Metro Tunnel works at Parkville
Friday 9 February 2024
A cut and cover station is being constructed beneath Grattan Street in Parkville, to serve the University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital precinct on Royal Parade.
Siemens train recovery, 2019
Tuesday 14 May 2019
On May 13, 2019 Siemens train 743M-2522T-744M + 766M-2533T-765M on a down Werribee service encountered damaged overhead wiring outside Laverton, resulting in the train being disabled. The next day N470 and N466 were sent to assist with the recovery of the train to the Newport Workshops, with chains and transition couplers used to join them together. Siemens trains lack a continuous brake pipe through each 3-car set, so a locomotive was needed at each end of the train to allow the consist to move.
707 Operations - Bendigo Heritage Unwrapped, May 2019
Saturday 11 May 2019
On 11 May 2019 R707 led a special train to Bendigo for the 'Heritage Unwrapped Festival' with carriages PCP294, ACZ 255, BRS 224, Club Car 1, BS 205 and BK 708.
Steamrail - Geelong 'Rail and Sail' May 2019
Sunday 5 May 2019
On 5 May 2019 K190 led 17 BE, 38 BE, 14 BRS, Moorabool, 600 BK, 7 ABE, 68 BW and 25 BE from Southern Cross to Geelong and return, travelling along the Regional Rail Link tracks via Tarneit.
HCMT set 2 delivery transfer, May 2019
Friday 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.
X'Trapolis transfer, May 2019
Thursday 2 May 2019
On 2 May 2019 SSR locomotives P18 and P17 with the usual power van BVDY52 and transition wagon AFGF 3Q led X'Trapolis train 157M-1379T-158M and 34M-1317T-33M from Newport Workshops to Alstom Ballarat via Sunshine and Bacchus Marsh for upgrade work.
X'Trapolis transfer, April 2019
Tuesday 30 April 2019
On 30 April 2019 newly acquired SSR locomotives P18 and P17 took power van BVDY51 to Newport Workshops for a HCMT transfer, then transferred X'Trapolis train 29M-1315T-30M and 53M-1327T-54M with usual power van BVDY52 and transition wagon AFGF 3Q from Newport Workshops to Alstom Ballarat via Sunshine and Bacchus Marsh for upgrade work.
Steamrail - Bendigo Easter special, April 2019
Sunday 21 April 2019
On April 21, 2019 Steamrail led a special Easter train from Southern Cross to Bendigo and return, with R711 leading PCP292, 11AS, 8AS, Moorabool, 7ABE, 600BK and 700BK.
Panorama Coaches
Thursday 14 December 2023
Part of the Dineen Group, Panorama Coaches operates four bus routes in Diamond Creek and Eltham, as well as charter and school bus services.
SRHC - Cruise Express charter, April 2019
Wednesday 10 April 2019
On 10 April 2019 the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre ran a special standard gauge train from Albury to Southern Cross to convey passengers on a 'Cruise Express' tour. T357 and P22 led the train, with 1BS, 11BS, 4AS and Parlor Car in the consist.
Metro Trains Melbourne training
Thursday 7 December 2023
Training new staff at Metro Trains Melbourne
Armaguard delaying trams in the Bourke Street Mall
Monday 8 April 2019
An Armaguard crew drove into the Bourke Street Mall then had their armoured van break down. Eventually a massive tilt tray truck arrived, delaying trams for five minutes while it was lifted onto the back.
707 Operations - Somerville Sojourn and the Mornington Tourist Railway 2019
Saturday 30 March 2019
On 30 March 2019 707 Operations ran their 'Somerville Sojourn and the Mornington Tourist Railway' tour to Long Island Junction and return, with locomotives H5 and T413 leading carriages PCP294, BS212, BRS224 and BS205
Flagstaff station police operation, May 2019
Thursday 28 March 2019
On 28 March 2019 someone onboard a train mistook a busker with a didgeridoo for someone with a rifle, sparking a full blown police response that shut down the entire City Loop for morning peak.
Derailed tram at Spencer and Flinders Street, March 2019
Thursday 28 March 2019
On 28 March 2019 tram E2.6059 went to turn from Spencer into Flinders Street with a MCG bound football special service, when the first bogie of the middle section came off the tracks.
V/Line - Z type carriage bogie cracks
Saturday 22 July 2017
In January 2013 V/Line's fleet of Z type carriages were removed from service due to cracking occurring in the bogies. Replacement bogies were eventually sourced, with the carriages back in service by late 2016.
V/Line - carriage set SN7/SZ7
Monday 9 August 2010
In September 2007 V/Line formed carriage set SN7 with five retired BS compartment carriages and spare carriage ACN21, to make up for a loss of a carriage set in the Kerang level crossing collision. Rostered on a return weekday run to Geelong, the set was recoded SZ7 in March 2009 following the replacement of carriage ACN21 with BCZ257. The set remained in service until August 2010, when the delivery of additional VLocity trains enabled it to be retired.
V/Line transfers
Wednesday 7 February 2024
V/Line often needs to transfer locomotives and carriages between workshops for overhaul or refurbishment.
V/Line stored locomotives
Saturday 24 October 2020
In August 2015 V/Line put their fleet of A class locomotives in long term storage, with the P class fleet receiving the same treatment following their withdrawal from service in 2017.
SRHC - Bendigo Royal Train, March 2019
Saturday 16 March 2019
On 16 March 2019 the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre operated the 'Bendigo Royal Train' from Seymour to Bendigo via Southern Cross and Echuca. B74 led S303 and Yarra, State Car 4, State Car 5, 30AE, Dining and Mitta Mitta.
