Albion-Jacana railway line, Melbourne

VictorianRailwayLineInfobox
type = vic
name = Albion - Jacana
yearcommenced =
yearopened = 1929
yearcompleted =
yearclosed =
fate =
lengthkm =
stations = None
tracks = 2, broad and standard gauge
users = Freight, CountryLink XPT
servicepattern =
RollingStock =
connections =
formerconnections =

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The Albion-Jacana line is a railway line in the western suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. Linking Albion station on the Sydenham line to Broadmeadows station on the Craigieburn line, it is a primarily freight only line with no overhead wires, passenger stations or platforms.

History

The line was opened on July 1, 1929 to allow freight trains to avoid the steeper grades and busy suburban traffic on the Broadmeadows line via Essendon.cite web
url=http://www.victorianrailways.net/vr%20history/history.html
title=VR History
publisher=www.victorianrailways.net
accessdate=2008-03-30] Initially consisting of 2 broad gauge tracks, in 1962 the track on the eastern side was converted to standard gauge as part of the Melbourne to Sydney gauge standardisation project.

The corridor is the present preferred option for an airport rail link to Melbourne Airport. [cite press release
title = Melbourne Airport Rail Link Not Viable Now
publisher = Minister for Transport
date = 2002-01-18
url = http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/MediaRelArc02.nsf/0/15957d548af147904a256b4a008163bf?OpenDocument
accessdate = 2008-06-30] As of 2008 the link is still on the Government agenda. [cite web
url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24057028-2862,00.html
title=Surge in passenger demand prompts call for Airport rail link
work= Herald Sun
date=July 22, 2008
publisher=www.news.com.au
accessdate=2008-07-29]

Description

Built as a double track railway, two major steel viaducts were required to cross the Maribyrnong River and Moonee Ponds Creek valleys. The Maribyrnong River Viaduct is 179 feet (54.6 m) above the riverbed at its highest point and is the tallest bridge in Victoria. [cite web
url=http://www.historyvictoria.org.au/pdf/questions.pdf
title=The Railway Top 20!
work=History Victoria
publisher=www.historyvictoria.org.au
accessdate=2008-03-30]

Today the track on the eastern side is standard gauge and part of the North East standard gauge line with two crossing loops. [cite web
url=http://www.artc.com.au/library/ARTC%20NETWORK%20IN%20VICTORIA.pdf
work=ARTC - Access Seeker Network Configuration and Description
title=ARTC Network in Victoria
publisher=www.artc.com.au
accessdate=2008-03-28] The parallel broad gauge also has two crossing loops, each located before rejoining the main lines, and has a 20 km/h speed limit due to the poor track condition. [cite web
url=http://vicsig.net/index.php?page=infrastructure&line=Albion%20-%20Broadmeadows
title=VICSIG - Infrastructure - Line Data Albion - Broadmeadows line
publisher=vicsig.net
accessdate=2008-03-30]

The only passenger services using the line are the daily CountryLink XPT on the standard gauge line, and occasional broad gauge V/Line services during disruptions of the main line though Essendon. [cite web
url=http://www.railpage.com.au/f-p1010788.htm#1010788
title=Faults halt Craigieburn line trains - Railpage Australia™ Forums (Melbourne suburban)
publisher=www.railpage.com.au
accessdate=2008-03-30]

Standard gauge in blue, broad gauge in red. Distances on the line are measured via Albion.

References

External links

*Signalling diagram: [http://www.victorianrailways.net/signaling/completedia/albbroad.html Albion to Broadmeadows] (1979)