St Kilda railway line, Melbourne

VictorianRailwayLineInfobox
type = mel
name = St Kilda
yearcommenced =
yearopened = 1857
yearcompleted =
yearclosed = 1987
fate = Converted to tram route 96
lengthkm =
stations =
tracks = Double track to terminus
users =
servicepattern =
RollingStock =
connections =
formerconnections = Link to Windsor, Port Melbourne line

The St Kilda railway line is a former suburban railway in Melbourne, Australia.

Operation

The line was opened by the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company in 1857. It ran for 4.5km from the Melbourne (or City) Terminus (on the site of modern day Flinders Street Station), crossing the Yarra River on the original Sandridge Bridge to branch off from the Port Melbourne line and finished in St Kilda, after stopping at the 3 other stations along the line.

For a short time early in the line's history there was a short connection provided to the then Brighton Line at Windsor from St Kilda, however this link was removed shortly after the direct link was provided to Brighton from Richmond. The line was taken over by the Government of Victoria in 1878 to become part of Victorian Railways. The line was electrified in the 20th century.

Closure

The St Kilda line was closed in 1987, along with the Port Melbourne line and replaced with light rail. The last train service ran on July 1, 1987 with the light rail officially commissioned on November 21, 1987.cite journal
year = 1997
month = March
title = Rail Passenger Service Withdrawals Since 1960
author = Chris Banger
journal = Newsrail
publisher = Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division)
volume = 25
issue = 3
pages = pages 77–82 ]

Melbourne tram route 96 now operates on the converted track. The section from Southbank Junction to St Kilda was converted to light rail, requiring the conversion from broad gauge RailGauge|1600 used by the Melbourne rail network to standard gauge RailGauge|sg tram track as well as reducing the overhead voltage from 1500V DC to 600V DC required for the trams. The new tram route now continues down Fitzroy Street and the Esplanade to terminate at Acland Street.

Line guide

Bold stations are termini.

References