North East railway line

North East (original BG line)
North East (original BG line)
Overview
Other name(s)	Albury
Status	Operational with broad gauge passenger services from Flinders Street to Seymour; Gauge converted beyond Seymour;
Owner	M&ER (1860–1964); Victorian Railways (VR) (1867–1974); VR as VicRail (1974–1983); MTA (The Met) (1983–1989); STA (V/Line) (1983–1989); PTC (The Met) (1989–1997); PTC (V/Line) (1989–1995); PTC (V/Line Passenger) (1995–1997); VicTrack (1997–Current);
Locale	Victoria, Australia
Termini	Southern Cross; Albury;
Connecting lines	All metropolitan, regional, and interstate; Albion–Jacana; Oaklands; Tocumwal;
Former connections	Bright; Cudgewa; Heathcote; Mansfield; Peechelba East; Tatong; Upfield—Somerton link; Wahgunyah; Whitfield;
Stations	38 current stations; 13 former stations; 2 current siding; 13 former sidings;
Service
Type	Victorian railway line
Services	Albury Craigieburn Seymour Shepparton
Operator(s)	M&ER (1860–1964); Victorian Railways (VR) (1867–1974); VR as VicRail (1974–1983); MTA (The Met) (1983–1989); STA (V/Line) (1983–1989); PTC (The Met) (1989–1998); PTC (V/Line) (1989–1995); PTC (V/Line Passenger) (1995–1998); Bayside Trains (1998–2000); V/Line Passenger (1998–2010); M>Train (2000–2004); Connex Melbourne (2004–2009); Metro Trains (2009–Current); V/Line (2010–Current);
History
Commenced	21 October 1860
Opened	Southern Cross to North Melbourne on 17 January 1859; North Melbourne to Essendon on 21 October 1860; Essendon to Dysart on 18 April 1872; Dysart to Seymour on 26 August 1872; Seymour to Longwood on 20 November 1872; Longwood to Violet Town on 20 March 1873; Violet Town to Benalla on 18 August 1873; Benalla to Wangaratta on 28 October 1873; Wangaratta to Wodonga on 21 November 1873; Wodonga to Albury on 14 June 1883; Flinders Street to Southern Cross on 29 November 1891;
Completed	14 June 1883
Reopened	North Melbourne to Newmarket on 31 October 1867; Newmarket to Essendon on 9 January 1871;
Electrified	Flinders Street to Essendon on 28 May 1919; Essendon to Broadmeadows on 4 September 1921; Broadmeadows to Craigieburn on 22 July 2007;
Gauge converted	Seymour to Albury on 23 July 2010
Closed	North Melbourne to Essendon on 1 July 1864; Seymour to Albury on 9 November 2008;
Technical
Line length	307.812 km (191.27 mi)
Number of tracks	Broad gauge Six tracks: Flinders Street to North Melbourne; Four tracks: North Melbourne to Kensington; Double track: Kensington to Dysart; Single track: Dysart to Seymour; Standard gauge; Double track: Seymour to border; Single track: Broadmeadows to Seymour; border to Albury;
Track gauge	5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm); 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm);
Electrification	Flinders Street to Craigieburn: 1500 V DC overhead
Operating speed	130 km/h (81 mph) - Passenger; 115 km/h (71 mph) - Freight;
Signalling	BG to Craigieburn: Automatic block signaling; BG to Seymour: Double Line Block; SG to Albury: Centralised Traffic Control;
Maximum incline	1 in 50 (2%)
Route map
Route map
	Legend
	Multiple lines
	via Richmond or Jolimont
	Albury, & Western SG lines
	to Albury, Sydney & Adelaide
	Upfield line
	to Upfield
	Multiple lines
	via Footscray
Metro section (Craigieburn Line)
Kensington
	Flemington Racecourse line
	to Flemington Racecourse
	Albury to Southern Cross
	& Albion-Jacana line to Albion
	Upfield line
	to Flinders Street
Seymour section
Merri Creek
	Heathcote line
	to Bendigo
	Mansfield line
	to Mansfield
	Tocumwal line
	to Tocumwal
	Tatong line
	to Tatong
	Oaklands line
	to Oaklands
	Whitfield line
	to Whitfield
	Yackandandah line
	to Yackandandah
	Peechelba East line
	to Peechelba East
	Wahgunyah line
	to Wahgunyah
	Cudgewa line

