Robinvale railway line, Victoria

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Robinvale railway line, Victoria
Robinvale line map
Line details
Opened 1924
Completed 1926
Closed 1943 (for passengers)
Fate Freight line
Length (km) 511
Stations 12 (some demolished)
Tracks 1
Used by Pacific National
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
 List of stations
Closed railways

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]

Contents

[edit] 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 to Annuello in 1921, and Robinvale in 1924. It was later extended even further to Koorakee in 1929, this section closing in 1943.[2] 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 June 3, 1978 and was operated by a DERM.[3] It was replaced by Bendigo - Ultima and Swan Hill - Robinvale buses from June 5, 1978.[3]

[edit] Operation

Today the line operates using the Train Order Working system of safeworking, with crossing loops provided at Dunolly, Korong Vale, and Robinvale.[4] Speed limits are set between 65 and 55 km/h to Manangatang, with all mainline locomotives permitted. Beyond there speed limit is 25km/h and G and XR class locomotives are banned.[4]

The line today sees as required grain services, and local goods to Boort.[5] In 2008 the line was booked out for upgrades to the track and level crossings from Ultima to Robinvale.[5] 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.[6]

[edit] Line guide

Current named locations on the line, distances measured via Ballan on the Ballarat line.[4]

Robinvale railway line
HLUECKE ABZ3lg HLUECKE
209.099 Mildura line at Dunolly
eHST
229.875 Llanelly
STR
236.000 Arnold Block Point
HLUECKE ABZlg
Eaglehawk - Inglewood line
eHST
248.741 Inglewood
eHST
255.252 Kurting
eHST
Wedderburn
STR
280.863 Korong Vale Crossing Loop
eHST
281.420 Korong Vale
ABZlf HLUECKE
Kulwin line
eHST
289.313 Borung
STR
291.000 Mysia Block Point
eHST
308.112 Boort G.E.B Siding
eHST
309.971 Boort
eHST
323.157 Barraport
eHST
329.154 Gredgwin
eHST
336.341 Oakvale
STR
344.000 Quambatook Block Point
eHST
345.341 Quambatook
eHST
357.894 Cannie
eHST
369.138 Lalbert
eHST
394.003 Ultima
STR
396.000 Ultima Block Point
eHST
403.046 Gowanford
eHST
413.723 Waitchie
eHST
426.472 Chillingollah
eHST
439.533 Chinkapook
eHST
448.787 Cocamba
eHST
456.200 Manangatang
STR
457.280 Manangatang Block Point
eHST
465.464 Bolton
eHST
479.143 Annuello
eHST
497.148 Bannerton
KBFe
510.445 Robinvale

[edit] References

  1. ^ Victorian Network Map. V/Line ~ Network Access ~ Information Pack. www.vline.com.au. Retrieved on 2008-03-24.
  2. ^ Sid Brown (March 1990). "Tracks Across the State". Newsrail: pages 71-76. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). 
  3. ^ a b Chris Banger (March 1997). "Rail Passenger Service Withdrawals Since 1960". Newsrail: pages 77 - 82. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). 
  4. ^ a b c Dunolly to Robinvale. V/Line ~ Network Access ~ Information Pack. www.vline.com.au. Retrieved on 2008-03-24.
  5. ^ a b VICSIG - Infrastructure - Line Data Robinvale line. vicsig.net. Retrieved on 2008-03-24.
  6. ^ $43m to upgrade rail freight lines. business.theage.com.au. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.

[edit] External links