Melbourne industrial action
September 10, 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.
Melbourne Metro Rail Tunnel preliminary work
June 22, 2017
Preliminary geotechnical investigation work on the Melbourne Metro Rail Tunnel commenced in 2015.
Melbourne rail replacement buses
April 11, 2017
When the *%@! hits the fan on Melbourne's rail network, buses have to be caleld in to operate a replacement service for passengers.
Melbourne railway traction substations
January 14, 2017
Scattered around Melbourne's suburban railway network, 68 traction substations convert 22,000V AC power supplied by electricity companies to the 1500V DC used by trains. The extension of suburban trains to South Morang and Sunbury will add four more. (a different source put the number in 2008 at 67 substations and 23 tie stations)
Melbourne standard gauge freight
June 24, 2017
Standard gauge lines from Adelaide and New South Wales meet at Melbourne, running via the western suburbs right into the main freight terminals near the Port of Melbourne
Melbourne stations and infrastructure
June 22, 2017
Photos of railway infrastructure in suburban Melbourne - stations, signals, and such
Melbourne suburban bits and pieces
May 15, 2017
Photos of bits and pieces on and around Melbourne's suburban trains
Melbourne tram bits and pieces
June 22, 2017
Photos of bits and pieces on and around Melbourne's trams
Melbourne tram depots
November 14, 2015
Trams on the Melbourne network are based out of eight depots: Brunswick, Camberwell, Essendon, Glenhuntly, Kew, Malvern, Preston and Southbank. Additional storage is available at the former North Fitzroy and Hawthorn depots, as well as the Preston Workshops.
Melbourne Tram Museum at Hawthorn Depot
January 30, 2016
Housed in the former Hawthorn Tram Depot, the Melbourne Tram Museum features a collection of 20 heritage tramcars and related tramway memorabilia
Melbourne tram sidings
September 04, 2014
Around the Melbourne tram network are a small number of sidings that lie off the main running lines, usually used to store trams before and after special events.
Melbourne tram stops
May 08, 2017
Tram stops around Melbourne fall into three groups: platform stops, safety zones, and signs beside the road.
Melbourne tram termini
February 21, 2016
Melbourne's tram network consists of 29 regular routes, and quite a number of regular termini!
Melbourne tram tracks
June 22, 2017
Tram tracks, pointwork, junctions, signals and so on from around the Melbourne tram network.
Melbourne tramway squares
August 08, 2016
Melbourne has four '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, Kooyong and Gardiner stations
Melbourne tramway traction substations
May 16, 2016
As of 2009 there were 41 traction substations scattered around Melbourne, converting the AC mains power to the 600 V DC required by trams. (a different source in 2008 put it as 46)
Melbourne tram works
March 19, 2017
Trackwork and maintenance work from around the Yarra Trams network in Melbourne
Metcard
March 22, 2017
Equipment and infrastructure for the Metcard automated ticketing system used throughout Melbourne
Metro driver training - February 2011
February 03, 2011
T376 and T369 ran around the network late at night in order to train El Zorro diesel crews on the Flemington Racecourse, Craigieburn and Williamstown lines.
Metrol
August 14, 2013
Metrol is the main train control centre for the Melbourne suburban rail network
Metro Trains Melbourne - Burnley group
June 03, 2017
Metro Trains Melbourne services on the Belgrave, Lilydale, Alamein and Glen Waverley lines that make up the Burnley group.
Metro Trains Melbourne - Caulfield group
March 22, 2017
Metro Trains Melbourne services on the Pakenham, Cranbourne, Frankston and Sandringham lines that make up the Caulfield group.
Metro Trains Melbourne - Clifton Hill group
May 24, 2017
Metro Trains Melbourne services on the South Morang and Hurstbridge lines that make up the Clifton Hill group.
Metro Trains Melbourne - Infrastructure Evaluation Vehicle IEV102
July 10, 2014
Converted from carriage MTH102 by SSR Bendigo in 2010, as of March 2011 this inspection carriage has been used to check up of the status of the overhead wiring along Melbourne's suburban railway network.
Metro Trains Melbourne - inner suburban
May 26, 2017
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
June 22, 2017
Metro Trains Melbourne services on the Werribee, Altona, Williamstown, Sunbury, Craigieburn and Upfield lines that make up the Northern group.
Metro Trains Melbourne launch
November 30, 2009
X'Trapolis 863M-1632T-864M-897M-1649T-898M was stickered into the new 'Metro' livery for the first day. Held on platform 1 at Flinders Street Station, Premier John Brumby and Transport Minister Lynne Kosky were in attendance, along with MTM management. The train left late because the media were interviewing the politicians, but they ended up being left behind.