North East (SG)
North East (SG)
Overview
Status	Operational passenger services from Southern Cross to Albury and Sydney
Owner	Victorian Railways (VR) (1959–1974); VR as VicRail (1974–1983); STA (V/Line) (1983–1989); PTC (V/Line) (1989–1995); PTC (V/Line Passenger) (1995–1997); VicTrack (1997–Current);
Locale	Victoria, Australia
Termini	Southern Cross; Albury;
Connecting lines	Albion–Jacana; Main Southern (NSW); Newport–Sunshine; Oaklands; South Kensington–West Footscray; Western standard gauge;
Former connections	Upfield—Somerton link
Stations	6 current stations
Service
Type	Victorian railway line
Services	Albury Southern; Spirit of Progress, Southern Aurora, Sydney–Melbourne Express, Intercapital Daylight; Shared tracks:; South Kensington–West Footscray, Albion–Jacana, Albury
Operator(s)	Victorian Railways (VR) (1962–1974); Department of Railways New South Wales (1962–1972); Public Transport Commission (NSW) (1972–1980); VR as VicRail (1974–1983); State Rail Authority (NSW) (1980–1989); STA (V/Line) (1983–1989); PTC (V/Line) (1989–1995); CountryLink (1989–2013); PTC (V/Line Passenger) (1995–1998); V/Line Passenger (1998–2010); V/Line (2010–Current); NSW TrainLink (2013–Current);
History
Commenced	November 1959
Opened	Southern Cross to Albury on 3 January 1962;
Completed	3 January 1962
Reopened	New Wodonga section on 23 July 2010
Closed	Old Wodonga section on 9 November 2008
Technical
Number of tracks	Double track: Southern Cross to Tottenham; Seymour to border; Single track: Tottenham to Seymour; border to Albury;
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Route map
Route map
	Legend
	Multiple lines
	via Flinders Street
	Multiple lines
	to Southern Cross or Flinders Street
	Werribee & Williamstown lines
	to Newport
	Newport–Sunshine & Western SG lines
	to Newport & Adelaide
	Newport–Sunshine line
	to Newport
	Multiple lines
	via Deer Park
Albion–Jacana section
	Sunbury, Bendigo, Echuca & Swan Hill lines
	to Sunbury
	Maribyrnong River Viaduct
	over Maribyrnong River
	Melbourne Airport line
	to Melbourne Airport
	Craigieburn, Seymour & Shepparton lines
	via Essendon
	Upfield line
	to Flinders Street
Seymour section
Merri Creek
	Heathcote line
	to Bendigo
	Mansfield line
	to Mansfield
	Tocumwal line
	to Tocumwal
Albury section
Avenel
	Tatong line
	to Tatong
	Oaklands line
	to Oaklands

The North East railway line is a railway line in Victoria, Australia.^[1] The line runs from Southern Cross railway station on the western edge of the Melbourne central business district to Albury railway station in the border settlement of Albury-Wodonga, serving the cities of Wangaratta and Seymour, and smaller towns in northeastern Victoria.

The railway line is both standard gauge and broad gauge. It originally was built as broad gauge the entire length, but another track was built as standard gauge between Seymour and Albury, with construction of the standard gauge track commencing in November 1959 and completed in January 1962, completing the Sydney-Melbourne standard gauge railway. Between 2008 and 2010, the broad gauge track between Seymour and Albury was finally converted to be the line's second standard gauge track. The original section between Southern Cross and Jacana remains broad gauge, with the standard gauge joining and running parallel to the broad gauge between Jacana and Seymour, where the broad gauge branches off on the Tocumwal line, and finally continuing as standard gauge all the way to Albury.

The line is owned by VicTrack, but the standard gauge sections are leased to and maintained by the Australian Rail Track Corporation.^[2]

History

Broad gauge via Essendon

S class 4-6-2 leading the *Sydney Limited* between Seymour and Melbourne, circa 1928

Steamrail "Farewell Broad Gauge" special, Benalla, 2008

Former end of the broad gauge, the break-of-gauge platform at Albury

The Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company opened the first section of the Albury line, from North Melbourne to Essendon, in 1860.^[3] Following its takeover by the Victorian Government in 1867, the line was extended by 1872^[4] to School House Lane on the south side of the Goulburn River near Seymour, and later that year to Seymour and then to Longwood. Violet Town, Benalla, Wangaratta, Springhurst and Wodonga were reached in 1873,^[3] connecting with the New South Wales Government Railways at Albury at a break of gauge in 1883. The design engineer was Robert Watson.

