Inside the city loop. Credit:

The city loop will be emptied and buses will replace trains on 11 separate lines during a weekend of works on the rail network at the end of this month.

Buses will replace trains on all or parts of the Werribee, Williamstown, Sunbury, Craigieburn, Upfield and Geelong lines from 9pm on Friday, August 30, to the early hours of Monday, September 2.

Crews will also complete essential rail maintenance between Southern Cross and Caulfield over that weekend, with buses replacing trains on all or part of the Cranbourne, Pakenham, Frankston and Sandringham lines and coaches replacing V/Line services on the Bairnsdale line.