Koo Wee Rup | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| General information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Line(s) | South Gippsland | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 1 (3 till 1994) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Closed | ||||||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 11 November 1890 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Closed | 24 July 1993 (Passenger) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Koo Wee Rup was a railway station on the South Gippsland line in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. The station operated until the closure of the line between Cranbourne Station and Leongatha Station in July 1993. The station remains partly intact with the platform and goods shed (now privately owned) intact, however the track one kilometre on each side of the station platform has been dismantled, and replaced by a concrete pathway for bicycles and recreational use. Koo Wee Rup was also the junction of the branch line to Strzelecki. The establishment of the pathway has effectively removed any likelihood that the railway will be rehabilitated. It can also be seen as being the start of a rail trail on the railway reserve, stretching back to Cranbourne, which will block future rail transport options for people in Cranbourne East, Clyde, and surrounding areas.
Between 1999 and 2008 there was constant speculation that the railway line from Cranbourne to Leongatha would re-open, as promised by the then Victorian State Government, under a project named 'Bringing Trains Back to Victorians'. Electrification of the railway beyond Cranbourne to Cranbourne East, Clyde and even as far as Koo Wee Rup had been advocated to serve the rapidly growing suburban fringe of south-east Melbourne.
However, in May 2008, a scoping study carried out on behalf of the government found the costs of returning services high, at $72 million. Therefore, plans to reopen the line were halted, and the government pledged to spend $14.2 million on improved V/Line coach services in the South Gippsland region instead. As well, it was later announced that the railway reservation would be used for a rail trail between Cranbourne East and Nyora.
Reopening the South Gippsland railway line as far as Leongatha continues to be a prominent issue for the region. [1] South Gippsland Shire Council Priority Projects documents released in June 2013 stated that the return of rail was a major community priority, with funding and support being sought from all levels of government. [2]
In early 2014, a report into possible extensions of the Melbourne metropolitan rail system identified the population growth corridor from Cranbourne to Koo-Wee-Rup, along the disused Leongatha line, as a key planning priority. [3] Established in April 2011, the South and West Gippsland Transport Group has continued to campaign for an integrated transport plan in the region. Rail services has been included at the forefront of the proposal in close association with the South Gippsland Shire Council and other local governments. [4] [5] One notable achievement of the group in the past was running the successful campaign that saw passenger rail services reinstated to Leongatha on 9 December 1984. [6] After the abandonment in 2008 by then premier John Brumby of the promise to revive the railway line for freight and passenger services made by the government of his predecessor Steve Bracks, a community campaign involving the South and West Gippsland Transport Group continues to lobby key stakeholders and governments to reinstate rail services, to improve transport accessibility in the region.
Starting in early March 2012, the railway track has been gradually removed from the Koo Wee Rup area as a first step toward the creation of a rail trail on the railway alignment. The first section has been constructed - formed as a concrete pathway running one kilometre each side of the former Koo Wee Rup railway station platform.
Clyde is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 48 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Casey local government area. Clyde recorded a population of 11,177 at the 2021 census.
Tooradin is a town in Victoria, Australia, 57 km south east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Casey and the Shire of Cardinia local government areas. Tooradin recorded a population of 1,722 at the 2021 census.
Dandenong railway station is the junction for the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines in Victoria, Australia. It serves the south-eastern Melbourne suburb of the same name, and opened on 8 October 1877.
The South Gippsland Highway is a partially divided highway in Victoria, Australia which connects the city of Melbourne with the South Gippsland region of Victoria, ending in the town of Sale. The highway begins at Lonsdale Street, Dandenong. At the Greens Road intersection, it adopts Metropolitan Route 12 until Pound Road, then continues until the South Gippsland Freeway / Western Port Highway interchange where it becomes the M420. The M420 continues through Cranbourne and Koo Wee Rup until the Bass Highway turnoff, at which point the road is then designated A440 onwards to Sale. From the Bass Highway junction, the highway is undivided. The South Gippsland Highway is the gateway from Melbourne to many attractions including Wilsons Promontory and Phillip Island as well as being an important road for farmers in Gippsland.
