HCMT CCTV testing at Cheltenham
19 May 2018
On 19 May 2018 a Comeng train was sent to Cheltenham platform 1 and had multiple CCTV cameras taped to the outside, apparently testing something new as part of the High Capacity Metro Train project.
HCMT set 1 transfer, September 2021
24 September 2021
After sitting idle for months on end at Pakenham East depot having never run on the mainline under it's own power, on 24 September 2021 HCMT set 1 was returned to Newport Workshops for rectification works to the electrical system.
HCMT set 2 delivery transfer, May 2019
3 May 2019
On the morning of 3 May 2019 the second completed High Capacity Metro Train set was transferred from the Downer facility at Newport Workshops to the future HCMT depot at Pakenham East. Unlike the first transfer the train didn't need to be inspected along the way.
Southern Shorthaul Railroad ran the transfer, with B75 in the lead, followed by a mix of 22 SSR flat wagons, then by S317, T386, generator van BVDY51, and finally the HCMT set. The emergency brake was operational onboard the new train, but the ECP service brake was not, hence additional braking wagons were required to accompany the movement.
HCMT set 2 transfer, 6 June 2020
7 June 2020
After completing testing on the Werribee line, HCMT set 2 was transferred from Newport Workshops back to the Pakenham East depot on 6 June 2020, behind SSR diesel locomotives T385 and P18, and power van BVDY51.
HCMT set 4 transfer, 7 June 2020
On 7 June 2020 HCMT set 4 was transferred from Pakenham East depot to Newport Workshops behind SSR diesel locomotives T385 and P18, and power van BVDY51.
HCMT set 5 delivery transfer, September 2019
20 September 2019
On the morning of 20 September 2019 the fifth High Capacity Metro Train set was transferred from the Downer facility at Newport Workshops to the future HCMT depot at Pakenham East. Southern Shorthaul Railroad ran the transfer, with B75 and T385 in the lead, followed by a mix of SSR flat wagons loaded with empty spoil containers, then by P18, P17, generator van BVDY51, and finally the HCMT set. The emergency brake was operational onboard the new train, but the ECP service brake was not, hence additional braking wagons were required to accompany the movement.
HCMT set 6 delivery transfer, September 2019
30 September 2019
On the morning of 30 September 2019 the sixth High Capacity Metro Train set was transferred from the Downer facility at Newport Workshops to the future HCMT depot at Pakenham East. Southern Shorthaul Railroad ran the transfer, with S312 and T385 in the lead, followed by a mix of SSR flat wagons loaded with empty spoil containers, then by P18, P17, generator van BVDY51, and finally the HCMT set. The emergency brake was operational onboard the new train, but the ECP service brake was not, hence additional braking wagons were required to accompany the movement.
HCMT set 7 delivery transfer, October 2019
24 October 2019
On the morning of 24 October 2019 the seventh High Capacity Metro Train set was transferred from the Downer facility at Newport Workshops to the future HCMT depot at Pakenham East. Southern Shorthaul Railroad ran the transfer, with P16 and T386, generator van BVDY51, and finally the HCMT set. The braking system has now been certified for mainline use following tests of earlier trains at Pakenham East, so no braking wagons needed to accompany the movement.
HCMT set 8 delivery transfer, December 2019
9 December 2019
On the morning of 9 December 2019 the eighth High Capacity Metro Train set was transferred from the Downer facility at Newport Workshops to the future HCMT depot at Pakenham East. Southern Shorthaul Railroad ran the transfer, with P16 and P17, generator van BVDY51, and finally the HCMT set. The transfer left Newport after the last train of the evening, so there was no need for buses to replace trains on the Werribee line, like previous transfers.
HCMT set 34 delivery transfer, October 2021
18 October 2021
On the evening of 19 October 2021 newly completed HCMT set 34 was transferred from Newport Workshops to the depot at Pakenham East behind hired Steamrail diesel locomotives T395 and T364 and power van BVDY51. The locomotives and power van arrived at Newport the day before.
