Wongm's Rail Gallery » Suburban Melbourne

Suburban Melbourne

Metro Trains Melbourne operates the suburban railways of Melbourne with a fleet of electric multiple unit trains, taking over from Connex in 2009

4Ds last run, March 2006

Wednesday 29 March 2006

The double deck 4D train had a difficult career, failing often and being an orphan in the fleet, and by 2003 it was in storage at Newport. By 2006 it reached the end of the line being stripped for parts. This was definitely the 4D train's last run, from Newport to Simsmetal at Brooklyn. El Zorro's Y168 and W241 took the 4D away, with a small number of other freight wagons for braking purposes.

2015 Melbourne rail and tram industrial action

Thursday 10 September 2015

In 2015 the Rail, Tram and Bus Union has launched industrial action against both Metro Trains and Yarra Trams, following the breakdown in negotiations around their new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

Amskan RFID train identifier tags

Saturday 21 October 2023

At some point in the past Amskan RFID train identifier tags were installed on Melbourne's fleet of Comeng and Hitachi trains, along with readers at Flinders Street Station, and possibly other locations

Axle counter overlays at Melbourne level crossings

Tuesday 27 November 2018

Following issues with VLocity trains being detected by track circuits in suburban Melbourne, in 2016 axle counters have been installed at level crossings to ensure they are reliably activated.

Bayside Rail Project

Wednesday 22 March 2017

In May 2013 Premier Denis Napthine announced the $100 million 'Bayside Rail Project' to upgrade the Frankston railway line, and bring X'Trapolis trains to the route. Two token services run by X'Trapolis trains being introduced just before the 2014 State Election, with the cost of the project blowing out to $115 million.

Blackout at Newmarket railway station, September 2013

Thursday 26 September 2013

On September 26, 2013 a tree took out the mains power supply to Newmarket station, plunging the platforms into darkness, but not affecting traction power to trains or signalling systems.

Broadmeadows station and standard gauge platform construction

Tuesday 1 March 2022

Former terminus of the suburban electric services, in 2010 it was upgraded to have a third platform on the parallel standard gauge line.

Cardinia Road station construction

Saturday 25 August 2012

A new railway station on the Pakenham line between Officer and Pakenham stations

City Loop

Stations and trains around the Melbourne Underground Rail Loop (Parliament, Melbourne Central, and Flagstaff stations)

Comeng Life Extension project

Thursday 8 April 2021

The Comeng Life Extension project commenced in 2017 to update the interior and exterior of Melbourne's fleet of Comeng trains in order to keep them in service until 2022-27.

Comeng transfer, October 2009

Wednesday 28 October 2009

T357 took a Comeng EMU set from Newport Workshops to the UGR workshops at Ballarat. The set was 575M-1138T-576M + 404M-1018T-403M, the ZVDY power van was not needed but went along for the ride so T357 could bring an X'Trapolis train back

Commercialising commuters

Saturday 16 March 2024

For Melbourne's privatised public transport operators, they don't make money by moving people - they make money selling their captive audiences to advertisers and other commercial outfits.

Connex - Damaged pantograph and overhead, April 2009

Saturday 25 April 2009

Comeng 532M-T-531M + 542M-T-M (the prototype seating set) became dewired from the overhead on the up side of South Kensington, destroying all 4 pantographs and pulling down a fair chunk of overhead. Passengers from the rear set had to be detrained via the tracks. An N class later picked up the damaged train.

Connex Melbourne

Saturday 28 November 2009

Connex Melbourne was the operator of suburban trains in Melbourne from 1999 until 2009, using a variety of EMUs ranging from the ageing Hitachi, through to refurbished Comengs, and modern X'Trapolis and Siemens models.

Connex Melbourne trackwork and works trains

Saturday 28 November 2009

Trackwork and works trains on the Connex Melbourne suburban network

Coolaroo station construction and opening day

Sunday 17 November 2019

Located between Broadmeadows and Roxburgh Park, the railway station at Coolaroo was constructed separately from the rest of the Craigieburn electrification project that was completed in 2007. As a result it did not opening to passengers until 6 June 2010.

