Warrnambool railway line

This article is about the railway line itself. For the regional passenger rail service see Warrnambool V/Line rail service.
Warrnambool railway line, Victoria
Line details
Opened 1857
Completed 1890
Tracks Double broad gauge track to Geelong, single beyond. Single standard gauge to North Shore
Used by V/Line passenger services, freight traffic
Connections Western SG, Geelong–Ballarat
Former connections Queenscliff, Geelong Racecourse, Wensleydale, Forrest, Cressy, Beech Forrest, Alvie, Timboon, Mortlake, Port Fairy, Hamilton lines
Rail transport in Victoria

The Warrnambool railway line (also known as the South West line, formerly known as the Port Fairy railway line) is a railway serving the south west of Victoria, Australia. Running from the state capital Melbourne though the cities of Geelong and Warrnambool, it once terminated at the coastal town of Port Fairy until being truncated to Dennington (just west of Warrnambool). This closed section of line has been converted into the 37 km long Port Fairy to Warrnambool Rail Trail. The line continues to see both passenger and freight services today.

Services

Metro Trains Melbourne operates suburban passenger services along the inner section of the line as far as Werribee, while V/Line operates the Interurban Geelong Line and the Intercity Warrnambool Line services. For 11 years, from 19 September 1993 until 31 August 2004, the Melbourne to Warrnambool passenger service was run by the private West Coast Railway company.[1][2] Freight services also run on the line, operated by Pacific National and, for a brief period, El Zorro. El Zorro has resumed freight services to the Westvic container depot.

In April 2015, V-Line Warrnambool service will cease Werribee Station for the opening of Regional Rail Link.

History

The Geelong line was originally built by the private Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company and opened on 25 June 1857, the line being sold to the Victorian Railways in 1860.[3] The line was designed by English engineer Edward Snell, and built as a single track. The standard of engineering was called into question as the light timber bridges required extra maintenance and had a short life span, while the decision to build only a single track resulted in slow and infrequent trains. Travelers between Melbourne and Geelong continued to prefer the bay steamers across Port Phillip Bay, leading to diminished profits for the company.[4] At a railway commission enquiry, Snell defended his approach as necessary to complete the work in time, with the expectation that the engineering works would be upgraded as traffic and revenue increased.[5] The railway had the misfortune of a fatal accident on its first run. The company's superintendent - and a friend of Snell’s - was struck when leaning out of the train's engine as it approached a tunnel. An inquiry cleared the company of any negligence.

The line was progressively duplicated from the 1950s to the 1980s.[6]

The line was later extended south-west, to Winchelsea in 1876, Colac in 1877, Camperdown in 1883, Terang in 1877 and Warrnambool, Dennington and Port Fairy in 1890. This line is now closed beyond Warrnambool.[7] A branch line was built from Koroit (between Warrnambool and Port Fairy) to Hamilton (on the Ararat – Portland railway), via Penshurst, in 1890. At the same time a short-lived connection was opened between Penshurst and Dunkeld (also on the Ararat – Portland railway). It closed eight years later.

Branch lines were also constructed from South Geelong to Queenscliff in 1879, from Moriac (between Geelong and Winchelsea) to Wensleydale and Terang to Mortlake in 1890, from Birregurra (between Winchelsea and Colac) to Forrest in 1891, from Camperdown to Timboon in 1892, from Irrewarra (east of Colac) to Cressy in 1910, and from Colac to Alvie in 1923.

A 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge branch was also opened from Colac to Beech Forest in 1902, principally to carry timber, and was extended to Weeaproniah and Crowes in 1911.

The branch lines began to be closed from the late 1940s, the Wensleydale line being the first in 1948, followed by the Forrest line in 1957, the Irrewarra line in 1953, the Alvie line in 1954, the Beech Forest line in 1962 (the section from Weeaproniah to Crowes having been closed in 1954), and the Timboon line in 1988.

In April 2015, Warrnambool services will be diverted away from Werribee station when the Regional Rail Link opens as it will cease Werribee Station.

