Western standard gauge line

VictorianRailwayLineInfobox
type = vic
name = Western standard gauge
yearcommenced = 1889
yearopened =
yearcompleted = 1995 (in current form)
yearclosed =
fate =
lengthkm =
stations =
tracks = Single track, crossing loops
users = Freight and "The Overland"
servicepattern =
RollingStock =
connections =
formerconnections =

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The Western standard gauge is a railway line in western Victoria, Australia. Opened in 1995, it forms part of the Melbourne-Adelaide railway and serves as the principal interstate rail link between Victorian and the western states. The line replaced a number of former broad gauge routes which were gauge converted, and today sees both intrastate and interstate freight traffic, as well as irregular "The Overland" passenger service. Major towns on the route include Geelong, Ararat, Horsham and Dimboola.

History

The first intercapital link between Melbourne and South Australia was completed in 1887 when the Victorian Railways line was extended to Serviceton on the state border. [cite web
url=http://www.railwaymuseum.org.au/history.html
title=ARHS Railway Museum: History 1839 - 1900
publisher=www.railwaymuseum.org.au
accessdate=2008-03-27] Known as the Serviceton line, it passed though Geelong, Ballarat, Ararat, Stawell, Horsham and Dimboola on the way west. It was not until 1889 that a direct Melbourne - Ballarat link was opened. [cite web
url=http://www.victorianrailways.net/vr%20history/history.html
title=VR History
publisher=www.victorianrailways.net
accessdate=2008-03-27]

In the 1970s most interstate lines in Australia began to be converted to standard gauge. By the 1990s Adelaide to Melbourne was the only interstate link not converted, and so various proposals were made for gauge conversion. Two main options were put forward:

* via Ballarat: A new track or dual gauge to Ballarat, then conversion of the line west.
* via Geelong: A new track to Geelong, dual gauge to Gheringhap, then conversion of the line via Cressy, and then conversion of the line from Ararat.

Various reasons for given for and against both routes. The Geelong was longer, but avoided the steep grades on the line though Ballarat. Businesses and industry in both cities also wanted to be on the main interstate link. In the end it was decided to build the route via Geelong, and work was completed in 1995 with funding from the Federal Government One Nation program. Along with the gauge conversion of the interstate line, the Portland, Yaapeet and Hopetoun lines were also converted, and a dual gauge link provided to Maryborough to permit grain from the north-west to reach the port at Portland.

Infrastructure

The line is standard gauge, except for dual gauge on the Newport - Sunshine freight line, and where it follows the Geelong - Ballarat line. It is single track throughout, with numerous 1500 metre long crossing loops. [cite web
url=http://www.artc.com.au/library/TA02%20Appendix%20II%20Issue%202.2.pdf
work=ARTC - Access Seeker Network Configuration and Description
title=Appendix II Interstate Network Overview
publisher=www.artc.com.au
accessdate=2008-03-28] The majority of the line uses Centralised Traffic Control to direct trains, except for the Gheringhap to Maroona section which uses the Section Authority System, [cite web
url=http://vicsig.net/index.php?page=infrastructure&line=Western%20SG
title=VICSIG: Western SG Line
publisher=vicsig.net
accessdate=2008-03-28] a Victoria only radio token based safeworking system developed in the 1980s. The line is owned by VicTrack and since 1997 has been managed by the Australian Rail Track Corporation. [cite web
url=http://www.railwaymuseum.org.au/history3.html
title=ARHS Railway Museum: History 1950 - now
publisher=www.railwaymuseum.org.au
accessdate=2008-03-28]

ervices

The main traffic on the line is Melbourne - Adelaide interstate freight, with trains operated by Australian Railroad Group, Pacific National and Specialised Container Transport. Grain services are also operated on an irregular basis by Pacific National, Genesee and Wyoming Australia and El Zorro. [cite web
url=http://members.wimmera.com.au/wangara/west/trains.html
title=Operators, Trains and Train Numbers
publisher=members.wimmera.com.au
accessdate=2008-07-30]

A local container freight service also operates from Melbourne to Horsham by QRNational for Wimmera Container Lines. [cite web
url=http://wimmera.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/rail-to-roll-on/1229118.aspx
title=Rail to roll on
work=Wimmera Mail Times
date=28/07/2008
publisher=yourguide.com.au
accessdate=2008-07-30] Until July 2008 it was operated by Pacific National, who cancelled it in April then gave it a three month reprieve. [cite web
url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/21/2222687.htm
title=Rail freight woes spark crisis of confidence
work=ABC News
publisher=www.abc.net.au
accessdate=2008-07-16] [cite web
url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/24/2226019.htm
title=Three month extension for Wimmera rail freight services
work=ABC News
date=April 24, 2008
publisher=www.abc.net.au
accessdate=2008-07-16] The only passenger service is "The Overland" thrice weekly.

Route

The line leaves the North East standard gauge line at Tottenham, then runs south via the dual gauged Newport - Sunshine freight line. From Newport a separate line is provided to the west of the Geelong line as far as North Geelong Junction, where the line joins the dual gauged Geelong - Ballarat north as far as Gheringhap Loop. From here line follows the gauge converted Gherininghap - Maroona line westward until it meets the Portland line, and heads north to Ararat where it rejoins the former mainline.

Blue is standard gauge, red is broad gauge. "'Bold" are active passenger platforms.

References