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Geelong V/Line rail service

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This article is about the V/Line service. For the physical railway itself, see Warrnambool railway line.

Geelong
Railways in Victoria
Various V/Line trains wait at Geelong Station for departure.
Overview
Service typeRegional rail
SystemVictorian railway network
StatusOperational
LocaleVictoria, Australia
Predecessor
^ outbound extended to Port Fairy
First service25 June 1957; 67 years ago (1957-06-25)
Current operator(s)V/Line
Former operator(s)
Ridership8.15 million (2022-23)[1]
WebsiteV/Line Geelong on Twitter
Route
TerminiSouthern Cross
Waurn Ponds
Stops15
Distance travelled93.0 km (57.8 mi)
Average journey time1 hours 19 minutes
Service frequencyApprox. every 20 minutes weekdays, 40 minutes weekends.
Line(s) usedDeer Park–West Werribee, Warrnambool
Technical
Rolling stock
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Track owner(s)VicTrack

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.

History

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Main article: Warrnambool railway line

19th and 20th centuries

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See also: Warrnambool V/Line rail service

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]

21st century

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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.

Regional Fast Rail

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Main article: Regional Fast Rail project

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]

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Main article: Regional Rail Link project

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]

Regional Rail Revival

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Main article: Regional Rail Revival

The line received another significant package of works as part of the Regional Rail Revival project. Most notably, the line was 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]

Services

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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]

    • The 16:09 Waurn Ponds runs express through Tarneit, Little River and Corio
    • The 16:25 South Geelong runs express through Tarneit, Corio and North Shore
    • The 16:31 terminates at Geelong and runs express from Footscray to Lara, additionally running express through North Shore
    • The 16:46 Waurn Ponds runs express from Sunshine to Lara, additionally running express through Corio and South Geelong
    • The 16:49 South Geelong runs express through Tarneit and North Shore
    • The 17:12 South Geelong runs express through Deer Park, Tarneit, and Corio
    • The 17:29 Waurn Ponds runs express from Sunshine to Lara, and from Lara to North Geelong
    • The 17:32 Waurn Ponds runs express through Tarneit, Wyndham Vale, and Corio
    • The 17:46 Waurn Ponds runs express through Deer Park, from Tarneit to Lara, and from Lara to North Geelong
    • The 17:53 Waurn Ponds runs express through Deer Park and Corio
    • The 18:12 terminates at Geelong and runs express through Deer Park, Little River, and Corio
    • The 18:31 Waurn Ponds runs express through Deer Park, Tarneit, and North Shore

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.

Rolling stock

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Most 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. S type carriages were used until 2010 and H type carriages were used until 2024.[21]

Future

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Electrification and quadruplication to Wyndham Vale

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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 Fast Rail

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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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  • V/Line N class N456 running over the Regional Rail Link's elevated North Melbourne bypass
    V/Line N class N456 running over the Regional Rail Link's elevated North Melbourne bypass
  • Victorian Railways R class steam train on a heritage tour at Geelong Station, run by volunteer group Steamrail Victoria
    Victorian Railways R class steam train on a heritage tour at Geelong Station, run by volunteer group Steamrail Victoria
  • Platforms at Tarneit, 2015
    Platforms at Tarneit, 2015
  • Dual-gauge track in North Geelong
    Dual-gauge track in North Geelong

Line guide

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b V/Line Corporation (25 September 2023). Annual Report 2022-23 (Report). Archived from the original on 5 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Rail Geelong – Geelong Line History". railgeelong.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2007. Retrieved 28 March 2008.
  3. ^ "The Geelong Story" (PDF). History Victoria. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 June 2006. Retrieved 7 June 2006.
  4. ^ "Closed Line – Dennington to Port Fairy". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. June 1998. p. 185.
  5. ^ a b Corio Station Archived 20 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine Rail Geelong
  6. ^ Lara, Corio, North Shore Archived 28 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine Victorian Station Histories
  7. ^ "Electrification of the Geelong rail line not to proceed at this stage". Minister for Transport. 4 April 2002. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012.
  8. ^ "V/Line – First VLocity Services to Geelong". 3 February 2006. Archived from the original on 10 November 2007. Retrieved 20 December 2006.
  9. ^ "New $26 million Grovedale station a boost for public transport in Geelong". Premier of Victoria. 26 April 2013. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  10. ^ "V/Line misses targets on Geelong line". Geelong Advertiser. 17 June 2010. Archived from the original on 18 August 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
  11. ^ "Taking the work train with trepidation". Geelong Advertiser. 23 August 2010. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012.
  12. ^ "V/Line passengers rail against bosses". Geelong Advertiser. 22 April 2010. Archived from the original on 28 April 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  13. ^ "Late trains keep commuters away from home: Mulder". Geelong Advertiser. 22 March 2010. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  14. ^ "Train seating report blasted". Geelong Advertiser. 3 June 2010. Archived from the original on 12 September 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  15. ^ Planning (9 June 2023). "Regional Rail Link". Planning. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  16. ^ "How an infrastructure drought forces Radhika to battle Victoria's second busiest train station everyday". ABC News. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  17. ^ Build, Victoria’s Big (1 May 2024). "Geelong Line Upgrade". Victoria’s Big Build. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  18. ^ "Winter blitz complete, level crossings gone, new stations open". Victoria's Big Build. 26 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  19. ^ "South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication". Victoria's Big Build. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Geelong Line: Melbourne to Geelong". vline.com.au. 1 Spring Street, Melbourne: Department of Transport and Planning. Retrieved 8 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  21. ^ Oates, Alex (17 July 2010). "Notorious old 4.55pm train to be replaced". Geelong Advertiser. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  22. ^ Hatch, Patrick (1 August 2023). "New train lines to Melton and Wyndham axed from rail plans". The Age. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  23. ^ Build, Victoria’s Big (27 January 2021). "Faster rail services for Geelong on the way". Victoria’s Big Build. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  24. ^ Taylor, James (16 November 2023). "Geelong Fast Rail axed in federal infrastructure review". Geelong Times. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  25. ^ Carmody, Kieran Rooney, Shane Wright, Najma Sambul, Broede (16 November 2023). "Funding feud looms for Victoria's two biggest rail projects". The Age. Retrieved 29 June 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ Godde, Callum (16 November 2023). "'Bitter blow': Geelong to Melbourne fast-rail link axed". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
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