Rail transport in Victoria
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Rail transport in Victoria, Australia, is run by a combination of government run railway lines and private concerns.
The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companies failed or defaulted, Victorian Railways was established to take over their operations. Victorian lines use 5' 3" gauge, with the exception of a few experimental narrow gauge lines, as well as some 4' 8½" freight & interstate lines.
Victorian Railways grew to service all parts of the state, and became something of a political football with politicians demanding new lines to be built in places where traffic levels never justified it. Victorian Railways experimented with four short narrow gauge lines of 2' 6".
By the 1960s, interstate traffic was suffering from the break of gauge at the New South Wales state border, and a parallel 4' 8½" line was built from the state capital to join the NSW system, mainly with Commonwealth (national) funding. A bogie exchange depot was introduced to allow wagons to operate across the broad and standard gauge lines. The oldest single-gauge inter-capital line from Melbourne to Adelaide (dating from 1887) was finally converted from 5' 3" to 4' 8½" in 1995. Since the 1970s, Victorian Railways has contracted, and many low use lines have been closed.
In 1974 Victorian Railways was rebranded as VicRail. In 1983 VicRail was reconstituted as the State Transport Authority. V/Line became the operator of the regional network and The Met became the operator of Melbourne suburban services. Between 1996 and 1997 V/Line and The Met were privatised. V/Line's freight business and rural intrastate network is now controlled by Pacific National. However, in November 2006 Pacific National reportedly agreed to sell the remainder of its lease of the network back to the Victorian Government for $133.8m.[1] V/Line's former interstate rail freight infastructure is controlled by the Australian Rail Track Corporation. Connex Melbourne now operates the suburban railway network in Melbourne. On the other hand, the National Express Group gave up its V/Line Passenger franchise in 2002.
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[edit] History
Victoria's first railway was a suburban railway opened from Melbourne to Port Melbourne in 1854. This line and almost all subsequent lines were built to broad gauge (1600 mm). Lines opened from Melbourne to Geelong in 1857 and from Princes Bridge railway station to Richmond in 1859. Subsequently, up to 1925, Victorian Railways built new railways to connect farming and mining communities to the ports of Melbourne, Geelong and Portland. In 1862 lines reaches the great gold rush towns of Bendigo and Ballarat. In 1864 a line was opened to the Murray River port of Echuca.
In 1883 the first connection with another State's rail system was made when a line was completed to the New South Wales Government Railways's station at Albury, requiring a break-of-gauge to New South Wales's standard gauge (1435mm). In 1887, Victorian Railways met South Australian Railways at Serviceton, although both systems used broad gauge. In 1888 the Gippsland line reached Bairnsdale. The next year a direct line from Melbourne to Ballarat opened, avoiding Geelong. In the early 20th century rural lines were completed to Mildura (1903) and Tocumwal (1908).
In 1919, electrification and development of the Melbourne suburban lines commenced. In 1981, Melbourne's only underground railway, the Melbourne City Loop was opened. The main interstate links were finally standardised: Melbourne to Albury (connecting to Sydney) in 1961 and Melbourne to Adelaide in 1995.
[edit] Melbourne lines
Australia's first railway was a 4 km Victorian broad gauge line between the Melbourne (or City) Terminus (on the site of modern day Flinders Street Station) and Sandridge (now Port Melbourne), constructed by the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company and opened in September 1854. This line became part of the Melbourne suburban electrified network during the 20th century and most of it was converted to standard gauge light rail in the 1987 as Melbourne tram route 109.
For further details on the subsequent development of the inner Melbourne lines see Railways in Melbourne.
[edit] Gippsland line
- Further information: Gippsland line
The Melbourne and Suburban Railway Company opened a line from Princes Bridge railway station to Punt Road (Richmond) and South Yarra in 1859. This line was extended to Moe, Morwell, Traralgon, Sale, and Bairnsdale between 1877 and 1879. It was extended to Orbost in 1916. The line east of Traralgon was closed in 1993, but was reopened to Bairnsdale in 2004. The line between Dandenong and Traralgon was electrified in 1954, but electrification was cut back to Warragul in 1987, Bunyip in 1998, and Pakenham in 2001, although the electrification from Pakenham to Bunyip after 1987 was only used for the testing of suburban trains.
