North East railway line

North East railway line
North East railway line, Victoria
North East line map
Line details
Commenced 1860
Completed 1883
Tracks Two 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) (broad gauge) tracks to Seymour with a single BG track continuing to Shepparton; as well as a single standard gauge track from Melbourne to Seymour with 2 tracks from Seymour to Albury
Used by V/Line passenger services and intrastate freight on the broad gauge, CountryLink XPT and interstate freight on the standard gauge
Connections Seymour and Shepparton lines
Rail transport in Victoria
 List of stations
Closed railways

The North East railway is a railway serving the north-east of Victoria, Australia.[1] Running from the state capital Melbourne to the New South Wales railways at Albury, it also serves the regional cities of Seymour, Benalla, Wangaratta and Wodonga. Between Seymour and Albury, the route consists of two parallel standard gauge tracks managed by the Australian Rail Track Corporation, one of which was recently a broad gauge line operated by V/Line.[2] The line also includes a broad gauge line from Melbourne to Shepparton. At Albury the line joins up with the New South Wales' Main South Line from Sydney.

Contents

Services

On the broad gauge line Metro Trains Melbourne operates suburban passenger services along the inner section of the line as the Craigieburn Line, while V/Line services operate as the Interurban Seymour Line and Shepparton Lines. Freight services also use the line, operated by Pacific National.

The standard gauge line sees use by the CountryLink XPT, as well as being a major interstate freight link used by Pacific National, QRNational and Australian Railroad Group. Later in 2011 it is expected that V/Line will recommence services on the Intercity Albury-Wodonga with SG-converted rolling stock.

Both lines are owned by VicTrack, the broad gauge line managed by V/Line, and the standard gauge line by the Australian Rail Track Corporation.[3]

History

The steam-hauled Spirit of Progress near Kilmore East in 1937
B class diesel leading the Spirit of Progress in the 1950s
The Spirit of Progress in the 1970s

The Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company opened the first section of the Albury-Wodonga line from North Melbourne to Essendon in 1860.[4] Following its takeover by the Victorian Government in 1867, the line was extended by 1872[5] to School House Lane on the south side of the Goulburn River near Seymour, and later that year to Seymour and then to Longwood. Benalla, Wangaratta, Springhurst and Wodonga were reached in 1873,[4] connecting with the New South Wales Government Railways at Albury at a break-of-gauge in 1883. the design engineer was Robert Watson.

Construction of a standard gauge track parallel with the broad gauge track from Albury to Melbourne was commenced in 1959, completing the Sydney-Melbourne railway.[6] The first freight train operated on the line on 3 January 1962,[7] followed by the first passenger train on 16 April the same year.[6]

The line was once the home of a number of prestige passenger services between the state capitals of Melbourne to Sydney, including the Spirit of Progress, Southern Aurora, and Intercapital Daylight; but due to declining patronage were replaced by the CountryLink XPT from the 1990s.

Maintaining two parallel single track railways has drawn criticisms over the years, including inefficiencies in maintaining track, operating trains, and duplicated train control centres.[2] By 2001 the State Government announced the gauge conversion of the broad gauge line to standard,[8] but action was stifled due largely to complex leasing arrangements. Speed restrictions had been applied to the broad gauge line due to track deterioration.[9]

In May 2008 it was again announced that the line would be upgraded, with the conversion of 200 kilometres (120 mi) of broad gauge track to standard gauge between Seymour and Albury, construction of a 5 km (3.1 mi) bypass around Wodonga, and rail upgrades between Melbourne and Seymour carried out, including new passing loops.[10] New passenger platforms will also be built on the standard gauge line, and V/Line locomotives and carriages will be gauge converted to operate on the line. Costing A$501.3 million, the Victorian Government is contributing A$171.3 million, the Australian Government is investing A$45 million in the Wodonga Rail Bypass, and the Australian Rail Track Corporation will contribute A$285 million and will take-on responsibility for the ongoing operation of the new north-east standard gauge rail line under a 45-year lease agreement with Victoria.[11] The project was due for completion by 2010, with passenger services disrupted for up to 12 months.[12]

