Robinvale railway line
| Robinvale railway line, Victoria | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Line details | |
| Opened | 1924 |
| Completed | 1926 |
| Closed | 1978 (for passengers) |
| Fate | Freight line |
| Length | 511 km (317.5 mi) |
| Stations | 12 (some demolished) |
| Tracks | Single track |
| Service pattern | Grain to Boort, Quambatook and Manangatang |
| Rolling stock | Grain Hoppers |
| Connections | Junction for the Kulwin Line at Korong Vale |
| Rail transport in Victoria | |
The Robinvale railway line is a freight only country railway line in north-western Victoria, Australia. The line branches from the Mildura line at Dunolly, and at Inglewood the Eaglehawk – Inglewood line connects with the Piangil line outside Bendigo. The parallel Kulwin line junctions from the Robinvale line at Korong Vale then continues northward.[1]
History
The line was opened from Inglewood to Korong Vale in 1882, and first extended towards Charlton in what is now the Kulwin line. Korong Vale to Boort opened in 1883, and to Quambatook in 1894. It was extended to Ultima in 1900, to Chillingollah in 1909, to Manangatang in 1914, to Annuello in 1921, and Robinvale in 1924. It was later extended even further, via the Lette railway line to Koorakee, New South Wales in 1929. This involved a lift-span bridge over the Murray River to take the line into New South Wales.[2] The section in New South Wales closed in 1943.[3] Access to Melbourne was originally from the Bendigo line via Bridgewater, until the opening of the Dunolly to Inglewood route to the Mildura line in 1888.
The last regular passenger service on the line ran from Bendigo to Robinvale on 3 June 1978 and was operated by a DERM.[4] It was replaced by Bendigo – Ultima and Swan Hill – Robinvale buses from 5 June 1978.[4]
Operation
Today the line operates using the Train Order Working system of safeworking, with crossing loops provided at Dunolly, Korong Vale, and Robinvale.[5] Speed limits are set between 65 and 55 km/h (40.4 and 34.2 mph) to Manangatang, with all mainline locomotives permitted. Beyond there speed limit is 25 km/h (15.5 mph) and G and XR class locomotives are banned.[5]
The line today is seen as required for grain services,[6] and containerised freight to Boort where an intermodal is operated by Wimmera Container Lines.[7] In 2008 the line was booked out for upgrades to the track and level crossings from Ultima to Robinvale.[6] In April 2008 it was announced that the Korong Vale – Quambatook section of the line would be upgraded as part of the Victorian core grain network, in a $23.7 million package with 6 other lines. The Dunolly – Korong Vale section had already been upgraded.[8]
Line guide
Current named locations on the line, distances measured via Ballan on the Ballarat line.[5]
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Legend
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References
- ↑ "Victorian Network Map" (PDF). V/Line ~ Network Access ~ Information Pack. www.vline.com.au. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
- ↑ Robinvale to Lette Railway Wurr, Chris Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, April, 1999 pp123-138
- ↑ Sid Brown (March 1990). "Tracks Across the State". Newsrail (Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division)): pages 71–76.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chris Banger (March 1997). "Rail Passenger Service Withdrawals Since 1960". Newsrail (Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division)): pages 77–82.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Dunolly to Robinvale" (PDF). V/Line ~ Network Access ~ Information Pack. www.vline.com.au. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "VICSIG - Infrastructure - Line Data Robinvale line". vicsig.net. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
- ↑ "Roads, ports and freight - Intermodal terminals". www.doi.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
- ↑ "$43m to upgrade rail freight lines". business.theage.com.au. Retrieved 2008-04-27.