Sunbury line

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sunbury
Railways in Melbourne
Diggers Rest station on the Sunbury line.
Platforms at Diggers Rest station on the Sunbury line.
Overview
Service typeCommuter rail
SystemMelbourne railway network
StatusOperational
LocaleMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
Predecessor
  • Sunbury (1859–1861)
  • Woodend (1861–1862)
  • Bendigo (1862–2012)
  • St Albans ^ (1921–2002)
  • Sydenham ^ (2002–2012)
^ are electric services
First service10 February 1859; 165 years ago (1859-02-10)
Current operator(s)Metro Trains
Former operator(s)
Route
TerminiFlinders Street
Sunbury
Stops18 (including City Loop stations)
Distance travelled40.3 km (25.0 mi)
Average journey time49 minutes (not via City Loop)
Service frequency
  • 5–20 minutes weekdays peak
  • 20 minutes weekdays off-peak
  • 20 minutes weekend daytime
  • 30 minutes nights
  • 60 minutes early weekend mornings
Line(s) usedDeniliquin
Technical
Rolling stockComeng, Siemens, HCMT
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Electrification1500 V DC overhead
Track owner(s)VicTrack

The Sunbury line is a commuter railway line in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.[1] Operated by Metro Trains Melbourne, it is the city's fifth longest metropolitan railway line at 40.3 kilometres (25.0 mi). The line runs from Flinders Street station in central Melbourne to Sunbury station in the north, serving 18 stations via North Melbourne, Sunshine, St Albans, and Watergardens.[2] The line operates for approximately 19 hours a day (from approximately 5:00 am to around 12:00 am) with 24 hour service available on Friday and Saturday nights. During peak hour, headways of up to 5 minutes are operated with services every 20–30 minutes during off-peak hours.[3] Trains on the Sunbury line run with a two three-car formations of Comeng or Siemens Nexas trainsets.[4]

The Victorian Railways began services in February 1859 on the line originally built to serve the town of Bendigo by the Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company.[5] The line was progressively electrified overtime, with electrification to St Albans in 1921, Sydenham in 2002, and to Sunbury in 2012.[6][7][8]

Since the 2000s, due to the heavily utilised infrastructure of the Sunbury line, improvements and upgrades have been made. Works have included replacing sleepers, upgrading signalling technology, two line extension projects, the construction of new stations, the removal of level crossings, the introduction of new rolling stock, and station accessibility upgrades.[9][10]

History[edit]

19th century[edit]

An old station with wooden railway building
Sunbury station was opened in February 1859 as part of the rail line to Bendigo.

The Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company started to build a rail line to Bendigo before operations were taken over by the Department of Railways then the Victorian Railways. The line had been extended as far as Sunbury by February 1859.[5] The line was duplicated between Footscray and Sunbury in early July 1859.[5]

20th century[edit]

Electrification of the line to St Albans was completed in October 1921, although electrification has already occurred to North Melbourne in May 1919 as part of the Essendon line electrification, and to Footscray in August 1920 as part of the Williamstown line electrification.[6] Electrification shaved 10 minutes off the trip from St Albans to the city.[6]

North Melbourne to South Kensington was quadruplicated in 1924, and South Kensington to Footscray in November 1976.[11] Automatic block signalling was provided between South Kensington and Footscray (and Yarraville on the Williamstown line) in August 1927, from Footscray to West Footscray in October 1927, North Melbourne to South Kensington in June 1928, Sunshine to Albion in July 1929, West Footscray to Sunshine in October 1929, and Albion to St Albans in February 1930, thus resulting in the entire electrified line being provided with this signalling.[11]

21st century[edit]

Sydenham extension[edit]

On 27 January 2002, electrification of the St Albans line was extended along the regional V/Line tracks to Sydenham.[7] The Sydenham electrification project delivered projects including the closure of the original Sydenham station. A new station located 600m south of the old Sydenham station was constructed and called Watergardens after the nearby Watergardens Shopping Centre. Extension of electrification to Watergardens. There was an extension of the automatic block signalling, reaching up to Watergardens, and a new station was constructed at Keilor Plains.