The Cranbourne line is a commuter railway line in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Operated by Metro Trains Melbourne, it is the city's second longest metropolitan railway line at 44 kilometres (27 mi). The line runs from Flinders Street station in central Melbourne to Cranbourne station in the south-east, serving 24 stations via the City Loop, South Yarra, Caulfield, Oakleigh, and Dandenong. The line operates for approximately 20 hours a day with 24 hour service available on Friday and Saturday nights. During peak hour, headways of up to 5 to 15 minutes are operated with services every 15–20 minutes during off-peak hours. Trains on the Cranbourne line run with a seven-car formation operated by High Capacity Metro Trains.
The Great Southern Rail Trail is a 109-kilometre rail trail from Nyora to Welshpool in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Sections of the trail are flat or gently undulating trail through lush dairy farmland, areas of remnant bush and lowland scrub. There is a big climb on the section between Loch and Leongatha. The section between Fish Creek and Foster climbs past Mount Hoddle and goes through dense forest with occasional magnificent views of Wilsons Promontory and Corner Inlet.
The South Gippsland railway line is a partially closed railway line in Victoria, Australia. It was first opened in 1892, branching from the Orbost line at Dandenong, and extending to Port Albert. Much of it remained open until December 1994. Today, only the section between Dandenong and Cranbourne remains open for use. The section of the line from Nyora to Leongatha was used by the South Gippsland Tourist Railway until it ceased operations in 2016. The section from Nyora to Welshpool, with extension trail to Port Welshpool and a portion of the former line at Koo Wee Rup, have been converted into the Great Southern Rail Trail.
The South Gippsland Railway was a tourist railway located in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. It controlled a section of the former South Gippsland railway line between Nyora and Leongatha, and operated services from Leongatha to Nyora, via Korumburra, the journey taking about 65 minutes.
Clyde was a railway station on the South Gippsland line in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia, the station operated until the closure of the line between Cranbourne Station and Leongatha Station in 1993. All that remains of this station now is the platform mound, however the track is still in reasonable condition.
Lang Lang was a railway station on the South Gippsland line in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. The station operated until the closure of the line between Cranbourne Station and Leongatha Station in 1993. This station remains partially intact with its platform and signals still in reasonable condition, the track along this section is still in reasonable condition.
Nyora is a railway station on the former South Gippsland line in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia.
Loch is a railway station on the former South Gippsland line in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. The station was then part of the South Gippsland Tourist railway, after passenger operations on the line ceased after Cranbourne station in 1993, until 2016, when the railway shut down. It is located on the Great Southern Rail Trail.
Korumburra is a heritage listed railway station on the former South Gippsland line in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Passenger operations on the line ceased beyond Cranbourne station in July 1993. The station was part of the South Gippsland tourist railway between 1994 and 2015 but is no longer in use.
Leongatha is a railway station in the town of Leongatha, Victoria on the former South Gippsland railway line in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia.
Australian Glass Manufacturers Siding, which is also known as Koala Siding, was a railway siding on the South Gippsland line in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia.
The Strzelecki railway line was a 49 km (30 mi) steam-era branch railway line in Victoria, Australia. The line opened in June 1922, branching off the former Great Southern Railway at Koo Wee Rup Station. The main line branched off the current Pakenham line at Dandenong, extending out into the South Gippsland region.
Loch is a town in the South Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia which was established in 1876. The town was named in honour of the Governor of Victoria, Henry Loch.
Koo Wee Rup is a town and satellite suburb in Victoria, Australia, 63 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Shire of Cardinia local government area. Built on former marshland now converted to market gardens, Koo Wee Rup recorded a population of 4,047 at the 2021 census.
The Koo-Wee-Rup Swamp was a large freshwater swamp located to the south east of Melbourne, Victoria. It drained an area of West Gippsland, with several waterways including Cardinia Creek and the Bunyip River.
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