The section between Flinders Street and Essendon was used by suburban services and in May 1919, that section was part of the first lines to be electrified in Melbourne, apart from a test installation on the Flemington Racecourse line.^[5] In 1921, the line was electrified to Broadmeadows, where it remained till the extension of electrification in 2007.

Until 2008, the Albury V/line service continued to run via Essendon along the broad gauge tracks, together with the Seymour and Shepparton V/line services.

First standard gauge track

Standard-gauge Pacific National container freight train near Seymour

Preliminary work for construction of the standard gauge track began in November 1957 with the establishment of camps for the building gangs, with the first section being laid in November 1959, and the final section on 5 April 1962.^[6] The track ran via what is now Albion–Jacana railway line and does not run parallel with the broad gauge track between Jacana and Spencer Street stations.

The line was used by prestige passenger services between the state capitals of Melbourne and Sydney, including the Sydney Limited, Spirit of Progress, Southern Aurora, and Intercapital Daylight. Due to high costs and declining patronage, they were replaced by the XPT in the 1990s.

Gauge conversion

Maintaining two parallel railways between Seymour and Albury drew criticism, noting inefficiencies in maintaining track, operating trains, and duplicated train control centres.^[7] By 2001, the State Government announced the conversion of the broad gauge line to standard,^[8] but action was stifled, due largely to complex leasing arrangements. Speed restrictions were eventually applied to the broad gauge line due to track deterioration.^[9]

In May 2008, it was announced that the tracks would be upgraded, including a 5 km (3.1 mi) bypass around Wodonga, the conversion of 200 kilometres (120 mi) of the North East railway line to standard gauge between Seymour and Albury as well as other upgrades to the North East line.^[10] Costing A$501.3 million, the Victorian Government was to contribute A$171.3 million, the Australian Government A$45 million for the Wodonga Rail Bypass, and the Australian Rail Track Corporation A$285 million and take responsibility for the standard-gauge line under a 45-year lease from Victoria.^[11] The project was due for completion by 2010, with passenger services to be disrupted for up to 12 months.^[12]

On 8 November 2008, broad gauge passenger trains ceased after the evening V/Line service from Melbourne to Albury and a special train operated by the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre, the final broad-gauge passenger train from Albury to Melbourne.^[13]^[14] In December 2008, standardisation works commenced, contracted by ARTC to the Southern Improvement Alliance. The first train on the Wodonga Rail Bypass was in March 2010.^[15]

In early August 2010, CountryLink decided to terminate all Sydney-Melbourne XPTs at Albury for an indefinite length of time, due to defects in the newly re-sleepered track. "Mud holes" resulted in speed restrictions on more than 200 kilometres (about 66 per cent) of the line, adding an extra 1.5 hours to the travelling time.^[16] Train drivers have blamed the ARTC's $285 million concrete sleeper project for the track issues, stating that the incorrect insertion of 300,000 new concrete sleepers is to blame. They have repeatedly reported freight trains breaking couplings due to the rough track.^[17] CountryLink trains resumed in mid September 2010, V/Line trains the following year.^[18]

Wallan train derailment

On 20 February 2020, a NSW TrainLink XPT passenger train towards Sydney derailed at Wallan, resulting in suspension of freight, V/Line and NSW TrainLink services on the North East Line and the adjacent broad gauge Tocumwal railway line. V/Line services resumed on 1 and 2 March 2020.^[19]

Regional Rail Revival

The North East Line Upgrade (part of the Regional Rail Revival Program) was unveiled in mid 2018, with a series of upgrades announced to the line.^[20]^[21] Upgrades were delivered by different parties, including:^[22]^[23]^[24]

The Australian Rail Track Corporation, which completed:
- Track resurfacing
- New ballast
- New underground wires
- Drainage improvements
- Rail bridge upgrades
- Mud-hole removal
- Upgrades to 20 more rail bridges
- The renewal of track turnouts at Violet Town and Seymour
Rail Projects Victoria, which completed:
- A number of level crossing closures and upgrades
- Modifications to train stabling at South Dynon
- Upgrades to train stabling and accessibility at Albury station

The upgrades were completed December 2020 and allowed the introduction of VLocity DMUs on the Albury V/Line rail service, replacing existing locomotive hauled train sets.^[25]

Network and operations

Services

Craigieburn service

Seymour service

Seymour and Shepparton V/Line services continue to use the adjacent broad gauge tracks.

