 |publisher=Melbourne University Publishing Ltd |date=2007 |isbn= 9780522851342 |page=185}}</ref> It was not until 1950 that the [[Victorian Railways]] were able to put their [[Operation Phoenix (railway)|Operation Phoenix]] rebuilding plan into action. The [[Harris (train)|Harris]] trains were delivered, being the first steel suburban trains on the network. This enabled the oldest of the [[Swing Door (train)|Swing Door]] trains to be retired. A number of extensions to lines were also carried out, in order to serve the growing suburbs. A great deal of track amplification was completed, with a number of single line sections being eliminated.
The Ashburton line was extended along the old Outer Circle track formation to [[Alamein railway station, Melbourne|Alamein station]] in 1948 to become the [[Alamein railway line, Melbourne|Alamein line]] The Upfield line to [[Upfield railway station, Melbourne|Upfield]], and the Epping line to [[Lalor railway station, Melbourne|Lalor]] were both electrified in 1959; the Epping line reaching its [[Epping railway station, Melbourne|current terminus]] in 1964.
