Rebranding Connex to Metro Trains Melbourne
24 May 2018
Metro Trains Melbourne took over operation of the Melbourne suburban rail network from Connex on 30 November 2009, with rebranding of trains and stations commencing right away.
Metro Trains Melbourne - Northern group
27 January 2023
Metro Trains Melbourne services on the Werribee, Altona, Williamstown, Sunbury, Craigieburn and Upfield lines that make up the Northern group.
Metro Trains Melbourne - Burnley group
18 January 2023
Metro Trains Melbourne services on the Belgrave, Lilydale, Alamein and Glen Waverley lines that make up the Burnley group.
Metro Trains Melbourne - Caulfield group
22 November 2022
Metro Trains Melbourne services on the Pakenham, Cranbourne, Frankston and Sandringham lines that make up the Caulfield group.
Metro Trains Melbourne - Clifton Hill group
18 January 2023
Metro Trains Melbourne services on the South Morang and Hurstbridge lines that make up the Clifton Hill group.
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.
Fire damaged Sprinter 7012, December 2016
8 April 2017
On December 2, 2016 Sprinter 7012 caught fire at Seymour station, with a fault in the electrical cabinet believed to be the cause. The damaged train was transferred to Melbourne the next day.
Y129 derailment at Southern Cross, January 2017
3 January 2017
On 3 January 2017 Y129 derailed Southern Cross Station, while shunting around with the carriage yards with an N class locomotive. It was rerailed with the assistance of a heavy lift crane.
8114 derailed at South Dynon, August 2012
22 August 2012
On August 22, 2012 Pacific National locomotive 8114 derailed outside the Melbourne Operations Terminal at South Dynon. Only a short distance off the rails, it was moved back onto the tracks with the use of timber blocks.
X'Trapolis transfer, December 2016
1 December 2016
On December 1, 2016 T369 and T377 with generator wagon CFSX125G transferred newly completed X'Trapolis set 225M-228M from Ballarat Workshops to Epping via Bacchus Marsh
Steamrail - Geelong line parallel run, October 2016
30 October 2016
On October 30 D3 639 and R761 led a pair of steam hauled trains between Southern Cross and Geelong via the Regional Rail Link tracks. Both trains ran parallel from Southern Cross Station to Sunshine and from Little River to North Geelong on the Geelong-bound leg, as well as between Geelong and Little River on the up leg.
North Dynon scrapping
27 October 2012
For yeasrs ex-Murraylander carriage BRB86 and Aurizon diesel locomotive CLF7 were stored dead at North Dynon - on 9 October 2016 the cranes arrived to take them away for scrapping.
North McKinnon Centre level crossing removal project
7 December 2021
In 2015/16 three level level crossings on the Frankston line were removed - North Road, McKinnon Road, and Centre Road with Ormond, McKinnon and Bentleigh stations also being rebuilt
NSW TrainLink bits
9 November 2022
Just bits and pieces of NSW TrainLink trains, carriages and railcars
Mitcham level crossing removal project
7 January 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.
Sydney Trains trackwork
5 October 2022
Trackwork and maintenance on the Sydney suburban railway network.
Steamrail - Maldon Explorer, June 2016
25 June 2016
On June 25, 2016 Steamrail Victoria ran their 'Maldon Explorer' tour with steam locomotive R711 from Southern Cross to Castlemaine and Bendigo.
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
Richmond to Camberwell Signalling Upgrade Project
18 February 2017
In 2015-16 new signalling has been installed between Burnley and East Richmond, to replace equipment installed way back in 1966. A new Computer Based Interlocking (CBI) will be installed at Burnley, and the existing panel at the Burnley signal box will be decommissioned, replaced by TCMS at Metrol.
Flinders Street Viaduct
22 February 2020
The Flinders Street Viaduct is made up of six tracks of varying ages, linking Flinders Street Station to Southern Cross Station and forming the main link between the eastern and western parts of the Victorian rail network.
Steamrail - Camperdown April 2016
17 April 2016
On 17 April 2016 Steamrail ran a train from Melbourne to Camperdown and return via Werribee, with T395 and T364 as the motive power.
Footbridges between Flinders Street and Richmond
12 February 2013
Between Flinders Street Station and Richmond a number of footbridges cross the rail corridor.
El Zorro to Morwell, October 2008
22 October 2008
On October 22, 2008 El Zorro ran a test train to the Gippsland Intermodal Freight Terminal at Morwell, as a promotional event for local companies interested in using the terminal. The four container wagons were previously used on the Warrnambool contract: CQOY 2393 and three ZQLXs
Steamrail - Easter special 2016
27 March 2016
On March 27, 2016 Steamrail Victoria ran a special train from Melbourne to Bendigo and return. S313 and A66 were rostered to lead the train, but due to locomotive faults A66 went it alone.
Blackburn Road level crossing removal project
17 November 2021
The railway line at Blackburn will be sunk beneath Blackburn Road, but the existing station is not being rebuilt.
Caulfield - Dandenong level crossing removal project
11 November 2022
In early 2016 it was announced that all nine level crossings between Caulfield and Dandenong would be eliminated by the construction of three sections of elevated railway line, now known as 'Skyrail'
Steamrail - Tocumwal, March 2016
19 March 2016
On 19 March 2016 T364 lead a short train from Melbourne to Tocumwal and return.