On 8 November 2008, broad gauge passenger rail services on the line ceased after the running of the evening V/Line service from Melbourne to Albury and a special train, operated by the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre, forming the final passenger service to run from Albury to Melbourne.[13][14] In December 2008 standardisation works commenced, being contracted by ARTC to the Southern Improvement Alliance. The first train to run along the new Wodonga Rail Bypass operated in March 2010.[15]

In early August 2010 CountryLink decided to terminate all Sydney-Melbourne XPT services at Albury for an indefinite length of time, due to defects in the newly resleepered track. "Mud holes" in the track resulted in speed restrictions on more than 200 kilometres (about 66 per cent) of the line between the Albury and Melbourne, adding an extra 1.5 hours to the travelling time.[16] Train drivers have blamed the ARTC's $285 million concrete sleeper project for the track issues, stating that the incorrect insertion of 300,000 new concrete sleepers is to blame. They have also repeatedly reported freight trains breaking couplings, due to the rough track.[17] CountryLink services did not resume until mid September 2010. V/Line passenger services are unlikely to return before the end of the year.[18]

Branch lines south of Seymour

A branch line was opened from Heathcote Junction (near Kilmore) to Kilmore in 1888 and extended to Tooborac in 1890, connecting to a line from Bendigo and Heathcote opened a little earlier. The Heathcote Junction – Heathcote line closed in 1968. A branch line was built from Kilmore to Lancefield in 1892, but it was closed in 1904.

The Mansfield line was opened from Tallarook to Yea in 1883, Molesworth in 1889 Cathkin and Merton in 1890 and Mansfield in 1891. This line is now closed. A branch line was built from Cathkin to Koriella in 1890 and Alexandra in 1909. This line closed in 1978.

Branch lines north of Seymour

The Shepparton line was opened from Mangalore to Toolamba and Shepparton in 1880.

A branch line was opened from Benalla to St James in 1883, Yarrawonga in 1886 and Oaklands in 1938, creating a break-of-gauge until the New South Wales Government Railways line was closed south of Boree Creek. Another short branch line was built from Benalla to Tatong in 1914, but closed in 1947.

The narrow-gauge Whitfield branch line was opened from Wangaratta to Whitfield in 1899, closing in 1953.

Two branch lines were opened from Bowser (north of Wangaratta) to Everton in 1875 and extended to Beechworth in 1876 and Yackandandah in 1891. This line closed in 1954. The Bowser – Everton line was extended to Myrtleford in 1883 and Bright in 1890. This line is now closed. A short branch line to Peechelba East also branched from Bowser

A short branch line was opened from Springhurst via Rutherglen to Wahgunyah in 1879. Services were suspended in 1995.

A branch line was opened from Wodonga to Tallangatta between 1889 and 1891, Shelley in 1916, Beetoomba in 1919 and Cudgewa in 1921.[19] A direct connection from Albury was added near Wodonga, creating a turning triangle to enable the Sydney Limited and its successor Spirit of Progress with their observation cars to be turned as a complete trainset. The line was closed beyond Bandiana in 1981,[6] and the connection to Wodonga later removed, with only standard gauge traffic continuing to use the line via Albury.[20]

Line guide

Junction of the North East and Shepparton line, site of the former Mangalore station
Standard gauge Pacific National operated container freight service near Seymour
V/Line Albury-Wodonga line service on the line
Steamrail "Farewell Broad Gauge" special, Benalla, 2008
End of the broad gauge, the break-of-gauge platform at Albury station

Bold stations are termini, italic stations are staffed at least part time. Broad gauge, 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in), is in red, and standard gauge, 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in), is in blue.

