Several additional train lines, or extensions to existing lines, and stations were, at various times, seriously considered - to the point that they were even printed on Hitachi train destination rolls. However, they were never constructed, and you could consider them 'closed' before the first piece of track was laid. However, some of the old plans are now currently being discussed by the Department of Infrastructure. Some of these proposals include:

• An extension of the Epping line, along the original Whittlesea line , to South Morang

• Extending the Cranbourne line to Cranbourne East

• An extension of the Glen Waverley line to Rowville

• An East Doncaster line, which would branch off at Victoria Park and travel down the median strip of the Eastern Freeway to Templestowe. Proposed stations are Bulleen, near Kampman Road, Bulleen, Doncaster, at Kings Street and just off Williamsons Road, Doncaster and Templestowe, in King Street and Blackburn Road, Templestowe.

• Creating a Deer Park West line by electrifying part of the Melton greater metropolitan line

• Extending the Lilydale line to Coldstream by electrifying an additional stretch

• An additional station at Cave Hill, between Mooroolbark and Lilydale

• Extending the Frankston line to Baxter line by electrifying part of the Stony Point greater metropolitan line

• Building three additional stations between Broadmeadows and Craigieburn. Proposed stations are the planned Roxburgh Park (the only one to be committed to so far), on Pattulos Street, Somerton , on Somerton Road and Coolaroo , on Pascoe Vale Road.

• Extending the Alamein to Oakeigh, along the old Outer Circle reservation

• Building Lynbrook station (to be built in the next two to three years) between Dandenong and Merinda Park stations on the Cranbourne line.

• Building a station between Officer and Pakenham on the Pakenham railway line.

• A rail link to the Melbourne Airport, branching off either the Albion-Jacana freight line or the Broadmeadows line.

• Building a station between Highett and Cheltenham on the Frankston line, to be located inside the Southland shopping centre. (currently the focus of a feasibility study)

Many of these proposals were created decades ago, and are no longer seriously being considered by transport authorities. Of these, only Southland station, plus the South Morang, and Cranbourne East extensions, and perhaps Rowville, appear likely to be built in the foreseeable future.

In the case of South Morang, both the Department of Infrastructure and the local council have recommended its construction, and design work is currently being undertaken. This would fulfil a promise by current Premier Steve Bracks upon coming to power in 1999. Until recently, this project had been sidelined in favour of the extension of the Broadmeadows line to Craigieburn.

The Cranbourne East proposal has re-emerged in recent years, but a commercial feasibility study conducted by M>Train, former operator of that half of the city's rail system, found that it would not be commercially viable in the near future, but should be examined as a longer-term project.

While some of the other proposals here have also come back into the spotlight in recent years, the only other one which seems to be likely to actually be built is the Rowville line. While the Department of Infrastructure does not appear to be taking this seriously at present, the local council has begun a campaign to demand the extension of the line.

See also

• List of Melbourne railway stations
• List of closed Melbourne railway stations