[edit] South Gippsland line
- Further information: South Gippsland line
The South Gippsland railway line was opened from Dandenong to Cranbourne in 1888 and extended to Loch in 1890, Leongatha in 1891 and Alberton and Port Albert in 1892. A branch line was built from Alberton to Yarram and Woodside in 1921. Almost all the line was closed in stages between the early 1970s and 1994. Tourist trains currently operate between Korumburra and Leongatha on Sundays, and may shortly recommence between Korumburra and Nyora; the Connex electrified suburban service from Melbourne Flinders Street terminates at Cranbourne.
[edit] Albury-Wodonga line
- Further information: Albury-Wodonga line
The Albury-Wodonga line originated from the Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company's line opened from North Melbourne to Essendon in 1860. It was extended to Mangalore in 1872 and Wodonga in 1873, connecting with the New South Wales Government Railways at Albury at a break-of-gauge in 1883. A standard gauge track was completed parallel with the broad gauge track from Albury to Melbourne in 1961.
[edit] Shepparton line
- Further information: Shepparton line
A branch line was built from Mangalore to Toolamba and Shepparton in 1880 and extended to Numurkah in 1881, Strathmerton in 1905 and connecting with the New South Wales Government Railways at Tocumwal at a break-of-gauge in 1908.
[edit] Bendigo area lines
The line from Spencer Street to Sunbury was extended to Woodend and Kyneton in 1861 and Castlemaine and Bendigo in 1862.
A branch line was opened from Clarkefield (north of Sunbury) to Lancefield in the 1881. This line closed in 1956.
A branch was opened from Carlsruhe (between Woodend and Kyneton) to Daylesford in 1880. This line was closed in 1978. Part of this line, between Daylesford and Bullarto is now operated by the Daylesford Spa Country Railway as a tourist railway. This line was connected with a line from Ballarat in 1887.
A branch line was built between Redesdale Junction (north of Kyneton) and Redesdale by 1900. It was closed in the 1950s.
A branch line was opened from Castlemaine to Maldon in 1884 and Shelbourne in 1891, although the railway had originally been planned to run to Laanecoorie. The line from Maldon to Shelbourne was closed in 1969 due to bush fire damage. The branch line closed in 1976.[2]. The Victorian Goldfields Railway has restored the line and operates trains between Castlemaine and Maldon.
A branch line was built from Bendigo to Heathcote in 1888 and connected to a line from Kilmore in 1890. The Bendigo - Heathcote line closed in 1958. The Heathcote Junction to Heathcote branch was closed in November 1968.
[edit] Echuca line
The Bendigo line was extended to Elmore and Echuca in 1864 and across the Murray River to connect with the private Deniliquin and Moama Railway Company from Moama to Barnes and Deniliquin in 1876. This company was taken over by Victorian Railways in 1923.
A branch line was built from Elmore to Cohuna in 1910 and it was closed in the 1980s.
A branch line was built from Barnes to Moulamein and Balranald in 1926. The Moulamein - Balranald section was closed in the 1980s.
[edit] Robinvale line
A line was opened from Bendigo to Inglewood in 1876, Korong Vale in 1882, Boort in 1883, Quambatook in 1894, Ultima in 1900, Chillingolah in 1909, Manangatang in 1914, Annuello in 1921 and Robinvale in 1924. This line currently only handles grain trains. Victorian Railways commenced construction of a railway to Koorakee and Lette in New South Wales in 1924, but this railway was never completed. The Murray River bridge between Robinvale and Euston was instead converted to a road bridge. A new road bridge is currently being built to replace it and the old bridge will be demolished on its completion. A short branch line was built from Wedderburn Junction (south of Korong Vale) to Wedderburn in the 1880s and it was closed in the 1980s.
[edit] Swan Hill line
A line was built from Eaglehawk (just north of Bendigo on the line to Inglewood) to Raywood in 1882, Mitiamo in 1883, Kerang in 1884, Swan Hill in 1890, Piangil in 1915, Kooloonong by 1920 and Yungara in the 1920s. The Kooloonong - Yungara was closed in the 1950s and the Piangil - Kooloonong section was closed in the 1980s.
A branch line was built from Kerang to Murrabit in 1924 and Stony Crossing, New South Wales (originally called Poonboon) in 1928 under an agreement with New South Wales.[3]. No passenger services were carried on the section beyond Murrabit after 1932 and it was closed about 1943. Passenger services ceased to Murrabit in 1941 and the branch line closed altogether in 1961. [4]. Another branch line was built from Kerang to Koondrook in 1889. It was closed in the 1980s.