Heatherdale level crossing removal project
24 March 2018
The railway line at Heatherdale will be sunk beneath Heatherdale Road, with a new station build on the other side of the level crossing
Heritage A class locomotive transfers
6 June 2020
On 6 June 2020 V/Line heritage allocated locomotives were collected from South Dynon by their new owners - A60 to the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre and A62 to 707 Operations. Both locomotives needed to be transferred between passenger carriages due to the lack of working brake equipment.
High Capacity Corridor Upgrade project
29 July 2021
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 Corridor Upgrade rail replacement buses
11 January 2019
The High Capacity Corridor Upgrade project is upgrading the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines to support the new High Capacity Metro Train (HCMT) fleet. As a result Metro Trains and V/Line rail services have needed to be replaced by buses.
High Capacity Metro Train curve testing at Rushall
21 January 2021
In January 2021 a number of High Capacity Metro Trains ran on the Mernda line as far as Reservoir, in order to test how the new trains would handle the curve at Rushall, the sharpest on Melbourne's rail network.
High Capacity Metro Train gradient testing on the Belgrave line
14 January 2021
On the evening of 12 March 2020 HCMT set 2 was transferred to Upper Ferntree Gully behind P18 and T385 in preparation for brake testing on the Belgrave line, between Upper Ferntree Gully and Upwey. During January 2021 another testing program was completed on the line, with HCMT sets 3 and 10 testing whether a HCMT set could push and pull a failed classmate up the 1 in 30 grade.
High Capacity Metro Train high speed testing on the Werribee line
29 October 2020
On the evening of 2 January 2020 HCMT set 2 commenced brake testing runs on the Werribee line, between Newport and Werribee. The train had been delivered to the stabling yard at Newport Workshops a week earlier, hauled by a pair of diesel locomotives.
High Capacity Metro Train mockup at Birrarung Marr
1 October 2019
In February 2018 the mockup High Capacity Metro Train (HCMT) was placed on public display at Birrarung Marr
High Capacity Metro Train set 1 delivery transfer, November 2018
29 November 2018
On the morning of 29 November 2018 the first completed High Capacity Metro Train set was transferred from the Downer facility at Newport Workshops to the future HCMT depot at Pakenham East, stopping multiple times along the way to inspect the new train was moving safely.
Southern Shorthaul Railroad run the transfer, with S302 in the lead, followed by a mix of 20 SSR grain wagons usually used on the Kensington grain service, then by S317, T385 and T363, generator van BVDY51, and finally the HCMT set. The emergency brake was operational onboard the new train, but the ECP service brake was not, hence additional braking wagons were required to accompany the movement.
High Capacity Metro Train test running
21 October 2021
High Capacity Metro Trains have been running between the depot at Pakenham East and the Melbourne CBD as part of the testing program, with each train needing to run 4,000 km before being accepted, with 2,000km of that running without incident in simulated passenger service.
High Capacity Metro Train testing on the Craigieburn line
18 December 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 Train testing on the Flemington Racecourse line
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
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 on the Sandringham line
High Capacity Metro Trains have been sent to Elsternwick on the Sandringham line to ensure that a misrouted HCMT train would be compatible with existing infrastructure.
High Capacity Metro Train testing on the Sunbury line
16 February 2021
In September 2020 the testing of HCMT trains commenced on the Sunbury line. Early movements were at night to allow testing of platform clearances, with testing between revenue services commencing on September 30.
High Capacity Metro Trains at Newport Workshops
8 May 2021
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 Metro Trains enter service
27 December 2020
On 27 December 2020 the first High Capacity Metro Train carried passengers, HCMT set 11 did the honours running a single service from Pakenham to Flinders Street Station and return. The day was low key, with no special ceremonies to mark the occasion and little media attention, the train full of the families of those who built the train, and a gaggle of railfans who found out that the train was running.
