Geelong | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Overview | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service type | Regional rail | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
System | Victorian railway network | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Status | Operational | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Locale | Victoria, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Predecessor |
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First service | 25 June 1957 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current operator(s) | V/Line | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former operator(s) |
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Ridership | 8.15 million (2022-23) [1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Website | V/Line Geelong on Twitter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Route | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termini | Southern Cross Waurn Ponds | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stops | 15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distance travelled | 93.0 km (57.8 mi) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Average journey time | 1 hours 19 minutes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service frequency | Approx. every 20 minutes weekdays, 40 minutes weekends. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Line(s) used | Deer Park–West Werribee, Warrnambool | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Technical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rolling stock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Track gauge | 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Track owner(s) | VicTrack | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Geelong V/Line rail service is a regional passenger rail service operated by V/Line in Victoria, Australia. It serves 15 stations towards its terminus in Waurn Ponds, a southern suburb of Geelong, via the Regional Rail Link. It is the most used regional rail service in Victoria, carrying 8.15 million people in the 2022-23 financial year. [1]
Beyond Waurn Ponds, the service continues as the Warrnambool V/Line rail service to its coastal destination in the state's south-west.
The line to Geelong was originally built by the Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company and opened on 25 June 1857. The line was designed by English engineer Edward Snell, and originally built as a single-track railway.
The line was sold to the Victorian Railways in 1860. [2] Following its sale, the line was progressively extended south-west, to Winchelsea in 1876, Colac in 1877, Camperdown in 1883, Terang in 1877, and lastly to Warrnambool, Dennington, and Port Fairy in 1890. The line is now closed beyond Warrnambool, with the last train leaving Port Fairy in September 1977. [3] [4]
In February 1959, the line from North Geelong to Corio was duplicated. [5] [6] Werribee to Little River was duplicated in October 1970, and Little River to Lara was duplicated in June 1981. [5]
There have long been calls to electrify the line, but plans were put on hold by the State Government in 2002, [7] with diesel locomotives and railcars utilised instead.
Train services between Melbourne and Geelong received a package of upgrades under the Regional Fast Rail project, primarily focusing on upgrading the line to support 160 km/h running and the introduction of V/Line VLocity diesel multiple unit train sets. VLocity trains entered service on the line in 2006. [8]
Construction of Waurn Ponds railway station was completed in 2014, with several Geelong line services being extended to terminate at Waurn Ponds. [9]
In the late 2000s and early 2010s, trains on the Geelong – Melbourne corridor were chronically late. As of March 2010, trains had officially run late for 44 consecutive months on the line. [10] The poor performance of V/Line was well documented in the local Geelong press. [11] Recurring issues on the line included poor communication, [12] commuters worried about losing their jobs in Melbourne due to delays, [13] and overcrowding. [14]
In 2008 the Regional Rail Link project was announced, consisting of a new pair of tracks exclusively for V/Line services, avoiding the need to share tracks with Metro's electrified suburban services. The tracks begin west of Werribee, following an alignment up to Deer Park, then running into two new platforms at Southern Cross, completely bypassing Tottenham, West Footscray, Middle Footscray, South Kensington, and North Melbourne; but still stopping at Sunshine and Footscray at two platforms dedicated to V/Line services.
The main benefit of the project was for the Geelong line service, which used to run along the same tracks as Metro's Werribee line, resulting in significant congestion. Ballarat and especially Bendigo services benefited less, only being separated from Metro's Sunbury line service between Sunshine and Southern Cross. While the project was overall well-received for increasing service reliability, the choice to bypass North Melbourne was especially criticised. [15]
The Regional Rail Link included two new stations to be served by Geelong V/Line trains: Tarneit and Wyndham Vale. Since its opening, overcrowding has become a persistent and chronic issue, especially at Tarneit, which is the most-used V/Line station other than Southern Cross. [16]
The line received another significant package of works as part of the Regional Rail Revival project. Most notably, the line was to be duplicated from South Geelong to Waurn Ponds. To support this duplication, a new stabling facility was to be constructed at Waurn Ponds and three level crossings to be removed. These upgrades would allow 5 trains per hour during peak and 3 trains per hour off peak. [17]
Between June and August 2024, the railway line was closed for duplication. The upgrades were completed on 26 August 2024, with new second platforms added to South Geelong and Marshall stations. [18] [19]
The current V/Line timetable has weekday services operating approximately every 20 minutes from Southern Cross to either South Geelong or Waurn Ponds in an alternating pattern. Some services originate and terminate at Wyndham Vale. [20]
On weekdays, peak morning services from Southern Cross stop all stations, except the 06:05 and 06:28 services which run express through Marshall; in the evening, the 19:16 service runs express through the station as well. Eight services are timetabled to terminate at Wyndham Vale: the 15:55, 16:13, 16:36, 16:55, 17:15, 17:35, 18:34, and 19:03, all running express through Deer Park.