[edit] Kulwin line
A line was opened from Korong Vale to Wycheproof in 1883, Sea Lake in 1895, Nandaly in 1914, Mittyack in 1919 and Kulwin in 1919. This line currently only handles grain trains.
[edit] Western lines
The Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company opened a railway from Geelong to Newport in 1857. This was extended to Melbourne Spencer Street Station in 1859. The Geelong line was taken over by Victorian Railways in 1860 and a line was opened from Geelong to Ballarat in 1862. The direct line between Melbourne and Ballarat was built from both ends in stages from 1862, meeting at Ballan in 1889.
A branch line was built from Ballarat to Newtown and Skipton in 1883. This line closed in 1985. A branch was built between Newtown, Cressy and Irrewarra (east of Colac) about 1910. This line was closed in 1953.
[edit] North western lines
The Mildura line was opened from Ballarat to Creswick, Clunes, Maryborough and Dunolly in 1874 and 1875, and extended to St Arnaud in 1878, Donald in 1882, Birchip in 1893, Woomelang in 1899, Ouyen, Red Cliffs and Mildura in 1903, Merbein in 1910 and Yelta in 1925.
A line was opened from Ballarat to Waubra in the 1880s. It was closed in the 1960s.
A branch line was built from North Creswick to Daylesford in 1887, connecting with the line from Carlsruhe. This line was closed in 1953.
A line was opened from Marborough to connect with the Melbourne - Bendigo line at Castlemaine in 1874. This line is not currently used by regular traffic.
Another branch line was opened from Maryborough to Avoca in 1876 and Ben Nevis and Ararat in 1890. This line was closed in 1959, reopened in 1966, standardised in 1996 and closed again in 2005. A branch was opened from Ben Nevis to Navarre in 1914 and it was closed in 1954.
A line was opened from Dunolly to Inglewood in 1888, connecting with the Bendigo - Boort line, completed in 1883.
A line was opened from Ouyen to Murrayville in 1912 and the South Australian border in 1915, connecting with the line to Pinnaroo and Tailem Bend. The line west of Pinnaroo was standardised in 1998 creating a break-of-gauge. Nevertheless, it is proposed to standardise the line from Geelong to Mildura and the line between Ouyen and Pinnaroo. In 2006, state and federal money was announced to upgrade the line to Mildura with gauge convertible sleepers.
A branch line was completed from Red Cliffs to Meringur in the 1920s and extended to Morkalia in the 1930s. This line was closed in the 1980s. A 2 km section of the line near Red Cliffs has been converted to a 610mm-gauge steam railway, operated occasionally by the Red Cliffs Historical Steam Railway (see Victorian Tourism).
[edit] Ararat and further west
The line was extended from Ballarat to Beaufort in 1874 and Ararat in 1875, Stawell in 1876, Murtoa in 1878, Horsham in 1882, Dimboola in 1882 and linked with the South Australian Railways at Serviceton in 1887. The Ballarat to Ararat section was closed from 1994 until 2004, when it was reopened for a twice-daily passenger service as part of the Linking Victoria Project. The Ararat to Serviceton section was converted to standard gauge in 1995.
A branch line was built from Stawell to Grampians station in the 1880s, but it was closed in the 1930s.
A branch line was built from Lubeck (between Stawell and Murtoa to Rupanyup in the 1890 and extended to Marnoo by 1910 and Bolangum in the 1920s. It was closed in 1983.
A branch line was opened from Murtoa to Warracknabeal in 1886 and extended to Beulah in 1893, Roseberry and Hopetoun in 1994 and Patchewollock in the 1920s. The section from Hopetoun to Patchewollock was closed in the 1980s. The line from Murtoa to Hopetoun was converted to standard gauge in 1995. It has not carry passengers for many year and grain services between Roseberry to Hopetoun were suspended in 2005.
A branch line was completed between Horsham, East Natimuk and Noradjuha in the 1880s and extended to Balmoral by 1920. This was connected to Cavendish and Hamilton in the 1920s. The line from Noradjuha to Hamilton was closed in the 1970s. A branch was built from East Natimuk to Carpolac in 1894. This line and the branch to Noradjuha were closed in the 1990s.