Craigieburn collision, May 2010

Wednesday 5 May 2010

Down Craigieburn service with 570M-T-M + 309M-T-M ran up the back of the down empty Apex train which was stopped at a signal outside Craigieburn station. 570M-T-M received most of the damage and needed to be cut apart; 309M-T-M was shunted off by T402 and taken to Broadmeadows as a complete train.

Craigieburn electrification project

Sunday 17 November 2019

Photos of the Craigieburn electrification works completed in 2007, as well the new station at Roxburgh Park and later upgrades to Craigieburn station

Evacuating a failed V/Line train at Albion, November 2015

Thursday 26 November 2015

On November 26, 2015 a down Bendigo train failed outside Albion station, blocking the Sunbury line for hours. Eventually the V/Line train was limped into the platform at Albion, allowing passenger to wait for buses, with the suburban train behind being eventually evacuated as well

Failing rail infrastructure of Melbourne

Friday 22 March 2024

Melbourne's railway network is held together with bubblegum and duct tape - here are examples of the way that it is falling apart.

Farewell Hitachi Train Tour, April 2014

Saturday 12 April 2014

On April 12, 2014 the Elecrail division of Steamrail ran a Farewell Hitachi Train Tour around the Melbourne suburbs with 288M-1979T-287M and 274M-1909T-273M. Starting at Craigieburn, the tour headed into the city via the Northern Loop, out to South Morang via the Clifton Hill Loop, then out to Sunbury and back via the Northern Loop, then finally back to Craigieburn.

Flemington Racecourse line

Sunday 6 August 2023

The Flemington Racecourse line is a short branch off the Broadmeadows line in the inner north-west of Melbourne. It is used for special events at the Flemington racecourse and the showgrounds.

Flinders Street Station

Flinders Street Station is the main suburban train station for Melbourne, Victoria

Galvin train crash, August 2014

Tuesday 18 November 2014

On August 22 2014 an empty VLocity train (VL05-12-39, 7 cars) ran into the rear of a Metro Trains service between Galvin and Paisley on the Werribee line.

HCMT High Capacity Signalling testing at Epping

Monday 25 October 2021

In 2019 work started on the installation of trial High Capacity Signalling equipment between Epping and South Morang stations. A pair of X'Trapolis trains completed the initial testing from September 2020, with High Capacity Metro Trains entering the test program from August 2021.

High Capacity Corridor Upgrade project

Saturday 9 March 2024

The High Capacity Corridor Upgrade project (previously the Cranbourne Pakenham Line Upgrade project) is being delivered by the Level Crossing Removal Authority to support the new High Capacity Metro Train (HCMT) fleet. The work includes track duplication on the Cranbourne line at Dandenong South, minor platform extensions, and the replacement of signalling, overhead wires and traction substations along the Cranbourne and Pakenham railway lines.

High Capacity Metro Train testing on the Flemington Racecourse line

Friday 18 December 2020

High Capacity Metro Trains have been on the Flemington Racecourse line to ensure that a misrouted HCMT train would be compatible with existing infrastructure.

High Capacity Metro Train testing on the Glen Waverley line

Sunday 20 December 2020

High Capacity Metro Trains have been sent to Burnley Sidings on the Glen Waverley line to ensure that a misrouted HCMT train would be compatible with existing infrastructure.

High Capacity Metro Train testing to Kensington

Sunday 1 November 2020

On the morning of 1 November 2020 after normal services had stopped running, HCMT set 3 was sent out to Kensington on the Craigieburn line to test the compatibility of the new trains with existing infrastructure.

High Capacity Metro Trains at Newport Workshops

Monday 11 March 2024

The new High Capacity Metro Train (HCMT) fleet is being assembled by Downer at the Newport Workshops in Melbourne's west, with the body shells assembled by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles in China.

