Flagstaff station police operation, May 2019
March 28, 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.
Pacific National Tocumwal freight
January 20, 2019
Pacific National (formerly Patrick PortLink) operate a container service between Appleton Dock in Melbourne and Tocumwal, loading also being attached / removed at Mooroopna (Shepparton).
Second Merri Creek bridge at Clifton Hill
January 20, 2019
Clifton Hill is the junction of the Epping and Hurstbridge lines in inner Melbourne, with a new bridge being built in 2008 across Merri Creek to duplicate the Hurstbridge line tracks.
Mernda Rail
January 20, 2019
In August 2018 the 8 km long railway extension from South Morang to Mernda was opened to passengers, with new stations at Mernda, Hawkstowe and Middle Gorge.
Melbourne suburban Digital Train Radio System
January 20, 2019
The GSM-R based Digital Train Radio System (DTRS) replaced the analogue Urban Train Radio System (UTRS) used for communication on the Melbourne suburban rail network. Approximately 100 base stations make up the system with more than 70 new towered added to cover the network. Work stated in September 2009 and was completed in 2011, with trials of the on train equipment starting in 2012.
Axle counter overlays at Melbourne level crossings
November 27, 2018
Following issues with VLocity trains being detected by track circuits in suburban Melbourne, in 2016 axle counters have been installed at level crossings to ensure they are reliably activated.
Manildra sugar train
November 20, 2018
Manildra Group moves sugar by rail from their plant in Grafton in NSW to their sidings at North Dynon in Melbourne. NGGF hopper wagons are used, which are attached to Pacific National intermodal or steel services.
Blackburn Road level crossing removal project
November 04, 2018
The railway line at Blackburn will be sunk beneath Blackburn Road, but the existing station is not being rebuilt.
Newport Workshops: Steamrail and 707 Operations
October 27, 2018
Steamrail Victoria and 707 Operations have a large rolling stock fleet based at the West Block of Newport Workshops in Melbourne
IEV100 track evaluation vehicle
October 21, 2018
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.
Stony Point line
August 26, 2018
The Stony Point line is an orphan on the Melbourne suburban network, being an isolated shuttle service without electrification. A class diesel locomotives hauling MTH carriages were the usual consist for a decade, until replaced by Sprinter railcars in 2008. Trains running the service run empty cars between Frankston and Southern Cross for maintenance
Puffing Billy
August 11, 2018
Photos of the popular narrow gauge heritage railway in the Dandenong Ranges near Melbourne
Melbourne broad gauge freight
July 07, 2018
Miscellaneous broad gauge freight traffic through Melbourne - there isn't much these days...
Stored trams at Newport Workshops
May 30, 2018
With W class trams heritage listed and unable to be scrapped or exported to tram museums overseas, Newport Workshops has become a dumping ground while they wait a final home.
New X'Trapolis EMUs
April 11, 2018
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.
Heatherdale level crossing removal project
March 24, 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
Night Network Melbourne
February 05, 2018
'Night Network' is the brand name for all night trains and trams across Melbourne on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as a revamped Nightrider bus service.
Transdev Melbourne leased buses
December 04, 2017
In mid September 2017 Transport Safety Victoria and VicRoads completed an audit of the Transdev Melbourne fleet of buses. Initially 33 buses at two depots were removed from service due to defects, with 100+ buses eventually being taken off the road once all depots had been visited. Buses from Dysons Group and Sita Buslines were 'wet leased' to fill the gaps, with Transdev drivers directing drivers on the 'foreign' routes. 'Dry leasing' soon followed, with Transdev drivers in charge of the foreign buses, with Kastoria and Mitchell Transit also supplying vehicles.
Steamrail - Rail and Sail to Geelong, October 2017
October 22, 2017
K153 led 7 carriages to Geelong and back on 22 October 2017, with passenger having the option to travel one way to/from by boat.
Pacific National Kensington grain
September 16, 2017
The flour mill Kensington at Kensington is one of the last to be rail served in Victoria, grain wagons are taken there on a regular basis, requiring a convoluted route through the suburban and freight lines, with a reversal in Melbourne Yard. Until November 2017 this service was operated by Pacific National.
Yarra Valley Tourist Railway
September 03, 2017
The Yarra Valley Tourist Railway operates out of Healesville, and are progressivly restoring the railway line back to Yarra Glen, Coldstream and Lilydale.
Waurn Ponds cement train
August 27, 2017
Since the 2000s the main cement traffic in Victoria is from the Blue Circle Southern works at Waurn Ponds, outside Geelong. The major destination of the traffic was Lyndhurst in the south-east, which last saw a train in 2009, and Mildura and Somerton which saw the cement traffic end in December 2015.
X'Trapolis transfer, August 2017
August 18, 2017
On 18 August 2017 brand new X'Trapolis train 239M-1420T-240M-237M-1419T-238M was transferred from the Alstom factory at Ballarat North to Epping Workshops, behind SSR T classes T385 & T386. The two locomotives and power van BVDY52 arrived at Ballarat from Bendigo the day before, travelling via Sunshine, Newport and North Geelong.