Albury service

Since 2010, the entire line is utilised by V/Line Albury trains, which stops at every station between Albury and Seymour. South of Seymour, all passenger trains heading to, and from, Melbourne (Southern Cross) only make a scheduled stop at Broadmeadows. The services are run using dedicated standard gauge VLocity DMUs.

Spirit of Progress

The Spirit of Progress was the premier express passenger train on the Victorian Railways in Australia.

From its introduction in November 1937 until April 1962 the train service ran on the broad gauge line from Spencer Street station to Albury, on the New South Wales / Victorian border, where passengers changed to a New South Wales Government Railways train (the Melbourne Limited Express), running on the standard gauge track to complete the journey to Sydney. Following the completion of the standard gauge line between Melbourne and Albury in April 1962 the Spirit of Progress was extended to Sydney. With declining passenger numbers it was decided to combine the Spirit of Progress and Southern Aurora into one train, the Sydney/Melbourne Express. The Spirit of Progress ran for the last time on 2 August 1986.^[26]^[27]

Intercapital Daylight

The Inter-Capital Daylight was a daytime express passenger train that operated between Australia's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne

On 26 March 1956, the New South Wales Government Railways and Victorian Railways introduced connecting daytime services named the Sydney–Melbourne (Melbourne–Sydney) Daylight Express.^[28] Following the completion of the standard gauge to Melbourne, the New South Wales train was extended to Melbourne from 16 April 1962 and named Inter-Capital Daylight.^[29] With deregulation of the Australian airline industry in the 1990's, patronage dropped to around 30%. A decision was made to cancel the service with the last service operating on 31 August 1991.^[30]

Southern Aurora

The Southern Aurora was an overnight express passenger train that operated between Australia's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne. First-class throughout, including the dining facilities, the Southern Aurora featured all-sleeper accommodation.

The train first ran on 13 April 1962 after the opening of the standard gauge line from Melbourne to Albury,^[31] eliminating the break-of-gauge between the capital cities.^[32] The Southern Aurora ran for the last time on 2 August 1986.^[33]^[27]

Sydney–Melbourne Express

The Sydney–Melbourne Express was an overnight intercapital passenger train service that operated between Australia's largest two cities, Sydney and Melbourne, the name depended on the direction of travel, with the train nicknamed the 'Sex' or 'Mex'.^[26]^[27]

The Sydney–Melbourne Express was formed to replace the Spirit of Progress and Southern Aurora to cut operating costs of the intercapital rail service with the first train operating on 2 August 1986. The last Melbourne Express ran on the night of 20 November 1993 ex Sydney, with the last Sydney Express running ex Melbourne on 21 November.^[27]

XPT

In November 1993, XPTs replaced locomotive hauled stock on the overnight Sydney/Melbourne Express.^[34] In December 1994 an XPT daylight service to Melbourne was introduced by extending the Riverina XPT from Albury.^[35]

The entire line is used by NSW TrainLink Southern services to, and from, Sydney (Central), which makes limited stops on this section. The services are run using New South Wales XPT diesel-powered passenger trains.

Freight

Operators

New South Wales operators

Operator	Assumed operations	Ceased operations	Length of operations
Department of Railways New South Wales	3 January 1962	19 October 1972	10 years
Public Transport Commission, NSW	20 October 1972	30 June 1980	7 years
State Rail Authority, NSW	1 July 1980	16 January 1989	8 years
State Rail Authority (as CountryLink)	16 January 1989	31 December 2003	14 years
RailCorp (as CountryLink)	1 January 2004	30 June 2013	9 years
NSW TrainLink	30 June 2013	incumbent	11 years (ongoing)