Sunbury extension[edit]

A train platform
Diggers Rest station was opened as part of the extension.

Proposals for an extension of electrified metropolitan services Sunbury have dated as far back as the 1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan.[12] $270 million was set aside to complete electrification works. Some Sunbury residents were unfriendly to the idea of electrifying their service. Those who disapproved of the works had concerns including a less comfortable seat and journey, the removal of toilet facilities, the presence of a conductor, and the increase in the number of people using the service.[13] In addition to these issues, there was concern over an increase of congestion at level crossings along the route due to the increase in the number of services.[13] Bendigo residents also raised concern as the new services would make for a slightly slower journey for V/Line passengers travelling further along the line. Ian Dobbs, head of Public Transport Victoria explained the issue, saying that "there's a slight slow-down of services on that particular corridor with this timetable, because we're putting more metro services in the mix." Despite these concerns, the project went ahead, with the works package including[8] an Extension of electrification to Sunbury, extension of the automatic block signalling to Sunbury and upgrades to Sunbury and Diggers Rest stations.

On 18 November 2012, the electrification of the line to Sunbury became operational and as a result, the Sydenham line was renamed the Sunbury line. Metro Trains Melbourne's electrified service now continues from Watergardens station, first to Diggers Rest, and then to its new terminus at Sunbury station. Completion of the electrification gives Sunbury and Diggers Rest stations an enhanced service of 489 trains per week, which is a 64% increase on the 298 trains per week previously operated by V/Line.[14][15]

Sunbury Line Upgrade[edit]

Announced in conjunction with the Metro Tunnel project, the Sunbury line would receive a $2.1 billion upgrade under the Sunbury Line Upgrade project.[10] The project was delivered by the Rail Projects Victoria, and included[16] the construction of 5 new electrical substations and 10 upgraded ones, platform extensions at 8 stations, train stabling upgrades at Sunbury, Calder Park, and Watergardens depots, the introduction of new raised boarding platforms at 8 stations, upgrades to the conventional signalling system, the introduction of high capacity signalling and the removal of the level crossing at Gap Road, Sunbury (other remaining level crossings will be removed under the Level Crossing Removal Project)

Construction was coordinated on the level crossing removals and other upgrade works so both projects would be delivered more efficiently, with fewer disruptions to passengers while work was carried out. Works on the duplication began in August 2019, with major construction wrapping up in 2023.[17] The level crossing removal at Gap Road in Sunbury was removed in late September 2022.[18] New substations, upgraded stations, other more minor projects were also completed during August and September 2022.[19] In July 2023, the project was completed after a short shutdown of the rail corridor to complete the final elements.[20]

Future[edit]

Metro Tunnel[edit]

A map showing the route of the Melbourne Metro tunnel heading through the CBD
The map of the Metro Tunnel route through the Melbourne central business district.

The 2012 Network Development Plan identified the need for a north–south tunnel connecting the Sunbury line to the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines.[21] In 2017, the Metro Tunnel began construction, involving the construction of five new underground stations, twin 9-kilometre (5.6 mi) tunnels, and other associated infrastructure improvements. Leaving the existing Sunbury line alignment before South Kensington station, new stations will be built at Arden, Parkville, State Library (with connections to Melbourne Central), Town Hall (with connections to Flinders Street station), and Anzac, before continuing onto the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines. These works will be completed by 2025, and upon completion, will create a singular rail line from Sunbury and Melbourne Airport (from 2029) to Cranbourne and Pakenham.[9]

Level crossing removals[edit]

A lowered train station platform
Ginifer station was rebuilt during the removal of the Furlong Road level crossing.

