Victoria's public transport system will get a much-needed shot in the arm next month when new peak-hour services are added to some of Melbourne's busiest rail lines, and sweeping changes are made to tram and bus services.

Chronic overcrowding on the Dandenong rail corridor will be addressed with the addition of two extra peak-hour services in the morning and two in the evening. The extra peak hour trains were a $25 million commitment in last year's state budget. The Frankston railway line will also get two extra peak-hour trains.

The state government says 44 buildings covered by 94 property titles will be acquired to make way for the new metro line. Credit:Penny Stephens

Meanwhile, one of Melbourne's busiest tram routes will be split in two. The route 112 from West Preston to St Kilda will be broken into two new routes - route 11 running between West Preston and Docklands and route 12 between Victoria Gardens in Richmond and St Kilda. Both routes will run via Collins Street in the CBD, which will become significantly busier as a result.

The changes, to come in on July 27, will create the capacity for 34,000 more passengers a week on the network, state public transport authority Public Transport Victoria says.