Metro Trains Melbourne stuffups - April 2013
April 26, 2013
Over five days over the Anzac Day break there was a shutdown for Regional Rail Link related works at Viaduct Junction. April 26 was a normal workday but with limited platforms available at Southern Cross Station, resulting in all kinds of delays.
Metro Trains Melbourne trackwork
June 24, 2017
Trackwork on the Melbourne suburban rail network. Since taking over the contract to operate and maintain the system, Metro Trains Melbourne have hired wagons and locomotives from CFCLA to operate works trains. Three types of train operate: open top containers mounted to miscellaneous flat wagons for the carriage of spoil, CHOY hoppers to carry ballast, and flat wagons fitted with stanchions to carry rail or concrete sleepers.
Mildura freight
June 24, 2017
The Mildura freight runs from Merbein (just north of the town) to Melbourne and return for Wakefield Transport. The train is made up of standard and refrigerated containers, as well as a small amount of cement loading. Until recent years oil tankers, louvre vans and LCL containers were also attached to the train.
Mildura line signalling and infrastructure
February 14, 2010
Infrastructure along the Mildura line, all the way along the line through Dunolly and Maryborough to Ballarat
Mineral sands train
July 25, 2010
The mineral sands train is operated by El Zorro and runs on an irregular basis between Melbourne and Portland, to transport titanium and zircon mineral sands processed by Iluka Resources at Hamilton
Mitcham level crossing removal project
January 07, 2014
In 2013-2014 two level crossings at Mitcham were removed from the Lilydale / Belgrave line, when the railway line was lowered beneath Rooks Road and Mitcham Road, with the station at Mitcham also having to be rebuilt.
Motorists delaying trams
March 03, 2017
Wherever you go in Melbourne you are certain to find some moron who doesn't know how to drive, either queuing through an intersection or overhanging a tram lane, resulting in delays to dozens of tram passengers.
Murray Bridge
July 11, 2015
Passing through Murray Bridge in South Australia, on the main line between Melbourne and Adelaide
Napier Street bridge strike - October 2015
October 01, 2015
The railway bridge that carries the Williamstown and Werribee lines over Napier Street has a long history of being struck by high vehicles - October 1st 2015 was yet another example.
National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide
July 02, 2010
Located on the site of Port Dock railway station in South Australia, it has a collection of narrow, broad and standard gauge locomotives and rolling stock from the SAR, CR, AN and Silverton Tramways, plus a number of other private operators
Newmarket blackout - September 2013
September 26, 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.
Newport Workshops
June 24, 2017
Newport Workshops is the main railway heavy repair and maintenance facility in Melbourne. The eastern side is occupied by EDI Rail and Siemens, while the older buildings in West Block are occupied by heritage operators Steamrail Victoria and 707 Operations. The East Block is used as storage by VicTrack. Photos include some from a tour of the EDI section featuring the loco, bogie and wheel shops.
Newport Workshops 'Rotten Road'
October 30, 2009
'Rotten Road' at the Newport Workshops in Melbourne is located beside the Geelong railway line, and is full of heritage rolling stock stored in the open. In 2008 Victrack has started to scrap the stuff which is falling apart.
Newport Workshops: Steamrail and 707 Operations
January 21, 2012
Steamrail Victoria and 707 Operations have a large rolling stock fleet based at the West Block of Newport Workshops in Melbourne
New V/Line Mk3 livery
June 06, 2008
2007 saw V/Line introduce a new livery for their fleet - the third since 1983. Red, grey and white form the core colours, along with a purple stripe.
FSH25 was the first of V/Line's carriage sets to be repainted in their new corporate livery. It went to Geelong on a test run on September 4th. Sprinter 7007 has also been repainted in it's own new livery. Both trains were launched on September 12th, 2007 at Southern Cross Station. VN12 was the first N set to be repainted, and N468 was the first locomotive.
Since then a number of other carriage sets, locomotives and Sprinters have received modified versions of the new livery.
New V/Line Mk3 VLocity livery
June 22, 2010
VLocity unit 3VL42 was the first VLocity train to receive the red and purple V/Line Mk3 livery. Fresh out of the factory, it looks like a stick of fairy floss!
New V/Line Mk4 livery
May 01, 2017
In conjunction with the launch of a more 'reliable' V/Line Albury service, N457 was repainted into a new PTV branded livery, along with power van PCJ492 and newly refurbished carriage set SN8.
New X'Trapolis EMUs
July 07, 2012
A second batch of X'Trapolis EMUs are being imported, number from 1M upwards (and 1301T). The first 6 car set arrived in 2009 and underwent testing before being commissioned into service.
North Dynon wagon scrapping
October 09, 2016
Ex-Murraylander carriage BRB86 and diesel locomotive CLF7 were stored dead at North Dynon for years - on 9 October 2016 the cranes arrived to take them away for scrapping.