Hitachi retirement transfers, September 2015
10 October 2015
After being withdrawn from service and stored at Macaulay, the final three Hitachi trains were been reactivated and transferred to Newport Workshops awaiting their final fate in September-October 2015.
Hitachi transfer to Bendigo, May 2018
23 May 2018
After a number of failed attempts, on the evening of 22 May 2018 retired Hitachi train 296M + 1994T + 295M was transferred from Newport Workshops to the SSR workshops at Bendigo North behind T386 and T363 running push-pull.
Hitachi transfer with T378 to Ballarat, August 2008
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
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
Hope Street Bus Line
29 September 2012
Until September 2012 route 509 in Brunswick was operated by Hope Street Bus Line
Hurstbridge Rail Line Upgrade
20 January 2019
The Hurstbridge Rail Line Upgrade is duplicating the section of single track between Heidelberg and Rosanna, raising the railway line over Lower Plenty Road, and rebuilding Rosanna station.
ICE radio equipment
9 March 2020
In December 2014 the last of seven analog railway systems used on the ARTC network were switched off, following the completed roll out of the digital, 3G-based National Train Communications System (NTCS) project.
IEV100 track evaluation vehicle
19 July 2021
Formerly known as EM100, IEV100 is a track evaluation vehicle that traverses the Victorian railway network to test track quality. Diesel powered, it has both standard and broad gauge bogies.
Incomplete Maldon - Dombarton railway bridge
10 June 2017
A partially completed bridge over the Cordeaux River near Maldon, New South Wales. It forms part of the Maldon - Dombarton railway line that commenced construction in the 1980s and was cancelled soon after.
Infrastructure Evaluation Vehicle IEV102
16 June 2021
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.
Infrastructure Evaluation Vehicle IEV102 transfer, January 2017
5 January 2017
Metro Trains Melbourne's Infrastructure Evaluation Vehicle IEV102 developed a brake issue in December 2016, with the T-IEV-T consist having having to be transferred back to Melbourne behind B76 and B80. In January IEV102 was transferred to Bendigo behind B76 and B80, with six freight wagons (BODX 2301C, BQCX 2202B, BQIX 2461D, IEV 102, BQCX 2201P, BQIX 2459V and BODX 2460V) along for the ride to counteract the unbraked carriage.
Journey Beyond Rail - Great Southern
11 January 2020
The 'Great Southern' is a luxury rail cruise train operated by Journey Beyond Rail between Adelaide and Brisbane via Melbourne and Sydney. The train commenced running in 2019 using carriage stock usually used on The Ghan.
Just another tram versus car, June 2013
12 June 2013
The tram I was on was heading north past peak hour congestion on Flemington Road when I heard a *crunch* - the tram came to a stop, as did the tram behind us. I opened the window and saw a Mercedes with a scratched up front panel pass the tram tooting their horn, while the driver left the cab and went back to talk to the other driver. We caught up to the car at the next set of traffic lights.
K190 transfer to Castlemaine, 2011
29 October 2011
On 29 October 2011 Steamrail steam locomotive K190 was transferred from Newport to Castlemaine, to help out over summer at the Victorian Goldfields Railway
Kananook Train Storage Facility
24 December 2019
A new stabling yard is being constructed north of Kananook station, to offset the loss of stabling sidings at Carrum station as part of the level crossing removal project there.
Kastoria Bus Lines
26 September 2021
Kastoria Bus Lines operates bus services in Melbourne's north-west and western suburbs
Keep clear of the tram tracks, October 2012
25 October 2012
Where trams turn corners, there are yellow lines painted along the road so that cars know to keep clear. This bloke at the corner of Victoria and Errol Streets in North Melbourne didn't pay attention to them, which resulted in Z3.205 ripping off the rear quarter panel off his van.
Kensington Racecourse Essendon resignalling
19 March 2016
In 2013-14 new signalling was installed on the Craigieburn and Flemington Racecourse lines, between Kensington and Essendon stations.