VicTrack

Roxburgh Park with the Metro Trains Melbourne leased Craigieburn line on the left and the Australian Rail Track Corporation leased North East line on the right
State Owned Enterprise overview
Formed	1 April 1997
Preceding State Owned Enterprise	Public Transport Corporation
Jurisdiction	Victoria
Headquarters	Docklands
Employees	289 (June 2013)
Minister responsible	Jacinta Allan, Minister for Public Transport
State Owned Enterprise executive	Campbell Rose, CEO
Key document	Victorian Rail Corporations Act 1996
Website	www.victrack.com.au

VicTrack is the trading name of Victorian Rail Track Corporation, a Victorian Government state-owned enterprise which owns all railway and tram lines, associated rail lands and other related rail-related infrastructure in the state of Victoria, Australia,^[1] with the exception of the heritage Puffing Billy Railway that is owned by the Emerald Tourist Railway Board.

VicTrack leases railway land used for public transport to Public Transport Victoria which then sub-leases railway land and infrastructure to Australian Rail Track Corporation, Metro Trains Melbourne, V/Line and Yarra Trams.^[2] VicTrack retains responsibility for the lines around the Dynon Intermodal Terminal, South Dynon Locomotive Depot and North Melbourne.^[3] Before the transfer of functions to PTV in April 2012, the leases of track was with the Director of Public Transport in the Department of Transport.

VicTrack also carries out a range of commercial activities on railway land, including:

• Property leasing and licensing of surplus railway land
• Providing telecommunications services using surplus railway network capacity
• Outdoor advertising
• Commercial property development
• Environmental programs on railway lands such as remediation of contaminated land

History

Western approach to Flinders Street Station

Railway land and infrastructure in Victoria is owned by the Victorian Rail Track Corporation (VicTrack), which was established on 1 April 1997 under the Victorian Rail Corporations Act 1996.^[4]

The organisation was re-established with a new corporate charter from 1 July 2010 by the Transport Integration Act.^[5][6]

The Transport Integration Act provides that VicTrack's primary object "...is to act as the custodial owner of the State's transport-related land, infrastructure and assets..." consistent with the vision statement in the Act and objectives which emphasise transport integration and sustainability. The Act also states that VicTrack's activities should be primarily directed at supporting the transport system and other purposes which support Government policy.^[5]

In 1999, the lines from Melbourne to Serviceton and Albury were leased to the Australian Rail Track Corporation.^[7] This was later extended for another 10 years, and, in May 2008, for another 45 years.^[8][9]

As part of the extension, the rundown and underutilised broad gauge line from Seymour to Albury that paralleled the Melbourne to Sydney line, was converted to standard gauge.^[10] Included was construction of a five kilometre Wodonga Rail Bypass to eliminate 11 level crossings.^[11]

In July 2009, the line from Maroona to Portland was leased to ARTC for 50 years with $15 million to be invested in the line.^[12][13] The line was handed over in March 2009.^[14]

Relationship with Public Transport Victoria

VicTrack is the custodian of all rail infrastructure and assets in Victoria. VicTrack leases the metropolitan train and tram infrastructure and assets to Public Transport Victoria (PTV) through the Metropolitan Infrastructure Head Lease. PTV then sub-leases the assets to the metropolitan train and tram operators through Infrastructure Leases. PTV manages the rights and obligations contained in these leases on behalf of the State. Metro Trains Melbourne operates a the Melbourne railway network on 837 km (520.1 mi) of track^[15] and is also responsible for 215 railway stations.^[16][17] The Australian Rail Track Corporation. leases the interstate railway track from Melbourne to Serviceton and Albury.^[18] V/Line operates to 85 railway stations^[19] and is track manager of the Victorian intrastate rail network outside of the Australian Rail Track Corporation and Metro Trains Melbourne leases.^[20] Yarra Trams operates Melbourne's tram network of 250 km (155.3 mi) double track.^[21]

Regional rail services operated by V/Line Corporation are subject to similar arrangements involving VicTrack and PTV. VicTrack leases the regional rail infrastructure and assets to PTV which then sub-leases them to V/Line under the Regional Infrastructure Lease.

See also

• Chief Investigator, Transport Safety
• Department of Transport
• Director of Public Transport
• Director, Transport Safety
• Freight railways in Melbourne
• Transport Integration Act
• V/Line

References

External links

• Official website