Cranbourne railway line, Melbourne

VictorianRailwayLineInfobox
type = mel
name = Cranbourne
yearcommenced =
yearcompleted = 1886
yearclosed =
fate =
lengthkm =
stations =
tracks = Single track with crossing loops
users = Connex Melbourne, Pacific National cement trains
servicepattern =
RollingStock = south
connections = Pakenham
formerconnections = South Gippsland

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The Cranbourne railway line is a suburban electric railway service operated by Connex Melbourne in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. It operates along the inner section of the former South Gippsland line.

Description

The line traverses flat country and there is little in the way of earthworks. There are several level crossings along the line. The area around Cranbourne is one of Melbourne's main growth areas, giving the line considerable potential for growing patronage.

Infrastructure

The line, which branches from the Pakenham line at Dandenong, is single track throughout, with a crossing loop towards the Cranbourne end of the line. Trains can also cross at Cranbourne itself, which has two platforms. Power signalling is provided throughout, being controlled from Dandenong. There are no intermediate terminating facilities, and no stabling sidings on the line.

Beyond Cranbourne there is a siding between Cameron Street and Berwick-Cranbourne Road near the Cranbourne "Shed" and the new Hunt Club Estate. The line then continues to Leongatha, but between Cranbourne and Nyora the line is unserviceable. Government plans have the line to Leongatha being rebuilt and reopened, but there appears to be little happening in this regard.

History

The Cranbourne line opened in December 1886 as part of the section to Tooradin. This was the first section of the South Gippsland Railway, with passenger services to Leongatha withdrawn on 21 July 1993.cite journal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)
pages = pages 77–82 ]

In November 1993 Train Order Working replaced Electric Staff safeworking to Cranbourne, then on 24 March 1995 the electrification and power signalling on the Cranbourne line was commissioned. It was a A$27 million Federal Government funded project that included an upgraded Dandenong station and a new Merinda Park station.cite book
last = Fiddian
first = Mark
title = Trains, Tracks, Travelers. A history of the Victorian Railways
publisher = South Eastern Independent Newspapers
year = 1997
page = page 154
isbn = 1 875475 12 5 ] (the line had previously been electrified for a short distance to the Commonwealth Engineering siding).

The last regular train running though and beyond Cranbourne was on 15 January 1998, when the Koala Siding (near Nyora) to Spotswood station sand train ceased operation.cite journal
year = 1998
month = February
title = Farewell - The Sand Train
journal = Newsrail
publisher = Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division)
pages = pages 71–76 ]

In 2008 work started on the construction of six train stabling sidings at Cranbourne station at a cost of A$37 million, to enable more trains to run on the line at peak times without duplicating the line. [cite web
url=http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/955cbeae7df9460dca256c8c00152d2b/16a31250939e85d6ca257410007a9d5b!OpenDocument
title=Media Release: CRANBOURNE STATION TRAIN STABLING PROJECT ON TRACK
publisher=www.dpc.vic.gov.au
work-Minister for Public Transport Media Release
accessdate=2008-04-24] [cite web
url=http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=infrastructure&project=cbesidings
title=VICSIG - Infrastructure - Cranbourne Sidings and Station
publisher=www.vicsig.net
accessdate=2008-04-24]

Line guide

Bold stations are termini, where some train services terminate; "italic" stations are staffed.

Branches from the Pakenham line at "Dandenong".

References

External links

* [http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/route/view/4 Timetables]
* [http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/maps_stations_stops/metropolitan_trains/pakenham_cranbourne_lines Official line map]
* [http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/maps_stations_stops/metropolitan_trains Network map]
* [http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=infrastructure&section=lineguide&line=Cranbourne Statistics and detailed schematic map] at the [http://www.vicsig.net/ VicSig] enthusiast website