The Level Crossing Removal Project has announced the removal of all 8 remaining level crossings on the Sunbury line, to be completed in stages from 2016 to 2026. In 2016, 2 level crossings were removed at Furlong Road and Main Road, St Albans, through the rail under method.[22] These two removals also included a rebuilt St Albans and Ginifer stations.[23] Another crossing was removed by raising the road above the rail line at Melton Highway, Sydenham in January 2018.[24] In September 2022, another single crossing was removed at Gap Road in Sunbury by lowering the road underneath the rail line.[25] The final 4 crossings to be removed will occur in 2025 and 2026. Calder Park Drive will be removed by raising the road over the crossing in 2025, with the nearby Holden Road being closed off.[26][27] Old Calder Highway and Watsons Road will be the final two crossings to be removed, made possible by raising the road over the rail line by 2026.[28]

Network and operations[edit]

Services[edit]

Services on the Sunbury line operates from approximately 5:00 am to around 12:00 daily.[1] In general, during peak hours, train frequency is 5–20 minutes in the AM peak on the Sunbury line while during non-peak hours the frequency is reduced to 20–30 minutes throughout the entire route.[3] On Friday nights and weekends, services run 24 hours a day, with 60 minute frequencies available outside of normal operating hours.[29]

Train services on the Sunbury line are also subjected to maintenance and renewal works, usually on selected Fridays and Saturdays. Shuttle bus services are provided throughout the duration of works for affected commuters.[30]

Stopping patterns[edit]

Legend — Station status

  • Premium Station – Station staffed from first to last train
  • Host Station – Usually staffed during morning peak, however this can vary for different stations on the network.

Legend — Stopping patterns
Some services do not operate via the City Loop

  • ● – All trains stop
  • ◐ – Some services do not stop
  • | – Trains pass and do not stop
Sunbury Services[31]
Station Zone Local Ltd Express Watergardens
Flagstaff 1
Melbourne Central
Parliament
Flinders Street
Southern Cross
North Melbourne
Footscray
Middle Footscray |
West Footscray |
Tottenham |
Sunshine 1/2
Albion
Ginifer 2
St Albans
Keilor Plains
Watergardens
Diggers Rest
Sunbury

Operators[edit]

The Sunbury line has had a total of 7 operators since its opening in 1859. The majority of operations throughout its history have been government run: from its first service in 1859 until the 1999 privatisation of Melbourne's rail network, four different government operators have run the line.[32] These operators, Victorian Railways, the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the Public Transport Corporation, and Bayside Trains have a combined operational length of 141 years.

Bayside Trains was privatised in August 1999 and later rebranded M>Train. In 2002, M>Train was placed into receivership and the state government regained ownership of the line, with KPMG appointed as receivers to operate M>Train on behalf of the state government.[33][34][35] Two years later, rival train operator Connex Melbourne took over the M>Train operations including the Sunbury line. Metro Trains Melbourne, the current private operator, then took over the operations in 2009. The private operators have had a combined operational period of 23 years.[36]

Past and present operators of the Sunbury line:
Operator Assumed operations Ceased operations Length of operations
Victorian Railways 1859 1983 124 years
Metropolitan Transit Authority 1983 1989 6 years
Public Transport Corporation 1989 1998 9 years
Bayside Trains (government operator) 1998 2000 2 years
M>Train 2000 2004 4 years
Connex Melbourne 2004 2009 5 years
Metro Trains Melbourne 2009 incumbent 14 years (ongoing)

Route[edit]

Map
Interactive map of the Sunbury line in north-western Melbourne.

The Sunbury line forms a relatively linear route from the Melbourne central business district to its terminus in Sunbury. The route is 40.3 kilometres (25.0 mi) long and is fully doubled tracked from Flinders Street to its termnius. The only underground section of the Sunbury line is in the City Loop, where the service stops at 3 underground stations.[37] Exiting the city, the Sunbury line traverses mainly flat country, except on the west bank of the Maribyrnong River where it requires some moderately heavy earthworks. The line is paralleled by a double track goods line and the interstate standard gauge line, the latter being dual gauge with the goods line to West Footscray. The goods line joins the Sunbury line at Sunshine, whilst the standard gauge line to Sydney continues to run alongside the suburban line to Albion, where it and a goods line head off in a north-easterly direction. Some sections of the line has been elevated or lowered into a cutting to eliminate level crossings.[38]