707 Operations - Leeor Loop and Kaniva Tour, February 2016
27 February 2016
On Saturday 27 February 2016 707 Operations and Steamrail Victoria operated a joint tour from Melbourne to Kaniva. T413 and P16 run push-pull from Melbourne to Ararat on the broad gauge, with TL152 taking the standard gauge train from Ararat to Leeor Loop, dropping off passengers at Kaniva.
Siemens train static inverter issues
17 August 2015
In December 2014 it was discovered that Melbourne's fleet of Siemens trains had been fitted with defective capacitors in the static inverter unit found beneath the train floor, resuling in a number of explosions. As an interim workaround fire blankets and tie down straps were fitted around the equipment boxes to reduce the risk.
V/Line - Werribee line rail cleaning trains
27 June 2015
Following the opening of Regional Rail Link for Geelong line services in June 2015, V/Line commenced operating rail cleaning trains on the old route between Werribee and Little River, in order to keep the rail heads free of rust for correct signal and level crossing operation. These operations stopped soon after, and in October 2015 Metro banned the operation of VLocity and Sprinter DMUs between Werribee and Manor Junction.
707 Operations - Seymour charter, January 2010
8 January 2010
On January 8, 2010 T413 lead carriages PCP294, JTA6, ACZ255 and BRS224 on a charter from Newport to Seymour and return, travelling via the goods lines to Sunshine.
Steamrail - Geelong driver training, October 2009
13 October 2009
On October 13, 2009 K153 headed to Geelong and back with a driver training special.
Steamrail - Geelong driver training, September 2009
27 September 2009
On September 27, 2009 T356 headed to Geelong and back with a driver training special.
SRHC locomotive transfers
1 November 2022
From time to time Seymour Railway Heritage Centre locomotives are transferred light engine to Melbourne, ready for hire to private rail freight operators.
Steamrail - Berwick-Pakenham steam shuttles, April 2010
25 April 2010
On April 25, 2010 Steamrail's K153 and K190 operated steam shuttles between Berwick and Pakenham.
Steamrail - Glen Waverley shuttles, June 2010
26 June 2010
On Sunday 27th June 2010 Steamrail operated steam shuttles between Darling and Glen Waverley to marks 80 years rail services to Glen Waverley. However due to an occupation on the line between the city and Newport, the train was stabled at South Dynon for a few days before the trip itself.
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.
Failing rail infrastructure of Melbourne
18 January 2023
Melbourne's railway network is held together with bubblegum and duct tape - here are examples of the way that it is falling apart.
B1 tram farewell tour, January 2016
30 January 2016
On January 30, 2016 tram B1.2001 travelled the Melbourne tram network as part of a farewell tour for the B1 class of trams.
Free Victorian rail travel, January 2009
30 January 2009
Following a week of train cancellations due to extreme heat, the State Government declared that January 30, 2009 would be a day of free travel for train passengers.
V/Line - VLocity train issues, 2016
30 March 2018
In January 2016 a large proportion of the V/Line VLocity fleet was withdrawn from service due to wheel wear issues, and a few days later they were banned from operations on the suburban network due to level crossing activation issues.
707 Operations - Ballarat Beer Festival, January 2016
16 January 2016
On January 16, 2016 T413 and T364 lead a train from Melbourne to Ballarat and return (via North Shore) for the Ballarat Beer Festival.
Burke Road level crossing removal project
4 July 2016
The tram/train level crossing at Burke Road, Glen Iris is being removed, with the railway being relocated beneath the road and the adjacent Gardiner station also being rebuilt
Steamrail - Christmas charters 2015
5 December 2015
Each year Steamrail runs a series of charter trains in the later half of the year for a number of private tours companies, taking party goers from Melbourne of an evening out to the Macedon Ranges or Geelong, then return, with plenty of booze and partying along the way
Evacuating a failed V/Line train at Albion, November 2015
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
C's On The Northeast Tour 2015
21 November 2015
On November 21, 2015 C501 and C510 led a train from Melbourne to Albury and return, using the Steamrail fleet of standard gauge K carriages. Due to Southern Cross only have two standard gauge platforms that are both occupied on Saturday mornings, the train commenced empty cars at South Dynon, then picked up passengers at Broadmeadows station.
Melbourne Tram Museum at Hawthorn Depot
30 January 2016
Housed in the former Hawthorn Tram Depot, the Melbourne Tram Museum features a collection of 20 heritage tramcars and related tramway memorabilia
Z class 'Ruby Jubilee' tour 2015
14 November 2015
On November 14, 2015 trams Z1.22 and Z2.101 travelled around Melbourne to celebrate 40 years of Z class trams in Melbourne. The tour commenced at Malvern Depot and visited St Kilda Road, Brunswick Depot, West Maribyrnong, Moonee Ponds, Melbourne Docklands, and a lunch break at Hawthorn Depot. Followed by travel to East Preston, Preston Depot, St Kilda, East Malvern, then returning to Malvern Depot.
Steamrail - A2 986 test runs 2015
8 November 2015
In 2015 Steamrail completed their restoration of steam locomotive A2 986, with a number of mainline test runs being completed between Newport and Sunshine to test it out before it hauls a passenger train.
Steamrail - Y112 transfer, November 2015
7 November 2015
On 7 November 2015 Y112 was transferred from Ballarat East to Newport Workshops for repairs, travelling via North Geelong and the new Regional Rail Link tracks.