North East railway
Legend
Abbreviated in this map
Flinders Street Viaduct to Flinders Street Station
Unknown BSicon "uINTla" Unknown BSicon "INTr"
0 km Southern Cross (SSS)
Urban straight track Abbreviated in this map
Craigieburn Line
Urban straight track Interchange on track
1.7 km North Melbourne (NME)
Waterway turning to left Unknown BSicon "mKRZu" Urban transverse track Urban track turning from right
Junction to left Transverse abbreviated in this map Waterway under railway bridge Transverse abbreviated in this map
Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong lines
Straight track Unknown BSicon "uPSL"
Tottenham Loop
Abbreviated in this map Urban junction to left Unknown BSicon "uHLUECKE"
Western SG to Adelaide
Interchange on track Urban straight track
8 km Essendon (ESD)
Abbreviated in this map Unknown BSicon "uPSL"
16.2 km MacIntyre Loop
Straight track Unknown BSicon "uLUECKE"
Albion-Jacana Freight Line
Abbreviated in this map Unknown BSicon "uPSL"
22.2 km Tullamarine Loop
Unknown BSicon "AKRZo" Unknown BSicon "uAKRZo"
Western Ring Road
Waterway turning from left Unknown BSicon "mKRZu" Urban transverse track Waterway turning to right
Unknown BSicon "uINTl" Unknown BSicon "INTr"
16.9 km Broadmeadows (BMS)
Unknown BSicon "uPSL" Straight track
22.49 km Somerton Loop
Urban straight track Interchange on track
25.8 km Craigieburn (CGB) End of Craigieburn Line service
Unknown BSicon "uAKRZu" Unknown BSicon "AKRZu"
Hume Freeway
Urban straight track Stop on track
33.21 km Donnybrook (DBK)
Unknown BSicon "uPSL" Straight track
Donnybrook Loop
Urban straight track Unknown BSicon "eHST"
41.73 km Beveridge (closed)
Urban straight track Stop on track
47.49 km Wallan (WAN)
Unknown BSicon "uPSL" Straight track
Wallan Loop
Urban straight track Unknown BSicon "eHST"
 ? km Lightwood (closed)
Urban straight track Stop on track
55.40 km Heathcote Junction (HCJ)
Urban straight track Unknown BSicon "eABZlf" Unknown BSicon "exHLUECKE"
Heathcote line
Urban straight track Stop on track
57.29 km Wandong (WDG)
Unknown BSicon "uAKRZu" Unknown BSicon "AKRZu"
Hume Freeway
Urban straight track Stop on track
65.48 km Kilmore East (KME)
Unknown BSicon "uPSL" Straight track
74 km Broadford Loop
Urban straight track Stop on track
77.16 km Broadford (BRF)
Unknown BSicon "uAKRZu" Unknown BSicon "AKRZu"
Hume Freeway
Unknown BSicon "uPSL" Straight track
89 km Tallarook Loop
Urban straight track Stop on track
92.20 km Tallarook (TOK)
Unknown BSicon "exHLUECKE" Unknown BSicon "uemKRZo" Unknown BSicon "eABZrf"
Mansfield line
Urban straight track Unknown BSicon "eHST"
95.40 km School House Lane (closed)
Urban straight track Unknown BSicon "eHST"
95.80 km Dysart (closed)
Urban straight track Track turning left Track turning from right
Urban junction to left Urban track turning from right Straight track
Unknown BSicon "uINTl" Unknown BSicon "uINTr" Interchange on track
101.69 km Seymour (SEY) End of Seymour Line service
Unknown BSicon "uPSL" Urban straight track Straight track
101.09 km Seymour Loop
Unknown BSicon "uAKRZu" Unknown BSicon "uAKRZu" Unknown BSicon "AKRZu"
Hume Freeway
Urban straight track Urban straight track Unknown BSicon "eHST"
109.34 km Mangalore (closed)
Urban straight track Urban straight track Track turning left Transverse abbreviated in this map
Shepparton line
Unknown BSicon "uINTl" Unknown BSicon "uINTr"
115.96 km Avenel (AVL)
Urban straight track Unknown BSicon "ueHST"