SRHC - Pako Festa Tour, 2019
Saturday 23 February 2019
On 23 February 2019 the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre ran a train from Seymour to Geelong and return for the Pako Festa, running via the Albion-Jacana and Sunshine-Newport goods lines. X31 and B74 led the train, made up of 3BCE, 16ABE, 5ABE, Mitta Mitta, 30AE, 14BE, 1BE and Yarra.
Sunbury line disruption, February 2019
Thursday 21 February 2019
Following a fatality on the Sunbury line at Keilor Plains on the morning of 21 February 2019, train services between Sunshine and Watergardens were replaced by buses for the entire morning peak.
Bombardier Ballarat East
Thursday 28 December 2023
In 2011 Bombardier opened a new VLocity train maintenance facility at Ballarat East.
Dee Decker Tours
Friday 28 July 2023
Dee Decker Tours runs party buses in Melbourne using a fleet of single and double deck buses.
Stuck van at the Swanston Street tram stop, February 2019
Monday 11 February 2019
A delivery driver headed north up Swanston Street came to the end of the road at Bourke Street, and decided to drive down the bike lane. He ended up driving his van the edge of the tram stop platform, getting stuck on the tram tracks. Northbound trams on Swanston Street had to run 'bang road' to the Flinders Lane crossover to escape the obstruction, with services delayed for 40 minutes until a tilt tray track was able to extract his vehicle from the predicament.
Metro Tunnel works at Arden
Friday 26 January 2024
Site of a TBM launching site, 'North Melbourne' station is being constructed at the Arden urban redevelopment precinct
Metro Tunnel works at Domain
Thursday 12 October 2023
Site of a TBM launching site, 'Anzac' station is being constructed at Domain Interchange, beneath St Kilda Road
Metro Tunnel works at South Yarra
Sunday 3 March 2024
The eastern Metro Tunnel portal is located beside the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines at South Yarra.
Metro Tunnel works at CBD South
Saturday 16 March 2024
'Town Hall' station is being constructed in the southern end of the Melbourne CBD, and will be connected to Flinders Street Station.
Metro Tunnel works at CBD North
Friday 15 March 2024
'Library' station is being constructed in the northern end of the Melbourne CBD, and will be connected to Melbourne Central Station.
Metro Tunnel works at West Footscray
Friday 15 March 2024
A third platform and turnback siding is being constructed at West Footscray as part of the Metro Tunnel, to terminate trains from the east.
Metro Tunnel portal works at South Kensington
Friday 15 March 2024
The western Metro Tunnel portal is located beside the Sunbury line at South Kensington
Metro Tunnel HQ
Friday 16 February 2024
'Metro Tunnel HQ' is a visitors centre at 125-133 Swanston Street, opposite Melbourne Town Hall.
Metro Trains Melbourne trackwork
Friday 15 March 2024
Trackwork and maintenance on the Metro Trains Melbourne network
Water Tower Clock
Wednesday 5 February 2020
The 'Water Tower Clock' was Flinders Street Station's original clock. Built in 1883, it relocated to Spencer Street in 1910, then removed in 1967 following the rebuilding of the station. It was restored in 1993 and placed at the Scienceworks museum at Spotswood, then moved to Southern Cross Station in 2014.
Signage at Melbourne stations
Sunday 7 April 2024
Station signage across the Melbourne railway network
Metro Trains Melbourne first aiders
Friday 18 August 2023
In June 2010 Metro Trains Melbourne commenced placing 3rd party first aid staff at major stations during morning peak, to assist ill passengers while keeping trains moving.
Melbourne transport murals
Friday 7 April 2023
Murals featuring public transport, found at Melbourne railway stations and tram stops
Westall Train Maintenance Facility
Tuesday 15 February 2022
The Westall Train Maintenance Facility is located on the Caulfield Group, and serves the fleet of Comeng trains deployed to that corridor.
Craigieburn Train Maintenance Facility
Friday 23 December 2022
Located past Craigieburn station, Craigieburn Train Maintenance Facility serves the fleet of Comeng trains deployed to the Northern Group.
Epping Workshops
Thursday 9 March 2023
Epping Workshops is the only maintenance facility on the Clifton Hill Group, and serves the fleet of X'Trapolis trains deployed to that corridor.
Bayswater Workshops
Saturday 12 August 2023
Bayswater Workshops is the only maintenance facility on the Burnley Group, and serves the fleet of X'Trapolis trains deployed to that corridor.
PTV Hubs
Tuesday 19 September 2023
PTV Hubs were created in 2012 following the merger of the Met Shop at Melbourne Town Hall with the Central Pass Office and Myki Discovery Centre at Southern Cross Station.
Cootamundra locomotive depot
Wednesday 12 October 2022
Pacific National and Southern Shorthaul Railroad maintain their locomotives fleets in the yard at Cootamundra.
Melbourne rail network accessibility
Friday 9 February 2024
A look at how accessible the Melbourne railway network is for people with limited mobility.
Miles, chains and links
Saturday 17 September 2022
Railway stations once had their distance from Melbourne chiseled into the platform face, measured in miles, chains and links.
Sunshine-Albion bike path
Wednesday 24 October 2018
In 2018 the Sunshine and Albion sections of bike paths was finally connected, following the completion of a separated bike path alongside Harvester Road in Sunshine, and the reopening of a disused pedestrian underpass beneath the Hampshire Road off ramp in the Sunshine station forecourt.
Southern Shorthaul Railroad Victorian standard gauge grain
Saturday 13 April 2024
In August 2017 Southern Shorthaul Railroad commenced operating grain trains on the standard gauge in Victoria.