A branch was opened from Dimboola to Jeparit in 1894 and extended to Rainbow in 1899 and Yaapeet in 1914. The line was converted standardised in 1995. It is currently only used by grain trains. A branch line was opened from Jeparit to Yanac by 1920, which was closed in 1986.
[edit] Ararat - Portland line
A line was built from Ararat to Maroona, Hamilton, Heywood and Portland in 1877. This was converted to standard gauge in 1995.
A line was opened from Gheringhap Junction on the Geelong - Ballarat line to Cressy and Maroona in 1913. This was converted to standard gauge in 1995 and became the main line between Melbourne and Perth.
A branch line was opened between Hamilton and Cavendish between 1910 and 1920. This was connected to the Horsham - Balmoral railway in the 1920s. This line was closed south of Noradjuha, (just south of East Natimuk) in the 1970s.
A branch line was opened between Hamilton and Coleraine in 1882, but was closed in the 1970s.
A branch line was opened between Hamilton and Casterton in 1884. This line was closed in the 1977.
A branch line was opened between Heywood and Mount Gambier in 1917. Service was suspended in 1995 due to the standardisation of the Maroona - Portland line. There are regular calls for the Heywood - Mount Gambier line to be standardised.
[edit] Warrnambool line
The Warrnambool line was opened from Geelong to Winchelsea in 1876, Colac in 1877, Camperdown in 1883, Terang in 1877 and Warrnambool and Dennington and Port Fairy in 1890. This line is now closed beyond Warrnambool.[5]. A branch was built between South Geelong to Queenscliff in 1879, but was closed in 1976.
A branch was opened from near Moriac (between Geelong and Winchelsea) to Wensleydale in 1890, but was closed in 1948.
A branch was opened from Birregurra (between Winchelsea and Colac) to Forrest in 1891 to carry timber. This was closed in 1957.
A branch was completed from Irrewarra (east of Colac) to Cressy in 1910. This was closed in 1953.
A branch was opened from Colac to Beech Forest in 1902 to carry timber. A narrow gauge line (762mm) was built from Beech Forest to Weeaproniah and Crowes in 1911. This was cut back to Weeaproniah in 1954 and closed from Colac in 1962.
A branch was opened from Colac to Alvie in 1923 to carry potatoes and onions to market, produced by the local improverished "soldier settlers". Ex-soldiers were settled on small holdings in Australia, after World War I, partly in an attempt to create European-style "closer settlement". This was generally a hopeless failure and led to rural poverty and consequently agitation for Government support through the construction of uneconomic railways and the like. This was a factor in the birth of the Country Party. Passenger services on the Alvie line ceased in 1930 and the line was closed in 1954.[6].
A branch was built from a junction near Camperdown to Timboon in 1892. This was closed in 1988.
A branch was built from Terang to Mortlake in 1890, but was closed in the 1970s.
A branch line was built from Koroit (between Warrnambool and Port Fairy), Penshurst and Hamilton (on the Ararat - Portland railway) in the 1890s. This line was closed in the 1970s. A connection was also opened between Penshurst and Dunkeld (also on the Ararat - Portland railway) in about 1900.
Between 1993 and 2004, passenger services on the Warrnambool line were provided by West Coast Railway.
[edit] External links
- History of the Victorian Railways
- Victorian railway stations
- VICSIG - Comprehensive site covering Railways in Victoria
- Victorian railway ephemera collected and digitised by the National Library of Australia
- V/LineCars.com - Comprehensive V/Line Carriages Information & Enthusiast website
- Interesting network maps of Victorian railways and analysis at ten year intervals
- A detailed map of Victorian railways, showing operating and closed railways
[edit] See also
- List of regional railway stations in Victoria
- V/Line
- History of rail transport in Australia
- Rail transport in Australia
- Spirit of Progress
- Narrow gauge lines of the Victorian Railways
[edit] References
- ^ "Toll sells rail lease", Canberra Times, 2 November 2006, pp. 17.
- ^ Chart of Events. Victorian Goldfields Railway. Retrieved on 2006-06-09.
- ^ Border Railways Act 1922. Australian Australasian Legal Information Institute. Retrieved on 2006-06-09.
- ^ Poonboon. Australian Association of Time Table Collectors. Retrieved on 2006-06-09.
- ^ The Geelong Story. History Victoria. Retrieved on 2006-06-07.
- ^ The Colac-Alvie Railway. South Western Railway Society. Retrieved on 2006-06-07.