The line follows the same alignment as multiple lines with the Sunbury line splitting off at North Melbourne. The Sunbury line continues on its western (then northern) alignment, whereas the other lines continue onto a northern, western, or south-western alignment.[39] Most of the rail line goes through built-up suburbs and some industrial areas before becoming more rural before the end of the line.[39]

Stations[edit]

The line serves 18 stations across 40.3 kilometres (25.0 mi) of track. The stations are a mix of elevated, lowered, underground, and ground level designs. Underground stations are present only in the City Loop, with the majority of elevated and lowered stations being constructed as part of level crossing removals.[40] From 2025, services will cease to stop at Flinders Street, Southern Cross, Flagstaff, Melbourne Central, Parliament, and North Melbourne stations due to the opening of the Metro Tunnel.

Station Accessibility Opened Terrain Train connections Other connections
Flinders Street Yes—step free access 1854[41] Lowered Trams Buses
Southern Cross 1859[41] Ground level Trams Buses Coaches SkyBus
Parliament 1983[41] Underground Trams
Melbourne Central 1981[41] Trams Buses
Flagstaff 1985[41] Trams
North Melbourne 1859[41] Ground level Buses
Footscray Trams Buses
Middle Footscray No—steep ramp 1906[41] Buses
West Footscray Yes—step free access 1888[41]
Tottenham No—steep ramp 1891[41]
Sunshine Yes—step free access 1885[41]
4 connections
Buses
Albion No—steep ramp 1860[41]
Ginifer Yes—step free access 1982[41] Below ground
St Albans 1887[41]
Keilor Plains 2002[41] Ground level
Watergardens 1859[41]
2 connections
Diggers Rest
Sunbury
2 connections
Buses Coaches
Station histories
Station Opened[42] Closed[42] Age Notes[42][9]
Flagstaff 27 May 1985 38 years
  • From 2025, services will cease to stop due to the opening of the Metro Tunnel
Melbourne Central 26 January 1981 43 years
  • From 2025, services will cease to stop due to the opening of the Metro Tunnel
  • Formerly Museum
Parliament 22 January 1983 41 years
  • From 2025, services will cease to stop due to the opening of the Metro Tunnel
Flinders Street 12 September 1854 169 years
  • From 2025, services will cease to stop due to the opening of the Metro Tunnel
  • Formerly Melbourne Terminus
Southern Cross 17 January 1859 165 years
  • From 2025, services will cease to stop due to the opening of the Metro Tunnel
  • Formerly Batman's Hill
  • Formerly Spencer Street
North Melbourne 6 October 1859 164 years
  • From 2025, services will cease to stop due to the opening of the Metro Tunnel
South Kensington 11 March 1891 133 years
  • Not a stop since 2013
Saltwater River 1 October 1859 c. 1867 Approx. 7 years
Footscray 24 September 1900 123 years
Middle Footscray 10 February 1859 24 September 1900 41 years
  • 1st site
  • Formerly Footscray (Main line)
10 December 1906 2 July 1927 20 years
  • 2nd site
3 July 1927 96 years
  • 3rd site
West Footscray 1 October 1888 135 years
  • Formerly Footscray West
Tottenham 2 March 1891 133 years
White City 10 December 1927 4 October 1981 53 years
Maidstone 2 March 1861 1 April 1865 4 years
Sunshine 7 September 1885 138 years
  • Formerly Braybrook Junction
Albion 5 January 1860 1 January 1861 11 months
  • 1st site
  • Was originally Albion and Darlington
24 March 1891 24 November 1919 28 years
  • 1st site
  • Reopened as Albion
24 November 1919 104 years
  • 2nd site
Ginifer 31 October 1982 41 years
St Albans 1 February 1887 22 November 1959 72 years
  • 1st site
22 November 1959 64 years
  • 2nd site
Keilor Plains 11 September 2002 21 years
Watergardens 1 March 1859 11 September 2002 143 years
  • Was originally Keilor Road
  • Later Sydenham
11 September 2002 21 years
  • Reopened as Watergardens
Calder Park Sidings 15 December 2014 9 years
Holden 5 January 1860 1 January 1861 11 months
Diggers Rest 2 October 1859 164 years
Sunbury 10 February 1859 165 years
Rupertswood 1879 ?
  • Private platform for William John Clarke
Between 1909 and 1913 3 November 1941 28–32 years
7 February 1962 2004 42 years