X'Trapolis transfer, July 2017
July 20, 2017
On 20 July 2017 brand new X'Trapolis train 234M-1417T-233M+236M-1418T-235M was transferred from the Alstom factory at Ballarat North to Epping Workshops, behind T373 and T376 with generator wagon CFSX125G
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Crumbling station building at Armadale
July 01, 2017
A look at the crumbling citybound station kiosk at Armadale station on the Frankston/Dandenong lines, where everything is falling apart and ready to fall down onto the platform below.
Steamrail - Steam Spectacular 2017
June 24, 2017
On 25 June 2017 Steamrail ran a triple headed steam special from Melbourne to Ballarat with R761, A2 986 and D3 639, returning via Geelong, with a parallel run between Geelong and Little River.
Steamrail - Northern Weekender, 2017
June 12, 2017
Over the June long weekend Steamrail Victoria ran their 'Northern Weekender' tour to Swan Hill and Echuca, with R711, K190, T365 and T364
R707 Seymour transfer, June 2017
June 08, 2017
On June 08, 2017 steam locomotive R707 headed light engine from Newport to Seymour via Southern Cross Station, on loan from 707 Operations to run an upcoming Seymour Railway Heritage Centre tour.
Accident damaged SW6.866, May 2017
May 24, 2017
On 24 May 2017 a truck collided with tram SW6.866 at the corner of Flinders and Spencer Street.
Steamrail - Rail and Sail to Geelong, May 2017
May 21, 2017
K190 led 7 carriages to Geelong and back on 21 May 2017, with passenger having the option to travel one way to/from by boat.
Melbourne Visitor Shuttle
May 03, 2017
The Melbourne Visitor Shuttle was a tourist-oriented bus service operated by Driver Bus Lines on behalf of the City of Melbourne from March 2006 until August 2017. Originally free and known as the 'Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle', it was renamed 'Melbourne Visitor Shuttle' in 2013, with fares introduced in October 2013
Bayside Rail Project
March 22, 2017
In May 2013 Premier Denis Napthine announced the $100 million 'Bayside Rail Project' to upgrade the Frankston railway line, and bring X'Trapolis trains to the route. Two token services run by X'Trapolis trains being introduced just before the 2014 State Election, with the cost of the project blowing out to $115 million.
V/Line hired locomotives
March 13, 2017
Occasionally V/Line has motive power shortages or failures, and need to hire locomotives from other operators for use on their own trains. In the photos here it is Freight Australia / Pacific National as the hirer
V/Line via the Brooklyn goods lines
January 06, 2017
On 24 October 2007, the normal route for trains through Yarraville was closed due to a fatality. The down Geelong train I was travelling on was diverted via the freight lines, through the Bunbury Street tunnel, Tottenham Yard, Brooklyn, and the back of Newport.
X'Trapolis transfer, December 2016
December 01, 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
Burke Road level crossing removal project
July 04, 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 - Tocumwal, March 2016
March 19, 2016
On 19 March 2016 T364 lead a short train from Melbourne to Tocumwal and return.
Kensington Racecourse Essendon resignalling
March 19, 2016
In 2013-14 new signalling was installed on the Craigieburn and Flemington Racecourse lines, between Kensington and Essendon stations.
Steamrail - Christmas charters 2015
December 05, 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 parting along the way
Evacuating a failed V/Line train at Albion, November 2015
November 26, 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
Steamrail - Y112 transfer, November 2015
November 07, 2015
On November 07, 2015 Y112 was transferred from Ballarat East to Newport Workshops for repairs, traveling via North Geelong and the new Regional Rail Link tracks.
NSW Rail Transport Museum - Melbourne Cup Aurora 2015
November 03, 2015
CFCLA locomotives FL220 and HL203 lead a 13 carriage train of ex-Southern Aurora carriages from NSW to Melbourne on November 3, 2015.
PTV Night Network launch
October 30, 2015
On October 30, 2015 the politicians visited Federation Square to launch PTV's new 'Night Network' - all night trains and trams, as well as a rejigged Nightrider bus service.
DERMPAV - National Party charter to Colac, October 2015
October 28, 2015
On 28 October 2015 RM58 was the first heritage train traverse the Regional Rail Link tracks - chartered from DERMPAV by National Party candidate for Polwarth David O'Brien for a journey from Melbourne to Colac and return.
Hitachi transfer, September 2015
October 10, 2015
After being withdrawn from service and stored at Macaulay, the trio of Hitachi trains have been reactivated and transferred to Newport Workshops awaiting their final fate
Napier Street railway 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.
Steamrail - Members special to Castlemaine, September 2015
September 26, 2015
On September 26, 2015 Steamrail Victoria ran a members special from Newport Workshops to Maldon and return, via Castlemaine and Southern Cross. R711 and K153 ran the train, with K153 being left at Maldon for use over the summer period at the Victorian Goldfields Railway.
Melbourne 2015 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.
Steamrail - Shepparton, September 2015
September 05, 2015
On 5 September 2015 R761 led 702BK, 500AK, 14BRS, 2BS, 9BRS, 11AS and PCP292 on a return trip from Melbourne to Shepparton.
Steamrail - Seymour, August 2015
August 22, 2015
On August 22, 2015 Steamrail ran a charter from Southern Cross Station to Seymour and return for the Diamond Valley Railway, featuring D3 639 on a four carriage consist.