New crossing loop

In July 2012, the Minister for Public Transport announced that a new crossing loop would be constructed on the line at Warncoort, between Birregurra and Colac. Tenders were called for in August.[8]

Line guide

The twin broad gauge and single standard gauge tracks
V/Line VLocity train near Little River
N class locomotive hauled train running near Lara
V/Line train crossing the Breakwater Bridge
Colac station goods shed and platform

Broad gauge tracks are shown in red, and standard gauge in blue.

Port Fairy line
Legend
0 km Southern Cross
1.7 km North Melbourne
North East line towards Albury-Wodonga
Serviceton line towards Ballarat / Bendigo line
4.9 km Footscray
Western SG via Newport-Sunshine line
10.6 km Newport
Williamstown line
15.2 km Mobiltown (Closed)
15.3 km Paisley (Closed)
Williamstown Racecourse (Closed)
Kororoit Creek
17.4 km Seaholme
18.4 km Altona
19.8 km Westona
22.2 km Laverton
23.5 km Aircraft
24.5 km Williams Landing
28.9 km Hoppers Crossing
31.7 km Werribee End of Werribee Line service
Werribee River
Lollipop Creek
39.60 km Manor (Closed)
49.56 km Little River
Little River
59.50 km Lara
Hovells Creek
Princes Freeway
65.94 km Corio
69.17 km North Shore
Western SG to Adelaide via Maroona & Ararat
Geelong - Ballarat line
71.00 km North Geelong
74.56 km Geelong
Geelong tunnel (422 m long)
76.42 km South Geelong
Queenscliff line
78.86 km Geelong Racecourse (Closed)
Barwon River
81.60 km Marshall End of Geelong Line service
81.2 km Grovedale (1st, closed)
81.3 km Grovedale (2nd, closed)
82.9 km Grovedale (3rd, under construction)
90.27 km Waurn Ponds
91.0 km Pettavel (Closed)
Creek
98.68 km Moriac (Closed)
Wensleydale line
103.8 km Buckley (Closed)
115.74 km Winchelsea
125.94 km Armytage (Closed)
Forrest line
136.28 km Birregurra
Princes Highway
140.0 km Warncoort (Closed)
Colac-Ballarat line
147.3 km Irrewarra (Closed)
Crowes line
155.39 km Colac
Alvie line
161.8 km Larpent (Closed)
170.33 km Pirron Yallock (Closed)
178.7 km Stoneyford (Closed)
184.90 km Pomborneit (Closed)
200.49 km Camperdown
206.59 km Timboon (Closed)
Timboon line
213.03 km Boorcan (Closed)
222.78 km Terang
Mortlake line
232.6 km Garvoc (Closed)
244.68 km Panmure (Closed)
249.6 km Cudgee (Closed)
256.00 km Allansford (Closed)
263.45 km Sherwood Park
269.30 km Warrnambool End of Warrnambool Line service
270.00km End of Line
274.00 km Dennington (Closed)
275.19 km Illowa, (Closed)
281.63 kmKoroit (Closed)
To Portland line via Penshurst and Hamilton
284.85 km Crossley, (Closed)
286.46 km Kirkstall, (Closed)
291.29 km Moyne, (Closed)
296.11 km Rosebrook, (Closed)
297.72 km Port Fairy (Closed)

References

  1. ↑ Hopkins, Phillip (2004-07-19). "End of the line for West Coast Rail". The Age. Retrieved 2012-10-23.
  2. ↑ Peter Attenborough (February 2004). "West Coast Railway". Australian Model Railway Magazine: 32–34.
  3. ↑ "Rail Geelong - Geelong Line History". railgeelong.com. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
  4. ↑ State Library of Victoria > Ergo, Edward Snell
  5. ↑ Report of the Select Committee of the Legislative Assembly upon railways, Legislative Assembly to be printed, 11th August, 1857
  6. ↑ "Rail Geelong - Geelong Line Events". railgeelong.com. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
  7. ↑ "The Geelong Story". History Victoria. Retrieved 2006-06-07.
  8. ↑ "Tender for Warncoort Crossing Loop". tenderspoint.com. Retrieved 2012-10-23.

External links