At the up end of the station, the tracks diverge. Werribee-bound services take the direct double track route to Newport, while all-stations Altona services operate on the single track Altona loop line to Newport. The loop line reconnects with the direct route just after the demolished station Mobiltown.
Laverton station opened on 1 July 1886, like the suburb itself, was named after the pastoral run Laverton, which was settled by Alfred Langhorne in 1836.[6]
In 1968, the former side platform was converted to an island platform, as part of the duplication of the line to Werribee.[5] In 1969, the station building on the island platform (Platforms 2 and 3) was provided.[4]
At about 7:55pm on 12 July 1976, a derailment occurred at the up end of the station, involving a Port Fairy – Melbourne passenger service.[7][8][9][10] After crossing from the east line to the west line, the train derailed and sideswiped the Princes Highwayoverpass, destroying a number of wood-bodied carriages.[7][8][9][10] There was one fatality in the derailment, and a number of other passengers were injured. It was later revealed that the train diverged through a crossover at excessive speed.[7][8][9][10]
On 1 October 1987, two Hitachi suburban trains collided at the up end of the station, near Laverton Junction, after an up train over ran the Altona loop line and collided with a down train.[12][13]
The refreshed station platforms taken from footbridge, February 2010
In May 2008, the Victorian State Government announced, as part of the 2008/2009 State Budget, that Laverton would receive a $92.6 million upgrade, which would include the building of a third platform. The work included the tripling of one kilometre of existing double track, between the Altona loop line and the station.[15] In October 2009, the first section of the footbridge was installed and,[16] on 9 February 2010, the completed bridge was opened to the public.[17] The remainder of these works were completed in mid-2010.[4]
The station footbridge, built as part of the 2009-2010 station upgrade, February 2010
As part of stage 1 of the Western Rail Plan Geelong Fast Rail project, Laverton is scheduled to be upgraded.[18][19]
On the express route between Laverton and Newport stations, former station Galvin has been closed and demolished, and former station Paisley has been closed, and has had its platform access and station building removed.
Werribee line all stations services to Flinders Street via Altona (weekdays only); all stations services to Werribee (early mornings, evenings and weekends only)
