Loch railway station

Last updated

Loch
South Gippsland Railway station
Loch Tourist Railway Station (8541679208).jpg
General information
Location100.41 km (62.39 mi) from Flinders Street
Line(s) South Gippsland Railway
Platforms1
Tracks1, (3 till 1981), (2 till 1994, Loch Loop)
Other information
StatusClosed 16 January 2016
History
Opened11 November 1890
1997 (re-opened)
Closed24 July 1993
Services
Preceding station Disused railways Following station
 Tourist service 
Nyora   South Gippsland Tourist Railway line  Korumburra
 Closed lines 
Nyora   South Gippsland line  Jeetho
  List of closed railway stations in Victoria  

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 in the process of being converted to a rail trail.

Contents

The station is maintained by volunteers of the South Gippsland Railway, and by a growing number of people within the Loch township.

The station presently features a small station building that was formerly located at Welshpool station. It was relocated to the Loch platform in 2003 following the construction of the Loch bypass road. The former station structure when operating as a V/Line service was of the pebble coated concrete Bus Shelter type, on a grass platform, featuring a large tree on the southern end of the platform—typical of many small township railway stations. It is understood a more substantial building was at Loch, prior to its sidings and goods facilities being dismantled in the 1970s.

Current status

Reopening the South Gippsland railway line as far as Leongatha is continuing to feature as a prominent issue for the region. [1] A South Gippsland Shire Council Priority Projects documents released in June 2013 acknowledged that the return of rail as a major community priority where funding and support are sought from all forms of level government. [2] In early 2014, a report into the 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] The South and West Gippsland Transport Group, a public transportation and rail lobby group established in April 2011 that is closely associated with the South Gippsland Shire Council and local forms of government has continued to campaign for an integrated transport plan in the region, which includes rail at the forefront of the proposal. [4] Previously, the group was classified as the South Gippsland Transport Users Group and had amalgamated with numerous rail lobby groups in 1994 shortly after the rail passenger service to Leongatha was withdrawn in July 1993 and the line to Barry Beach and Yarram was formally closed in June 1992 and dismantled by December 1994. [5] One notable milestone that this group achieved in the past was running a successful campaign that saw passenger rail services reinstated to Leongatha on 9 December 1984. [6] Despite the political promise to revive the railway line for freight and passenger services by the Steve Bracks led Victorian state Labor government in 1999 being abandoned in 2008 by his successor John Brumby, a public community campaign involving the South and West Gippsland Transport Group is continuing to lobby and work collaboratively with key stakeholders and governments to reinstate rail services that focuses on improving transport accessibility in the region.

Activities at Loch station include the monthly Lions Club Sunday Market. More community service groups are being encouraged to utilise the facility for events and activities.

Station layout

Loch-layout.GIF
Station layout

Related Research Articles

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tooradin, Victoria</span> Town in Victoria, Australia

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cranbourne railway line</span> Railway line in Melbourne, Australia

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. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leongatha</span> Town in Victoria, Australia

Leongatha is a town in the foothills of the Strzelecki Ranges, South Gippsland Shire, Victoria, Australia, located 135 kilometres (84 mi) south-east of Melbourne. At the 2021 census, Leongatha had a population of 5,869.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lang Lang, Victoria</span> Town in Victoria, Australia

Lang Lang is a town in Victoria, Australia, 73 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Shires of Bass Coast, Cardinia and South Gippsland local government areas. Lang Lang recorded a population of 2,556 at the 2021 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Southern Rail Trail</span>

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.

Tooradin 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 although the railway continued to carry freight traffic to Koala Siding near Lang Lang until January 1998.

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 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.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korumburra railway station</span> Railway station in Victoria, Australia

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leongatha railway station</span> Railway station in Victoria, Australia

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.

Lyndhurst is a former railway station on the South Gippsland line. In 1979, it had a single platform on the east side of the track, and a loop siding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nyora</span> Town in Victoria, Australia

Nyora is a town in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia, approximately 84 kilometres (52 mi) south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Shires of Baw Baw, Cardinia and South Gippsland local government areas. Nyora recorded a population of 1,644 at the 2021 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch, Victoria</span> Town in Victoria, Australia

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koo Wee Rup</span> Town in Victoria, Australia

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.

References

  1. "Forums hear call for better regional public transport services". Abc.net.au. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  2. [ permanent dead link ]
  3. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 March 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "| HOME | South & West Gippsland Transport Group | A new rail solution for public and industry |". Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  5. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "PTUA Newsletter" (PDF). Ptua.org. January 1985. Retrieved 24 November 2021.

Coordinates: 38°22′05″S145°42′37″E / 38.36806°S 145.71028°E / -38.36806; 145.71028