Victorian operators

Operator	Assumed operations	Ceased operations	Length of operations
Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company	21 October 1860	1 July 1864	3 years
Victorian Railways	31 October 1867	30 June 1983	115 years
Metropolitan Transit Authority (The Met)	1 July 1983	30 June 1989	5 years
State Transport Authority (V/Line)	1 July 1983	30 June 1989	5 years
Public Transport Corporation (The Met)	1 July 1989	30 June 1998	8 years
Public Transport Corporation (V/Line)	1 July 1989	1995	6 years
Public Transport Corporation (V/Line Passenger)	1995	30 June 1998	31 months
Bayside Trains	1 July 1998	29 August 1999	13 months
V/Line Passenger	1 July 1998	29 August 1999	13 months
National Express (as Bayside Trains)	29 August 1999	October 2000	13 months
National Express (as V/Line Passenger)	29 August 1999	22 December 2002	3 years
National Express (as M>Train)	October 2000	22 December 2002	26 months
M>Train	22 December 2002	18 April 2004	15 months
V/Line Passenger	22 December 2002	1 July 2010	7 years
Connex Melbourne	18 April 2004	29 November 2009	5 years
Metro Trains Melbourne	30 November 2009	incumbent	14 years (ongoing)
V/Line	1 July 2010	incumbent	14 years (ongoing)

Stations

BG

Station Histories (broad gauge only)
Station	Opened^[36]^[37]	Closed^[36]^[37]	Age	Notes^[36]^[37]
Flagstaff	27 May 1985		39 years
Melbourne Central	26 January 1981		43 years	Formerly Museum
Parliament	22 January 1983		41 years
Flinders Street	12 September 1854		170 years	Formerly Melbourne Terminus
Southern Cross (BG)	17 January 1859		165 years	Formerly Batman's Hill Formerly Spencer Street
North Melbourne	6 October 1859		165 years
Kensington	1 November 1860	1 July 1864	3 years	Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company
Kensington	9 October 1871		153 years
Newmarket	1 November 1860	1 July 1864	3 years	Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company
Newmarket	9 October 1871		153 years
Ascot Vale	1 November 1860	1 July 1864	3 years	Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company
Ascot Vale	9 October 1871		153 years
Moonee Ponds	1 November 1860	1 July 1864	3 years	Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company
Moonee Ponds	9 October 1871		153 years
Essendon	1 November 1860	1 July 1864	3 years	Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company
Essendon	9 October 1871		153 years
Glenbervie	11 September 1922		102 years
Strathmore	28 October 1890		134 years	Formerly North Essendon
Pascoe Vale	10 November 1885		139 years
Oak Park	13 August 1956		68 years
Glenroy	24 January 1887		137 years
Jacana	15 February 1959		65 years
Broadmeadows (BG)	1 February 1873		151 years
Broadstore Siding	12 October 1942	c. 1980's	Approx. 38 years
Coolaroo	6 June 2010		14 years
Roxburgh Park	18 April 1872	24 September 1963	91 years	Was originally Somerton
Roxburgh Park	1 October 2007		17 years	Reopened as Roxburgh Park
Somerton Yard (BG)	30 June 1889		135 years
Craigieburn	18 April 1872		152 years
Donnybrook	14 October 1872		152 years
Beveridge	14 October 1872	2 April 1990	117 years
Wallan	18 April 1872		152 years
Lightwood	1890	24 April 1941	50 years	Formerly Merri Merri Siding Formerly Merri Formerly Merri Siding
Heathcote Junction	17 March 1890		134 years	Formerly Kilmore Junction
Wandong	11 April 1876		148 years	Also known as Morpeth's Siding
Mathieson's Siding	12 August 1885	?		Was originally Wandong Ballast Pits Siding
Mathieson's Siding	2 July 1888	26 February 1924	35 years	Reopened as Mathieson's Siding
Kilmore East	18 April 1872		152 years	Formerly Kilmore
Kilmore East Quarry Siding	13 September 1976		48 years
Broadford	18 April 1872		152 years
McDougall's Siding	26 March 1890	13 January 1987	96 years	Formerly McDougall
Lowry's Siding	19 November 1888	c. 31 May 1909	Approx. 20 years
Tallarook	18 April 1872		152 years
Dysart	18 April 1872	20 August 1872	4 months	Was originally Schoolhouse Lane
Dysart	1 June 1889	3 May 1987	97 years	Formerly Schoolhouse Lane Also known as Dysart Military Siding
Seymour (BG)	26 August 1872		152 years
Gravelside Siding	24 June 1885	c. 6 December 1890	Approx. 5 years	Was originally Gravel Pit Sidings
Gravelside Siding	7 August 1894	11 January 1938	43 years	Formerly Gravel Pit Sidings
Mangalore	13 January 1880	c. 5 October 1982	Approx. 102 years
Avenel (BG)	20 November 1872	9 November 2008	135 years
Monea	27 February 1882	13 June 1960	78 years
Locksley	18 October 1882	1 April 1973	90 years	Formerly Burnt Creek Wood Siding Formerly Burnt Creek
Longwood	20 November 1872	c. 5 October 1982	Approx. 109 years
Creighton	9 February 1887	1 September 1970	83 years	Formerly Synon's Siding Formerly Creighton's Creek
Euroa (BG)	20 March 1873	9 November 2008	135 years
Balmattum	12 March 1889	24 July 1965	76 years
Violet Town (BG)	20 March 1873	9 November 2008	135 years
Burkes Hill Siding	25 April 1889	5 February 1892	33 months
Burkes Hill Siding	13 October 1899	14 July 1902	33 months
Baddaginnie	19 June 1882	7 May 1978	95 years
Hanson's Siding	3 May 1904	c. 3 February 1925	Approx. 20 years	Formerly Caelli's Siding
Benalla (BG)	18 August 1873	9 November 2008	135 years
Winton	9 December 1877	1 May 1971	93 years
Head's Siding	9 September 1907	c. 20 Oct 1942	Approx. 35 years	Formerly Head and Green's Siding
Glenrowan	2 November 1874	c. 5 October 1982	Approx. 107 years
Alumatta Siding	17 June 1882	c. 1908	Approx. 26 years	Was originally Wangaratta Meat Siding
Alumatta Siding	16 April 1943	16 August 1989	46 years	Reopened as Alumatta Siding
Wangaratta (BG)	28 October 1873	9 November 2008	135 years
Bowser	2 February 1891	1 October 1972	81 years	Formerly Beechworth Junction
Springhurst (BG)	29 November 1873	9 November 2008	134 years	Formerly Springs Also known as Bontherambo or Naringa
Barambogie Ballast Siding	1874	1876	24 months	Was originally Doma Mungi Siding
	February 1922	7 April 1933	11 years	Reopened as State Rivers & Water Supply Commission's Siding
	7 January 1935	14 September 1960	25 years	Reopened as Chiltern Valley Siding
Chiltern (BG)	c. 1873	9 November 2008	Approx. 134 years
Barnawartha	c. 1873	26 October 1986	Approx. 112 years
Wodonga West	?	1899
Wodonga (BG)	21 November 1873	9 November 2008	134 years
Wodonga Coal Siding (BG)	7 August 1916	9 November 2008	92 years	inc. Bogie exchange area
Albury (BG)	14 June 1883	9 November 2008	125 years