High Capacity Signalling testing at West Footscray

In July 2023 testing commenced on the High Capacity Signalling equipment between the Metro Tunnel portal at South Kensington and the turnback platform at West Footscray station, with further testing completed in February 2024.

Hitachi transfer with T378 to Ballarat, August 2008

Sunday 31 August 2008

SRHC's T378 took Elecrail Hitachi set 7M-1994T-225M-89M-1946T-99M from Newport to Ballarat Workshops via North Geelong for refurbishment. Here are some shots between Lara and Warrenheip.

Hitachi transfer, January 2009

Sunday 18 January 2009

El Zorro took CFCLA liveried T369 out light engine from Dynon to Ballarat to pick up a refurbished Hitachi set from Alstom's North Ballarat Workshops. The set was 23M-2007T-233M + 9M-1919T-144M and was taken to Newport Workshops

Kensington Racecourse Essendon resignalling

Saturday 19 March 2016

In 2013-14 new signalling was installed on the Craigieburn and Flemington Racecourse lines, between Kensington and Essendon stations.

Lynbrook station construction

Saturday 14 January 2012

A new railway station on the Cranbourne line between Dandenong and Merinda Park.

Melbourne by night

Thursday 25 January 2007

A look at Melbourne after the trains stop running...

Melbourne electric multiple unit interiors

Interior views of Melbourne's electric multiple unit trains.

Melbourne rail replacement buses

Saturday 23 March 2024

When the *%@! hits the fan on Melbourne's rail network, buses have to be called in to operate a replacement service for passengers.

Melbourne stations and infrastructure

Photos of railway infrastructure in suburban Melbourne - stations, signals, and such

Melbourne suburban bits and pieces

Monday 25 March 2024

Photos of bits and pieces on and around Melbourne's suburban trains

Melbourne suburban Digital Train Radio System

Monday 11 March 2024

The GSM-R based Digital Train Radio System (DTRS) replaced the analogue Urban Train Radio System (UTRS) used for communication on the Melbourne suburban rail network. Approximately 100 base stations make up the system with more than 70 new towers added to cover the network. Work stated in September 2009 and was completed in 2011, with trials of the on train equipment starting in 2012.

Melbourne tramway squares

Friday 24 March 2023

Melbourne has three 'tramway squares' where 1500 V DC powered trains cross the tracks of 600 V DC powered trams on the level. They are located at Glenhuntly, Riversdale and Kooyong, with the fourth at Gardiner since grade separated.

Mernda Rail

Sunday 1 September 2019

In August 2018 the 8 km long railway extension from South Morang to Mernda was opened to passengers, with new stations at Mernda, Hawkstowe and Middle Gorge.

Metro Trains Melbourne

Metro Trains Melbourne has been the operator of the Melbourne suburban rail network since November 2009.

Metro Trains Melbourne - Burnley group

Metro Trains Melbourne services on the Belgrave, Lilydale, Alamein and Glen Waverley lines that make up the Burnley group.

Metro Trains Melbourne - Caulfield group

Sunday 10 March 2024

Metro Trains Melbourne services on the Pakenham, Cranbourne, Frankston and Sandringham lines that make up the Caulfield group.

Metro Trains Melbourne - Clifton Hill group

Monday 11 March 2024

Metro Trains Melbourne services on the South Morang and Hurstbridge lines that make up the Clifton Hill group.

Metro Trains Melbourne - inner suburban

Saturday 16 March 2024

Metro Trains Melbourne services in the inner suburban area, covering Flinders Street Station, Southern Cross Station, the City Loop, North Melbourne and Richmond.

Metro Trains Melbourne - Northern group

Monday 18 March 2024

Metro Trains Melbourne services on the Werribee, Altona, Williamstown, Sunbury, Craigieburn and Upfield lines that make up the Northern group.

Metro Trains Melbourne despatch paddles

Thursday 13 March 2014

In 2010 Metro Trains Melbourne introduced 'despatch paddles' - an illuminated beacon for station staff to use to indicate to drivers that the platform was clear for departure. The idea was abandoned by 2012 or so, following the removal of platform staff from many locations

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