121.21 km Monea (closed)
Urban straight track Unknown BSicon "ueHST"
127.55 km Locksley (closed)
Urban straight track Unknown BSicon "ueHST"
136.24 km Longwood (closed)
Unknown BSicon "uexPSL" Urban straight track
137.64 km Longwood Loop
Urban straight track Unknown BSicon "ueHST"
143.23 km Creighton (closed)
Unknown BSicon "uINTl" Unknown BSicon "uINTr"
153.03 km Euroa (EOA)
Urban straight track Urban straight track
158.91 km Balmattum (closed)
Urban straight track Unknown BSicon "uexPSL"
166.00 km Riggs Creek Loop
Unknown BSicon "uINTl" Unknown BSicon "uINTr"
171.33 km Violet Town (VTN)
Unknown BSicon "uexPSL" Urban straight track
170.69 km Violet Town Loop
Urban straight track Unknown BSicon "ueHST"
183.16 km Baddaginnie (closed)
Unknown BSicon "uexPSL" Urban straight track
Benalla Loop
Unknown BSicon "uINTl" Unknown BSicon "uINTr"
197.25 km Benalla (BEN)
Unknown BSicon "exLUECKEq" Unknown BSicon "uemKRZo" Unknown BSicon "uemABZrf"
Tatong line
Urban straight track Urban junction to left Unknown BSicon "uHLUECKE"
Oaklands line
Urban straight track Unknown BSicon "ueHST"
 ? km Winton (closed)
Unknown BSicon "uexPSL" Urban straight track
89 km Glenrowan Loop
Urban straight track Unknown BSicon "ueHST"
218.78 km Glenrowan (closed)
Unknown BSicon "exLUECKEq" Unknown BSicon "uemKRZo" Unknown BSicon "uemABZlg"
Whitfield line (narrow gauge)
Unknown BSicon "uexPSL" Urban straight track
232 km km Alumatta Loop
Unknown BSicon "uINTl" Unknown BSicon "uINTr"
235.99 km Wangaratta (WAG)
Urban straight track Unknown BSicon "ueHST"
 ? km Bowser (closed)
Unknown BSicon "exLUECKEq" Unknown BSicon "uemKRZo" Unknown BSicon "uemABZrf"
Bright and Yackandandah lines
Urban straight track Unknown BSicon "uemABZlf" Unknown BSicon "exLUECKEq"
Peechelba line
Unknown BSicon "uINTl" Unknown BSicon "uINTr"
259.55 km Springhurst (SPT)
Urban straight track Unknown BSicon "uemABZlf" Unknown BSicon "exLUECKEq"
Wahgunyah line
Unknown BSicon "uexPSL" Urban straight track
Chiltern Loop
Unknown BSicon "uINTl" Unknown BSicon "uINTr"
273.22 km Chiltern (CHI)
Urban straight track Unknown BSicon "ueHST"
 ? km Barnawartha (closed)
Unknown BSicon "uAKRZu" Unknown BSicon "uAKRZu"
Hume Freeway
Unknown BSicon "uexPSL" Unknown BSicon "uLUECKE"
297 km Wodonga Loop
Urban straight track Waterway turning to left Urban transverse track Urban track turning from right
Unknown BSicon "uxABZlf" Urban transverse track Urban transverse track Unknown BSicon "uABZlg"
Wodonga Rail Bypass
Unknown BSicon "ueLUECKE" Unknown BSicon "exLUECKE" Urban straight track
Unknown BSicon "uexBHF" Unknown BSicon "exBHF" Urban station on track
303.78 km Wodonga (WOD)
Unknown BSicon "exLUECKEq" Unknown BSicon "uexmKRZo" Unknown BSicon "exABZrd" Urban straight track
Cudgewa line, former turning triangle
Unknown BSicon "ueLUECKEq" Unknown BSicon "uexABZlg" Unknown BSicon "exLUECKE" Urban straight track
dual gauge to Bandiana on former Cudgewa line
Unknown BSicon "uxABZrg" Urban transverse track Urban transverse track Unknown BSicon "uABZrf"
Unknown BSicon "uLUECKE" Waterway turning from left Urban transverse track Waterway turning to right
Unknown BSicon "uAKRZu" Unknown BSicon "uAKRZu"
Hume Freeway
Unknown BSicon "ueGRENZE+WBRÜCKE" Unknown BSicon "ueGRENZE+WBRÜCKE"
Murray River and Vic/NSW Border
Unknown BSicon "uINTl" Unknown BSicon "uKINTre"
Albury (ABX) End of Albury-Wodonga Line service
Unknown BSicon "uLUECKE"
Main South to Sydney

