- North East railway line
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For the mass transit line in Singapore, see North East MRT Line.
North East railway line, Victoria 
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 railwaysThe 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 1970sThe 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 stationBold 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 1⁄2 in), is in blue.
North East railway Legend
Flinders Street Viaduct to Flinders Street Station 
0 km Southern Cross (SSS) 
Craigieburn Line 
1.7 km North Melbourne (NME) 
Ballarat, Bendigo and 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 95.40 km School House Lane (closed) 95.80 km Dysart (closed) 
101.69 km Seymour (SEY) End of Seymour Line service 101.09 km Seymour Loop Hume Freeway 109.34 km Mangalore (closed) Shepparton line 115.96 km Avenel (AVL) 
121.21 km Monea (closed) 127.55 km Locksley (closed) 136.24 km Longwood (closed) 
137.64 km Longwood Loop 143.23 km Creighton (closed) 153.03 km Euroa (EOA) 158.91 km Balmattum (closed) 166.00 km Riggs Creek Loop 171.33 km Violet Town (VTN) 170.69 km 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 (narrow gauge) 232 km km Alumatta Loop 235.99 km Wangaratta (WAG) ? km Bowser (closed) Bright and Yackandandah 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 
Wodonga Rail Bypass 
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 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. 1 November 2006. http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2003/RAIR/rair2003002.aspx. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b Sid Brown (March 1990). "Tracks Across the State". Newsrail (Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division)) 18 (3): pages 71–76.
- ^ 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
- ^ a b c "VR timeline" (HTML). http://www.victorianrailways.net/. Mark Bau. http://www.victorianrailways.net/vr%20history/history.html. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
- ^ Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, March 1962 pp35-39
- ^ 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.
- ^ V/Line: V/Line Voice Issue 32, February 2008
- ^ "$500m rail link upgrade for Victoria". news.ninemsn.com.au. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=571907. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Victoria MacDonald (2008-11-08). "Historic day as a railway era comes to an end". The Border Mail (Albury-Wodonga: Fairfax Media)
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, June 1960 pp91-93
- ^ "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
- Statistics and detailed schematic map at the vicsig enthusiast website
- History Victoria: The North East Railway Story
Railway Lines in Victoria Main lines
Bendigo Line · Mildura line · North East Line · (Melbourne-Sydney) · Orbost Line · Port Fairy Line · Portland line · Serviceton Line · South Gippsland Line · Tocumwal line · Western SG line (Melbourne-Adelaide)Branch linesAlexandra line · Alvie line · Balranald line · Bolangum line · Briagolong line · Bright line · Buninyong line · Carpolac line · Casterton line · Cobram line · Cohuna line · Coleraine line · Cudgewa line · Daylesford line · Deniliquin line · Forrest line · Grampians line · Heathcote line · Kulwin line · Lancefield line · Maffra line · Mansfield line · Mortlake line · Mirboo North line · Navarre line · Noojee line · Oaklands line · Outtrim line · Patchewollock line · Peechelba East line · Picola line · Portland line · Redesdale line · Red Hill line · Robinvale line · Skipton line · Strzelecki line · Stony Crossing line · Tatong line · Thorpdale line · Timboon line · Wahgunyah line · Waubra line · Wedderburn line · Wonthaggi line · Woodside line · Yackandandah line · Yanac line · Yaapeet line ·
Cross Country linesAvoca line · Geelong-Ballarat line · Eaglehawk–Inglewood line · Moolort Line · Toolamba–Echuca line
V/Line servicesGeelong Line · Warrnambool Line · Ballarat Line · Maryborough Line · Ararat Line · Bendigo Line · Swan Hill Line · Echuca Line · Seymour Line · Shepparton Line · Albury-Wodonga Line · Traralgon Line · Bairnsdale Line
Melbourne suburban servicesCity Loop · Werribee line · Williamstown line · Sydenham line · Craigieburn line · Flemington Racecourse line · Upfield line · Epping line · Hurstbridge line · Lilydale line · Belgrave line · Alamein line · Glen Waverley line · Pakenham line · Cranbourne line · Frankston line · Stony Point line (unelectrified) · Sandringham line
Inner Circle line · Outer Circle line · Rosstown Railway · St Kilda - Windsor line · Spring Vale Cemetery line · Mont Park line · Kew line · Red Hill line · Whittlesea line · Warburton line · Mornington line · Healesville line · St Kilda line · Port Melbourne line Tourist railwaysNarrow gauge branch linesWhitfield line · Gembrook line · Crowes line · Walhalla line
Melbourne goods linesNewport-Sunshine line · Albion-Jacana line · South Kensington-West Footscray line
Categories:- Railway lines in Victoria (Australia)
- Railway lines opened in 1860
- Standard gauge railways in Australia
- 5ft 6in gauge railways
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