SG

Station histories (standard gauge only)
Station	Opened^[36]^[37]	Closed^[36]^[37]	Age	Notes^[36]^[37]
Southern Cross (SG)	16 March 1962		62 years	Formerly Spencer Street
Victoria Dock (Westgate)	?
Appleton Dock	?
Swanson Dock	c. 1969		Approx. 55 years
Melbourne Yard	?
Melbourne Steel Terminal	1995	2015	20 years
South Dynon	1964		60 years
North Dynon	?
Sunshine (SG)	January 1963	2004	41 years
McIntyre Sidings	12 May 1964		60 years	Formerly Lysaght's Siding
Broadmeadows (SG)	2009		15 years
Somerton Yard (SG)	5 August 1962		62 years
Seymour (SG)	1974		50 years
Avenel (SG)	August 2010		14 years
Euroa (SG)	August 2010		14 years
Violet Town (SG)	August 2010		14 years
Benalla (SG)	10 March 1964		60 years
Wangaratta (SG)	10 March 1964		60 years
Springhurst (SG)	August 2010		14 years
Chiltern (SG)	August 2010		14 years
SCT Barnawartha	October 2016		8 years
Wodonga (SG)	25 June 2011		13 years
Wodonga Coal Siding (SG)	7 August 1916	1 September 2009	93 years	inc. Bogie exchange area
Albury (SG)	3 February 1881		143 years

Infrastructure

Branch lines

South of Craigieburn

In October 1889, the Upfield railway line was extended to Somerton, but closed in July 1903. In March 1928, despite strong resistance from the Railways Commissioners, the state government ordered the reopening of the section from Fawkner to near Somerton for passengers,^[38] although no actually connection was provided at this time.In May 1956, the line from Fawkner to Somerton was again closed, but only three years later, in July 1959, the Upfield to Somerton section reopened for goods trains.^[39] In January 1963, the line from Somerton to the Ford factory was re-laid as dual gauge gauntlet track, a year after the North East standard gauge line through Somerton opened.