Planned stations[edit]

Station Accessibility Expected opening Terrain Planned train connections Other planned connections Notes
Arden Yes—step free access 2025[9] Underground
2 connections
Opening as part of the Metro tunnel project in 2025[9]
Parkville Trams
State Library Trains Trams Buses
Town Hall Trains Trams Buses Trains
Anzac Trams

Infrastructure[edit]

Rolling stock[edit]

A modern train at a station that is falling apart
A Siemens Nexas train at Tottenham station.

The Sunbury line uses two different types of electric multiple unit (EMU) trains that are operated in a split six-car configuration, with three doors per side on each carriage. The primary rolling stock featured on the line is the Comeng EMUs, built by Commonwealth Engineering between 1981 and 1988.[43] These train sets are the oldest on the Melbourne rail network and their operation on the line will be replaced by the High Capacity Metro Trains in 2025.[44] The second type of rolling stock is the Siemens Nexas EMUs which are also widely featured on the line, originally built between 2002 and 2005 these train sets feature more modern technology than the Comeng trains.[45]

Alongside the passenger trains, Sunbury line tracks and equipment are maintained by a fleet of engineering trains. The four types of engineering trains are: the shunting train; designed for moving trains along non-electrified corridors and for transporting other maintenance locomotives, for track evaluation; designed for evaluating track and its condition, the overhead inspection train; designed for overhead wiring inspection, and the infrastructure evaluation carriage designed for general infrastructure evaluation.[46] Most of these trains are repurposed locomotives previously used by V/Line, Metro Trains, and the Southern Shorthaul Railroad.[46]

Planned rolling stock[edit]

A modern train passing through a station
High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMT) will be operate exclusively on the line from 2025.

Upon the opening of the Metro Tunnel in 2025, the Sunbury line will exclusively use a fleet of electric multiple unit (EMU) High Capacity Metro Trains operating in a seven-car configuration, with three doors per side on each carriage and can accommodate of up to 1,380 passengers in each train-set. Currently in operation on the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines, the opening of the Metro Tunnel will also see the introduction of the trains on the Sunbury line. From 2029, HCMTs will also be used on the Airport line. Once fully delivered, the rolling stock will consist of 70 trains.[47] The trains are built in Changchun, China, with final assembly occurring in Newport, Melbourne, by Evolution Rail, a consortium composed of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles, Downer Rail and Plenary Group.[48] As of October 2023, 2 HCMT services run per day on the Sunbury Line, with more to be gradually introduced in the coming years.

Accessibility[edit]

A modern, lowered train station
St Albans station features wheelchair accessible ramps and elevators.

In compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act of 1992, all stations that are new-built or rebuilt are fully accessible and comply with these guidelines.[49] Well over half of the stations on the corridor are fully accessible, however, there are some stations that haven't been upgraded to meet these guidelines.[50] These stations do feature ramps, however, they have a gradient greater than 1 in 14.[50] Stations that are fully accessible feature ramps that have a gradient less than 1 in 14, have at-grade paths, or feature lifts.[50] These stations typically also feature tactile boarding indicators, independent boarding ramps, wheelchair accessible myki barriers, hearing loops, and widened paths.[50][51]

Projects improving station accessibility have included the Level Crossing Removal Project, which involves station rebuilds and upgrades, and individual station upgrade projects.[52][53] These works have made significant strides in improving network accessibility, with more than 83% of Craigieburn line stations classed as fully accessible. Future station upgrade projects will continue to increase the number of fully accessible stations overtime.

Signalling[edit]

The Sunbury line uses three position signalling which is widely used across the Melbourne train network.[54] Three position signalling was first introduced in 1929, with the final section of the line converted to the new type of signalling in 2005.[55][56] The Sunbury lines signalling system will be upgraded as part of the Sunbury Line Upgrade in 2023.[10]

References[edit]

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External links[edit]