Elizabeth Street tram works
16 September 2014
In April 2012 the tram tracks along Elizabeth Street were rebuilt between Collins Street and Victoria Street, followed in October 2013 by the construction of new platform stops at Collins, Bourke and La Trobe Streets.
Melbourne tram stop platform rebuilds
26 May 2016
In 2014 it was discovered that existing platform stops across the Melbourne tram network were of a non-compliant height, so Yarra Trams had to go back and raise the surface of each one to current standards.
HCMT set 8 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.
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.
Steamrail - Christmas charters 2019
6 December 2019
Each year Steamrail runs a series of charter trains in the later half of the year for Dreamscape Tours, taking party goers from Melbourne of an evening out to the Macedon Ranges and return, with plenty of booze and parting along the way.
SRHC - Santa’s Express to Bendigo
1 December 2019
On 1 December 2019 the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre ran the Santa’s Express train from Seymour to Bendigo via SOuthern Cross. X31, B74 and T378 led the train, made up of State Car 4, State Car 5, 3BS, Dining Car, Mitta Mitta, 1BE, 5ABE, 30AE, and parlor car Yarra.
X'Trapolis transfer, 29 November 2019
29 November 2019
On 29 November 2019 SSR locomotives T363 and P14 with the usual power van BVDY52 and transition wagon BQHX 2447 led X'Trapolis train 170M-1385T-169M and 236M-1418T-235M to Alstom Ballarat for upgrade works. The train ran from Newport to Ballarat via the suburban lines and North Geelong, the locomotives having run around the consist at Southern Cross Station platform 8.
X'Trapolis transfer, 26 November 2019
26 November 2019
On 26 November 2019 SSR locomotives T363 and P14 with the usual power van BVDY52 and transition wagon BQHX 2447 led X'Trapolis train 953M-1677T-954M and 139M-1370T-140M to Alstom Ballarat for upgrade works. The train ran from Newport to Ballarat via the suburban lines and North Geelong, the locomotives having run around the consist at Melbourne Yard.
Ballarat Line Upgrade consolidation trains
27 November 2019
As part of the Ballarat Line Upgrade works that have duplicated the railway between between Caroline Springs and Melton, on 27 November 2019 a pair of heavy freight trains ran across the newly commissioned track for 24 hours, consolidating the recently laid ballast before normal services commenced on the line.
Qube's train was made up of B76, T373 and T376 push-pull with G512, container wagons from the Maryvale service, and cement tanktainers from the Dandenong service. Southern Shorthaul Railroad's train was made up of B75, S312, P17 and P18 push-pull with S302 and S317 on the Kensington grain consist.
William Street tram works
2 January 2020
During November-December 2019 the tram tracks along William Street between Market Street and Dudley Street are being relaid, and new platform stops constructed at Bourke Street and Flagstaff Station / La Trobe Street.
Regional Rail Link consolidation trains
6 July 2014
Between 3 July and 7 July 2014 a loaded ballast train operated over the new Regional Rail Link tracks between Deer Park Junction and Manor Junction at a maximum of 80 km per hour, until 100,000 tonnes of load are put onto them. The more weight they put onto it, the quicker it will be ready for normal services - the alternative is speed restrictions until the new track is bedded in.
707 Operations - Geelong Revival Motoring Festival, November 2019
24 November 2019
On 24 November 2019 707 Operations ran a steam hauled heritage train from Melbourne's Southern Cross Station to Geelong for the 2019 Geelong Revival Motoring Festival. The train via via Altona and Werribee on the down and Wyndham Vale on the up, with R707 and T392 hauling a train made up of carriages PCP294, JTA6, ACZ255, BZ270, CLUB1, BS205 and BK708.
SRHC - Spirit of Progress to Albury, November 2019
23 November 2019
On 23 November 2019 the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre ran a standard gauge tour from Southern Cross Station to Albury and return. T357 and P22 led the train, made up of carriages 1 BS, 11 BS, 4 AS and Parlor Car.
Steamrail - whY not Suburban Tour 2019
17 November 2019
On 17 November 2019 T356 led the 'whY not Suburban Tour' from Southern Cross Station to Somerton and Werribee via Sunshine, Essendon and the Bunbury Street Tunnel. Originally intended to be hauled by Y class steam locomotive Y112, it was a late scratching due to mechanical problems. The train was made up of carriages 600BK, 14BRS, 67BW, 64AW, 7ABE, and 1BCE.
Stuck brakes on a Comeng train
17 November 2019
On 17 November 2019 Comeng carriage 641M was in the middle of a down Sunbury service when the brakes got stuck on, leaving a trail of smoke from North Melbourne to Middle Footscray, before the train finally came to a halt, shutting down rail services on the line for an hour.
Steamrail - Sandringham to Williamstown shuttles 2019
10 November 2019
On 10 November 2019 A2 986 and K190 run suburban shuttles from Flinders Street Station to Sandringham and Williamstown. The train was made up with carriages 17 BE, 38 BE, 7 ABE, 25 BE and 1 BCE.
707 Operations - 'Wizarding Academy Express' charter 2019
2 November 2019
On the weekend of 2 and 3 November 2019 707 Operations ran 'Wizarding Academy Express' charter trains. Running out of Southern Cross Station, passengers were treated to a magic themed train journey that was 100% not infringing the copyright of the popular 'Harry Power' series of books. R707 and T413 ran the train push pull to Caroline Springs and back, the train made up of PCP 294, BZ 270, Club 1, ACZ 255 and BK 708.
Steamrail Victoria - Geelong 'Rail and Sail' October 2019
27 October 2019
On October 27, 2019 Steamrail ran a 'Rail and Sail' trip from Melbourne to Geelong and return behind K190. PCP292, Hobsons Bay (269 BZ), 14 BRS, 600 BK, 7 ABE, 38 BE, 25 BE, 17 BE, and 1 BCE made up the train.
Melbourne infrastructure inspection trams
5 July 2021
Infrastructure inspection equipment fitted to Melbourne trams.
HCMT set 7 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.
Calder Park Sidings
10 April 2021
The train stabling yard at Calder Park is located north of Watergardens station. The first stage opened in December 2014 was a three road yard large enough to stable six 6-car trains, with a second stage adding another three sidings in 2015. As part of the High Capacity Metro Train project, a light maintenance facility is also being constructed at the site.
707 Operations - Tastes of the Goulburn, 2019
19 October 2019
707 Operations ran a special train from Melbourne to Seymour and return on 19 October 2018 to transport passengers to the 'Tastes of the Goulburn' festival in Seymour. R707, H5 and T392 led the train, with carriages VAM 1, PCP 294, ACZ 255, BZ 270, BRS 224, CLUB 1, BS 205, BS 212, JTA 6, BK 708, Moorabool and D318 in the consist.
Melbourne Art Trams 2019
10 February 2020
As part of the 2019 Melbourne Festival eight trams have been decorated in designs by eight Melbourne artists: https://www.festival.melbourne/2019/events/melbourne-art-trams/
Metro Tunnel tram replacement buses
14 October 2019
Works on the Metro Tunnel at Anzac station have required Yarra Trams services on St Kilda Road to be replaced by buses, while the tram tracks are slewed around the work site.