North East railway line, Victoria

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North East railway line, Victoria

Line details
Commenced	1860
Completed	1883
Tracks	Two broad gauge tracks to Seymour (single tracks for each of Shepparton and Albury lines beyond); as well as a parallel standard gauge track for the entire length from Melbourne 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 and on to Sydney, it also serves the regional cities of Seymour, Benalla, Wangaratta and Wodonga.The route consists of two parallel but independent lines, the original broad gauge line now operated by V/Line, and the North East standard gauge line managed by the Australian Rail Track Corporation.^[2] The line also includes a broad gauge branch line from Seymour to Shepparton.

1 Services
2 History
- 2.1 Branch lines south of Seymour
- 2.2 Branch lines north of Seymour
3 Line guide
4 References
5 Further reading
6 External links

[edit] Services

On the broad gauge line Connex 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 the Intercity Albury-Wodonga 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.

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]

[edit] 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 take over by the Victorian Government in 1867, the line was extended to School House Lane (near Seymour) and Longwood in 1872 and Benalla, Wangaratta, Springhurst and Wodonga in 1873,^[4] connecting with the New South Wales Government Railways at Albury at a break-of-gauge in 1883.

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.^[5] The first freight train operating on the line on January 3, 1962, followed by the first passenger train on April 16 the same year.^[5]

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,^[6] but seven years later works have yet to commence. Speed restrictions have been applied to the broad gauge line due to track deterioration, while the Government decides whether to repair the track in the current form or to convert.^[7]

In May 2008 it was announced that the line would be upgraded, with the conversion of 200km of broad gauge track to standard gauge between Seymour and Albury, construction of a five kilometre bypass around Wodonga, and rail upgrades between Melbourne and Seymour carried out, including new passing loops.^[8] 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 $501.3 million, the Victorian Government is contributing $171.3 million, the Australian Government is investing $45 million in the Wodonga Rail Bypass, and the Australian Rail Track Corporation will contribute $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.^[9] The project is due for completion by 2010, with passenger services disrupted for 12 months.^[10]

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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 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, Beetomba in 1919 and Cudgewa in 1921. 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,^[5] and the connection to Wondonga later removed, with only standard gauge traffic continuing to use the line via Albury.^[11]

[edit] 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.

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 is in red, and standard gauge is in blue.

North East railway

Legend

0 km

Southern Cross (SSS)

Craigieburn Line

1.7 km

North Melbourne (NME)

Ballarat, Bendigo & Geelong lines

Tottenham Loop

Western SG to Adelaide

8 km

Essendon (ESD)

16.2 km

MacIntyre Loop

Albion-Jacana Freight Line

22.2 km

Tullamarine Loop

Western Ring Road

16.9 km

Broadmeadows (BMS)

22.49 km

Somerton Loop

25.8 km

Craigieburn (CGB)

End of Craigieburn Line service

Hume Freeway

33.21 km

Donnybrook (DBK)

Donnybrook Loop

41.73 km

Beveridge (closed)

47.49 km

Wallan (WAN)

Wallan Loop

? km

Lightwood (closed)

55.40 km

Heathcote Junction (HCJ)

Heathcote line

57.29 km

Wandong (WDG)

Hume Freeway

65.48 km

Kilmore East (KME)

74 km

Broadford Loop

77.16 km

Broadford (BRF)

Hume Freeway

89 km

Tallarook Loop

92.20 km

Tallarook (TOK)

Mansfield line

? km

School House Lane (closed)

? km

Dysart (closed)

101.69 km

Seymour (SEY)

End of Seymour Line service

Seymour Loop

Hume Freeway

109.34 km

Mangalore (closed)

Shepparton line

115.96 km

Avenel (AVL)

? km

Monea (closed)

? km

Locksley (closed)

136.24 km

Longwood (closed)

Longwood Loop

153.03 km

Euroa (EOA)

? km

Balmattum (closed)

171.33 km

Violet Town (VTN)

Violet Town Loop

183.16 km

Baddaginnie (closed)

Benalla Loop

197.25 km

Benalla (BEN)

Tatong line

Oaklands line

? km

Winton (closed)

89 km

Glenrowan Loop

218.78 km

Glenrowan (closed)

Whitfield line

232 km km

Alumatta Loop

235.99 km

Wangaratta (WAG)

? km

Bowser (closed)

Bright andYackandandah lines

Peechelba line

259.55 km

Springhurst (SPT)

Wahgunyah line

Chiltern Loop

273.22 km

Chiltern (CHI)

? km

Barnawartha (closed)

Hume Freeway

297 km

Wodonga Loop

303.78 km

Wodonga (WOD)

Cudgewa line, former turning triangle

dual gauge to Bandiana on former Cudgewa line

Hume Freeway

Murray River and Vic/NSW Border

Albury (ABX)

End of Albury-Wodonga Line service

Main South to Sydney

[edit] References

^ Turton, Keith W. (1973). The North East Railway. (A Lineside Guide) Melbourne to Wodonga. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). ISBN 0858490137.
^ ^a ^b Derailment of Freight Train 1SP2N and the Subsequent Collision of Passenger Train 8318. Australian Transport Safety Bureau: Investigation Reports (November 1, 2006). Retrieved on 2008-03-03.
^ Background - Organisation of Australia's Railways. Department of Transport and Regional Services. Retrieved on 2008-03-03.
^ ^a ^b Sid Brown (March 1990). "Tracks Across the State". Newsrail 18 (3): pages 71–76. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division).
^ ^a ^b ^c VR timeline (HTML). http://www.victorianrailways.net/. Mark Bau. Retrieved on 2008-03-03.
^ Victorian Auditor General (August 2006). Rail Gauge Standardisation Project (HTML). Victorian Auditor General's Office. Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
^ V/Line: V/Line Voice Issue 32, February 2008
^ $500m rail link upgrade for Victoria. news.ninemsn.com.au. Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
^ Premier of Victoria, Australia - FEDERAL-STATE CO-OPERATION DELIVERS MAJOR RAIL PROJECT. www.premier.vic.gov.au. Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
^ Full steam ahead - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). www.abc.net.au. Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
^ Cudgewa Line. www.vicrailstations.net. Retrieved on 2008-06-09.

[edit] 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).