Several weekday afternoon−evening peak services from Southern Cross have unusual stopping patterns, including two which terminate at Geelong instead of the usual terminus of South Geelong or Waurn Ponds. According to the current timetable: [20]
Weekday peak services towards Southern Cross typically originate at either South Geelong or Waurn Ponds in an alternating pattern, and most stop all stations. There are six services timetabled to originate from Wyndham Vale, the 06:54, 07:16, 07:35, 07:50, 08:14, and 08:36.
Off-peak services to and from South Geelong usually run express through Corio and Little River, while off-peak services to and from Waurn Ponds run express through North Shore. On weekends, service frequency is reduced to approximately every 40 minutes, with all trains timetabled to originate and terminate at Waurn Ponds and stopping all stations.
All Geelong services run express through Ardeer; it is only served by Ballarat services.
Almost all services are run using V/Line VLocity diesel multiple unit trains in either a 3- or 6-car configuration. Some services originating and terminating at Wyndham Vale are operated with a 9-car VLocity set. A few services are still operated by locomotive-hauled V/Line N class locomotives and H type carriages. S type carriages were used until 2010. Built in the 1950s, the S type carriages were over 60 years old upon their discontinuation. [21]
The 2018 Western Rail Plan identified a need to electrify the line up to Wyndham Vale, which would significantly resolve the overcrowding problem due to the fact Metro's trains can hold more people than V/Line's. The plan also featured quadruplication, avoiding the problem of a new electric service causing congestion for V/Line services along the corridor. In 2023, it was widely reported that track quadruplication was no longer part of the Western Rail Plan, and there is no concrete plan for electrification. [22]
Geelong services used to run on the same tracks as Metro's Werribee line until the Regional Rail Link was opened in 2015, diverting trains along a new alignment completely bypassing it. In 2020, the Geelong Fast Rail project was announced, which planned to reroute Geelong trains back to the Werribee corrdior, this time with an express track exclusively for Geelong services between Werribee and Laverton, potentially reducing travel times by up to 15 minutes. [23] In 2023, the Federal Government cut funding to various infrastructure projects, resulting in Geelong Fast Rail being shelved. [24] [25] [26]
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Newport railway station is a commuter railway station and the junction point on the Werribee and Williamstown lines, which are part of the Melbourne railway network. It serves the western suburb of Newport, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Newport station is a ground level premium station, featuring two side platforms. It opened on 1 March 1859.
Hoppers Crossing railway station is a commuter railway station on the Werribee line, which is part of the Melbourne railway network. It serves the western suburb of Hoppers Crossing, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Hoppers Crossing station is a ground level unstaffed station, featuring an island platform, it opened on 16 November 1970, with the current platforms provided in 1983 and the footbridge in 2022.
Werribee railway station is a commuter railway station and the terminus of the Werribee line, which is part of the Melbourne railway network. It serves the western suburb of Werribee, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Werribee station is a ground level unstaffed station, featuring three platforms, an island platform with two faces and one side platform. It opened on 25 June 1857, with the current station provided in 1983.
Deer Park railway station is a regional railway station on the Serviceton line, which is part of the Regional railway network. It serves the western suburb of Deer Park, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Deer Park station is an elevated structure premium station, featuring two side platforms. It opened on 2 April 1884, with the current station provided in 2023.
Tarneit is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 25 km (16 mi) west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Wyndham local government area. Tarneit recorded a population of 56,370 at the 2021 census.
Geelong railway station is a regional railway station on the Warrnambool line, which is part of the Regional railway network. It serves the city Geelong, in Victoria, Australia. Geelong station is a ground-level unstaffed station, featuring three platforms, an island platform with two faces and one side platform. It opened on 1 November 1856.
North Shore railway station is a regional railway station on the Warrnambool line, which is part of the Regional railway network. It serves the northern Geelong suburbs of North Shore and Norlane, in Victoria, Australia. North Shore station is a ground-level unstaffed station, featuring two side platforms. It opened on 15 April 1895, with the current station provided in 1991.
