Craigieburn railway line, Melbourne

VictorianRailwayLineInfobox
type = mel
name = Craigieburn
yearcommenced = 1860
yearcompleted = 1872
yearclosed =
fate =
lengthkm =
stations =15
tracks = Double track throughout
users = Connex Melbourne, V/Line, freight
servicepattern = Stopping all stations
RollingStock = south
connections = Flemington Racecourse, Albury-Wodonga lines
formerconnections = Upfield

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The Craigieburn railway line is a suburban electric railway inner section of the main North East railway line serving the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. It has 15 stations and in Metcard ticketing Zones 1 and 2. Prior to electrification to Craigieburn the line was known as the Broadmeadows railway line.

Description

The line rises steadily after leaving North Melbourne until after Essendon, then drops a little to cross Moonee Ponds Creek, and soon after encounters the "Glenroy Bank", a continuous rising gradient of 1 in 50 for nearly convert|3|km|mi|lk=on that used to tax locomotive-hauled trains in the days of steam. After Glenroy, it continues to rise to the end of the suburban line (and beyond). Earthworks, are, however, generally moderate.

The almost-continuous gradients were a factor when, in 2003, an unmanned suburban train rolled the entire length of the line from Broadmeadows to the city, and crashed into a stationary but loaded passenger train waiting to depart Spencer Street Station. No one was killed or seriously injured in the incident.

Infrastructure

The Craigieburn line is double track throughout, and controlled by automatic block signalling. It has numerous level crossings as well as many bridges over or under roads.

Terminating facilities are provided at Kensington, Newmarket (by shunting onto the Flemington Racecourse line), Essendon, Broadmeadows, as well as Craigieburn itself. However only Essendon, Broadmeadows, and Craigieburn are normally used. Train stabling facilities are provided at Broadmeadows and Craigieburn.

History

The line from North Melbourne to Essendon was opened by the Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company in November 1860. Soon after, the company also opened a branch from Newmarket to Flemington Racecourse. However, both lines closed after only a short time, in July 1864. The Victorian Railways reopened the Flemington Racecourse line (and therefore the Essendon line as far as Newmarket) in November 1867, and in January 1871 reopened the line to Essendon.

In April 1872, the line was extended to a temporary terminus outside Seymour, awaiting completion of a bridge over the Goulburn River. In December 1894, through services were provided from Essendon to Brighton Beach on the Sandringham line.

Automatic block signalling started to appear on the line in 1918, with Kensington to Essendon being converted in June of that year, and North Melbourne to Kensington in October of the same year. In May 1919 Flinders Street to Essendon, along with the Sandringham line, became the first line to be electrified in Melbourne, apart from a test installation on the Flemington Racecourse line.

In January 1924, an extra pair of tracks, including a flyover, was opened between North Melbourne and Kensington, enabling the separation of passenger and freight traffic in the busy section. Further works were carried out in 1929, when the double track Albion - Jacana freight line was opened, [cite web
url=http://www.victorianrailways.net/vr%20history/history.html
title=VR History
publisher=www.victorianrailways.net
accessdate=2008-06-22] permitting freight trains to avoid the line via Essendon altogether. Automatic Block Signalling was extended to Broadmeadows in November 1965.

On September 30, 2007 electrified trains between Broadmeadows station to Craigieburn commenced regular service. [cite web
url=http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/DOI/Internet/transport.nsf/AllDocs/07288AED1C6F3EF3CA25730D000908B5?OpenDocument
title=Public transport - Craigieburn Rail Project - News and publications
publisher=www.doi.vic.gov.au
accessdate=2008-06-22] Previously, passengers for Craigieburn travelled on V/Line operated diesel services, however Metcards were accepted for fare payment.

Line guide

Bold stations are termini, where some train services terminate; "italic" stations are staffed; and stations with an asterisk (*) are manned only during morning peak.

Branches from the City Loop at "Southern Cross" and "Flagstaff".

References

External links

* [http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/timetables/timetable_options.php?type=vline&id=V400 Timetables]
* [http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=infrastructure&line=Craigieburn Statistics and detailed schematic map] at the [http://www.vicsig.net/ vicsig] enthusiast website