References

  1. ^ Turton, Keith W. (1973). The North East Railway. (A Lineside Guide) Melbourne to Wodonga. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). ISBN 0858490137. 
  2. ^ a b "Derailment of Freight Train 1SP2N and the Subsequent Collision of Passenger Train 8318". Australian Transport Safety Bureau: Investigation Reports. 1 November 2006. http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2003/RAIR/rair2003002.aspx. Retrieved 2008-03-03. 
  3. ^ "Background - Organisation of Australia's Railways". Department of Transport and Regional Services. http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/rail/trains/background/index.aspx. Retrieved 2008-03-03. 
  4. ^ a b Sid Brown (March 1990). "Tracks Across the State". Newsrail (Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division)) 18 (3): pages 71–76. 
  5. ^ The Centenary of the Opening of the Railway to Seymour Turton, Keith W. Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, April;May 1972 pp73-95;101-109
  6. ^ a b c "VR timeline" (HTML). http://www.victorianrailways.net/. Mark Bau. http://www.victorianrailways.net/vr%20history/history.html. Retrieved 2008-03-03. 
  7. ^ Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, March 1962 pp35-39
  8. ^ Victorian Auditor General (August 2006). "Rail Gauge Standardisation Project" (HTML). Victorian Auditor General's Office. http://www.audit.vic.gov.au/reports_mp_psa/psa1603.html. Retrieved 2008-02-08. 
  9. ^ V/Line: V/Line Voice Issue 32, February 2008
  10. ^ "$500m rail link upgrade for Victoria". news.ninemsn.com.au. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=571907. Retrieved 2008-05-30. 
  11. ^ "Premier of Victoria, Australia - FEDERAL-STATE CO-OPERATION DELIVERS MAJOR RAIL PROJECT". www.premier.vic.gov.au. http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/newsroom/federal-state-co-operation-delivers-major-rail-project.html. Retrieved 2008-05-30. 
  12. ^ "Full steam ahead - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". www.abc.net.au. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/30/2260001.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-30. 
  13. ^ Victoria MacDonald (2008-11-08). "Historic day as a railway era comes to an end". The Border Mail (Albury-Wodonga: Fairfax Media) 
  14. ^ "Seymour Railway Heritage Centre - Tours 2008 - The Last Broad Gauge Passenger Train from Albury". Seymour Railway Heritage Centre. http://www.srhc.com.au/tours.php?action=display&id=39. Retrieved 2008-11-09. 
  15. ^ VICTORIA MACDONALD (16 March 2010). "A bypass milestone as freight train ambles in". The Border Mail. www.bordermail.com.au. http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/local/news/general/a-bypass-milestone-as-freight-train-ambles-in/1777168.aspx. Retrieved 2010-03-16. 
  16. ^ BRAD WORRALL (10 August 2010). "XPT passengers forced onto buses". The Border Mail. www.bordermail.com.au. http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/local/news/general/xpt-passengers-forced-onto-buses/1909171.aspx. Retrieved 2010-09-14. 
  17. ^ BRAD WORRALL (11 August 2010). "V/line mud 'chaos'". The Border Mail. www.bordermail.com.au. http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/local/news/general/vline-mud-chaos/1909791.aspx?storypage=0. Retrieved 2010-09-14. 
  18. ^ BRAD WORRALL (13 September 2010). "Trains back on track". Prime Wodonga. wodonga.iprime.com.au. http://wodonga.iprime.com.au/index.php/news/prime-news/trains-back-on-track-video. Retrieved 2010-09-14. 
  19. ^ Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, June 1960 pp91-93
  20. ^ "Cudgewa Line". www.vicrailstations.net. http://www.vicrailstations.com/Cudgewa/Cudgewa.html. Retrieved 2008-06-09. 

Further reading

  • Turton, Keith W. (1973). The North East Railway. (A Lineside Guide) Melbourne to Wodonga. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). ISBN 0858490137. 
  • John C. Jennings and Robert K. Whitehead (July 2005). Seymour - A Railway Town. Seymour and District Historical Society. ISBN 0 9751658 0 1. 
  • Turton, Keith W. (1973). Six And A Half Inches From Destiny. The first hundred years of the Melbourne-Wodonga Railway 1873-1973.. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). ISBN 0 85849 012 9. 
  • Covell, C.M. (November 1967). "Some Impressions and Reflections of the North-Eastern Line". Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin: 230–244 

External links


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