Corio railway station is located on the Warrnambool line in Victoria, Australia. It serves the northern Geelong suburb of Corio, and it opened on 15 September 1890 as Cowie's Creek. It was renamed Cowie on 9 May 1904, and renamed Corio on 1 December 1913.
Lara railway station is located on the Warrnambool line in Victoria, Australia. It serves the town of Lara, and it opened on 1 November 1856 as Duck Ponds. It was renamed Lara on 30 June 1875.
Little River railway station is a regional railway station on the Warrnambool line, which is part of the Regional railway network. It serves the southern suburb and town of Little River, in Victoria, Australia. Little River station is a ground level unstaffed station, featuring two side platforms. It opened on 1 January 1857, with the current station provided in 1981.
The Warrnambool line is a long-distance regional rail service in Victoria, Australia. Operated by V/Line, it is the state's fourth longest railway line at 267.3 kilometres (166.1 mi). The line runs from Southern Cross station in central Melbourne to Warrnambool station in the south-west, serving 21 stations via Wyndham Vale, Geelong, Waurn Ponds, and Colac. The line has five return services each weekday and three return services on weekends. Trains on the Warrnambool service run with three- to five-car N-class carriage sets, which are hauled by N class locomotives.
The Warrnambool railway line is a railway serving the south west of Victoria, Australia. Running from the western Melbourne suburb of Newport through the cities of Geelong and Warrnambool, the line once terminated at the coastal town of Port Fairy before being truncated to Dennington. This closed section of line has been converted into the 37 km long Port Fairy to Warrnambool Rail Trail. The line continues to see both passenger and freight services today.
The Ballarat V/Line rail service is a regional passenger rail service operated by V/Line in Victoria, Australia. It serves 13 stations towards its terminus in Ballarat's western suburb of Wendouree via Melton and Bacchus Marsh. Services are operated primarily using V/Line VLocity diesel multiple unit sets in either 3- or 6-car configurations.
The Deer Park–West Werribee railway line is a 28 km (17 mi) non-electrified rail line in the outer-western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria. The line was constructed as part of the Regional Rail Link project between June 2012 and October 2014, and opened in June 2015, with the goal of separating V/Line's Geelong line services from Metro's Werribee line services. It runs from a junction site near Manor to another junction site near Deer Park, where it joins the rest of the Regional Rail Link towards the line's terminus at Southern Cross.
Tarneit railway station is located on the Deer Park–West Werribee line in Victoria, Australia. It serves the western Melbourne suburb of the same name, and opened on 14 June 2015.
Wyndham Vale railway station is located on the Deer Park–West Werribee line in Victoria, Australia. It serves the western Melbourne suburbs of Wyndham Vale and Manor Lakes, and opened on 14 June 2015.
The Western Rail Plan is a proposed metropolitan rail infrastructure project in Melbourne, Australia. The project was initially announced during the 2018 Victorian state election by the State Government. It includes the electrification of two currently existing regional lines to Melton and Wyndham Vale, and other network capacity upgrades.
The Regional Rail Revival is a joint initiative between the Australian federal government and the Victorian state government to upgrade all regional railway lines in Victoria. The project has an estimated total cost of A$4 billion. A$2.3 billion of the project's total cost is being funded by the Australian Government. It was delivered by Rail Projects Victoria (RPV) until April 2024, and then by the Level Crossing Removal Project. The project is guided by the 2016 Regional Network Development Plan, which outlines the short, medium and long-term priorities for a modernised regional rail network.
The Regional Rail Link (RRL) was a project to build a 47.5-kilometre (29.5 mi) length of railway through the western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, the main aim of which was to separate regional V/Line Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong services from the electrified Melbourne suburban services, thereby increasing rail capacity and reliability. The project involved the building of an extra pair of tracks from Southern Cross station to Sunshine, parallel to the Western line, and a new double-track line from Deer Park, which joins with the Warrnambool line west of Werribee, near the site of the former Manor railway station. New stations were built at Tarneit and Wyndham Vale, while West Footscray and Sunshine stations were rebuilt. Additional platforms were built at Southern Cross and Footscray stations, and two level crossings near Sunshine were replaced by grade separations. The most used station before its construction, North Melbourne, was excluded from the project despite being the main connection hub for regional travellers not needing to go all the way to Southern Cross, and now requires regional rail link customers to change at Footscray.
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