A branch line was opened during the Second World War to Broadstore, designed to connect Broadmeadows station with the Maygar Barracks. The line opened on 12 October 1942 and remaining in operation until 1982, when usage of the base began to.^[40]

Between Craigieburn and Seymour

A branch line opened from Heathcote Junction (near Kilmore) to Kilmore in 1888 and to Tooborac in 1890, connecting with a line from Bendigo to Heathcote opened a little earlier. The Heathcote Junction – Heathcote line closed in 1968. A branch line from Kilmore to Lancefield opened in 1892, closed in 1904.

The Mansfield line opened from Tallarook to Yea in 1883, Molesworth in 1889, Cathkin and Merton in 1890 and Mansfield in 1891. It is now closed. A branch line was built from Cathkin to Koriella in 1890 and Alexandra in 1909. This line closed in 1978.

North of Seymour

The Tocumwal line opened from Mangalore to Toolamba, Shepparton and Tocumwal in 1880.

A branch line opened from Benalla to St James in 1883, Yarrawonga in 1886 and Oaklands in 1938, with a break of gauge there until the State Rail Authority line closed south of Boree Creek. A second 18+1⁄4-mile (29.4 km) branch line from Benalla to Tatong was opened in 1914 and closed in 1947. In 2008 with the gauge conversion the Albury line from broad gauge to standard gauge would have left the Oaklands branch as an isolated and useless spur.^[41] The local MP reported that the cost of converting this 125 km (77.7 mi) branch to standard gauge was just over $13m.^[42] In October 2008 the Victorian State Government announced that an upgrade would take place.^[43] The conversion was completed in December 2009.

The narrow-gauge Whitfield branch line opened from Wangaratta to Whitfield in 1899, closing in 1953.

A branch line opened from Bowser (north of Wangaratta) to Everton in 1875, which was extended to Beechworth in 1876 and Yackandandah in 1891. The line closed in 1954. Another branch line was built from Everton to Myrtleford in 1883 and Bright in 1890, now closed.

A short line to Peechelba East, which opened in 1928 and closed in 1986, also branched from Bowser.

A short branch line opened from Springhurst via Rutherglen to Wahgunyah in 1879. Services were suspended in 1995.

A branch line opened from Wodonga to Tallangatta between 1889 and 1891, Shelley in 1916, Beetoomba in 1919 and Cudgewa in 1921.^[44] A connection from Albury was added near Wodonga, creating a turning triangle to enable the Sydney Limited and its successor Spirit of Progress with their observation cars to be turned as complete trains. part of the line was converted to dual gauge in 1944 to serve freight depots around Bandiana. The line closed beyond Bandiana in 1981,^[45] and the connection to Wodonga later removed, with only standard gauge traffic continuing to use the line via Albury.^[46] The Wodonga-Bandiana section closed on 1 September 2009 as part of the Wodonga Rail Bypass project.^[47]

Signalling

Maintenance

Alongside the passenger trains, North East line tracks and equipment are maintained by a fleet of engineering trains. The two types of engineering trains are: the shunting train, designed for moving trains along non-electrified corridors and for transporting other maintenance locomotives; and the infrastructure evaluation carriage designed for general infrastructure evaluation including track and electrical infrastructure (if travelling along electrified corridors).^[48] Most of these trains are repurposed locomotives previously used by V/Line, Metro Trains, and the Southern Shorthaul Railroad.^[48]

References

^ Turton, Keith W. (1973). The North East Railway. (A Lineside Guide) Melbourne to Wodonga. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). ISBN 0-85849-013-7.
^ "Background - Organisation of Australia's Railways". Department of Transport and Regional Services. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2008.
^ ^a ^b Sid Brown (March 1990). "Tracks Across the State". Newsrail. Vol. 18, no. 3. Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. pp. 71–76. ISSN 0310-7477. OCLC 19676396.
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External links

Statistics and detailed schematic map at the vicsig enthusiast website
History Victoria: The North East Railway Story