Cranbourne railway line

The Cranbourne line is a commuter rail service operated by Metro Trains Melbourne in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It operates along the inner section of the former South Gippsland line. The service is part of the Public Transport Victoria metropolitan train network.

History

19th Century

Prior to the opening of the Cranbourne line settlers made their way across south-eastern regional victoria forming many new townships along the way. As a result, a new train line was being built to serve these new townships. The line originally ran to Miraboo North in 1888, the line was built in stages and reached Leongatha by 1891.

20th Century

South Gippsland Line Era

Through out the late 19th and 20th century many branches opened across the line, reaching to regional towns such as Port Albert and Toora. Many of these branch lines did hower cease operation throughout the mid to late 20th century. On the 6th of June 1981 passenger services stopped operating to Yarram beyond Dandenong. In 1984 the line re-opened and operated to Leongatha till its second closure on the 24th of June 1993.

Opening of the Modern Cranbourne line

In November 1993, Train Order Working replaced Electric Staff safeworking to Cranbourne and on 24 March 1995, the electrification and power signalling on the Cranbourne line was commissioned. Funded as part of the Federal Government "Building Better Cities" program, the $27 million project included an upgraded Dandenong station and a new Merinda Park station at Cranbourne North (the line had previously been electrified for a short distance to the Commonwealth Engineering siding). This resulted in the re opening of a section of the South Gippsland line to passengers which became known as the Cranbourne Line. The last regular train running through and beyond Cranbourne was on the 16th January 1998, when the AGM Siding (near Nyora) to Spotswood station sand train ceased operation.

21st Century

Cranbourne Stabling Yards

In 2008 a new stabling was constructed at Cranbourne with a capacity of 6 trains in order to increase capacity without duplicating the line. In addition to the stabling yards the $37 million project also brough a major upgrade to Cranbourne station and extended the second platform.

Lynbrook Station Opening

Lynbrok station opened on the 12th of April 2012 to serve the suburb of Lynbrook. Lynbrook is currently the newest on the line and is currently the 6th newest station on the network.

Level Crossing Removal Project

''Main Article Level Crossing Removal Project''

The level crossing removal project a government based project started by sitting premier Daniel Andrews in 2015, with the purpose of removing some of the most dangerous level crossings across the Melbourne metropolitan network. In 2017 it was announced that the LXRA would remove the remaining crossings in between Caulfield and Dandenong. In 2018 construction was complete with 3 sections of viaducts commonly known as skyrail and new stations at Carnegie, Murrumbeena, Hughsdale, Clayton and Noble Park. In 2020 the government had announced that Cranbourne line would under go am upgrade. This upgrade included the removal of all existing level crossings on the line, currently the Cranbourne line is expected to become the first line on the network to be level crossing free. As of right now 13 of the 15 crossings on the Cranbourne line have been removed with the remaining two expected to be removed by 2025.

Cranbourne Line Duplication

The Cranbourne line upgrade in 2020 planned to duplicate the final single track section (8km of single track) on the line between Dandenong and Cranbourne. Works were carried during 2021 and early 2022. The line was fully duplicated in February 2022 with the project being complete a year ahead of schedule.

Network and Operations

Services

Between 31 January 2021 and 12 February 2022, all Cranbourne line services ran express between South Yarra and Caulfield. Since 13 February 2022, some off-peak daytime Cranbourne line services (and Pakenham line services) stop again at Malvern station, running express between South Yarra and Malvern stations.

On weekdays, Cranbourne line services operate as shuttles to and from Dandenong between 22:00 and 06:00, connecting with a Pakenham line train. During the peak, some services originate and terminate at Westall or Dandenong. During the morning peak, these short services may also not stop at South Yarra outbound. On weekends, Cranbourne line services operate as shuttles to and from Dandenong between 20:15 and 06:45 (until 09:30 on Sundays), connecting with a Pakenham line train.

All services run anticlockwise through the City Loop. In 2025, Cranbourne line services will cease to stop at South Yarra, Richmond, and the City Loop when trains are rerouted through the Metro Tunnel upon opening.

The only freight traffic was cement traffic from Waurn Ponds near Geelong to Lyndhurst, this ended in 2009 after Pacific National increased the costs charged to Blue Circle Southern. In September 2019, Qube Holdings commenced operating a daily service on a short section of the line hauling containerised cement to the Kimberly-Clark siding at Dandenong South.

Route

The Cranbourne line forms a relatively linear route from the Melbourne CBD to its terminus in Cranbourne. The route is ~45km long and is predominantly doubled tracked, however between Flinders Street station and Richmond, the track is widened to 12 tracks, narrowing to 6 tracks between Richmond and South Yarra before again narrowing to 4 tracks between South Yarra and Caulfield. After Caulfield station, the track again narrows to 2 tracks, which is remain for the rest of the route. The only underground section of the Cranbourne line is in the City Loop, where the service stops at 3 underground stations and operates in a counter clockwise direction. Exiting the city, the Cranbourne line traverses mainly flat country with few curves and fairly minimal earthworks for most of the line. However, between South Yarra and Malvern, the rail corridor has been lowered into a cutting to eliminate level crossings, and between Malvern and Caulfield, the corridor it has been raised on an embankment for the same reason. After Caulfield, the line formerly had numerous level crossings, however, all have now been abolished between Caulfield and Dandenong as part of an elevated rail project, as well as some older bridges over and under roads. Remaining level crossings between Dandenong and Cranbourne stations will be removed by 2025 under.

The line follows the same alignment as the Pakenham line along the Gippsland line with the two services splitting onto different routes at Dandenong. The Cranbourne line turns South and branches on to the South Gippsland line while the Pakenham line continues along the Gippsland line. Most of the rail line goes through built-up suburbs and some industrial areas, but after Dandenong, the line gets into more open countryside and open fields. This outer portion of the line is one of Melbourne's main growth corridors, which is rapidly replacing farmland with housing and commercial developments adding additional passengers to the line each year.

Stations

The line serves 23 stations across 44 km (27.3mi) 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.

Stopping Patterns

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
* ▲ – Only inbound trains stop (trains operate counter-clockwise through the city loop all day)
* , – Trains pass and do not stop

Proposed Stations

In addition to the 23 stations the line serves also will serve 5 new stations after the metro tunnel project is complete in 2025 and 2 more after the line is extended to Clyde, however this also means the line would no longer servce, the current South Yarra-City section.

Infrastructure

Rollingstock

''Main Article High Capacity Metro Train''

The Cranbourne line currently uses electric multiple unit (EMU) 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. Shared with the Pakenham line, the rolling stock will consist of 70 High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMT), once fully delivered. They 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.

A number of semi-automated features are included in the HCMT design, including the capacity for low-speed shunting by remote control and for trains to be started without the presence of a driver. The trains will also automatically estimate the passenger load, and the reading can be accessed remotely. Furthermore, the HCMTs will include "stopping aids" to maximize accuracy of the position of train's arrival at platforms. The trains are powered by a 1500 V Overhead Catenary System, the same as all other electrical systems on Melbournes railway network. Unlike other Melbourne trains, the HCMTs feature electronic maps and passenger information screens to update passengers on live information about general infrastructure evaluation. Most of these trains are repurposed locomotives previously used by V/Line, Metro Trains, and the Southern Shorthaul Railroad.

Signalling

Initially, the Cranbourne line used a fixed block three position signalling system designed for lower frequencies and less services. However, the ageing system had undermined the rail reliability on and frequencies on the line, requiring the Cranbourne, Pakenham, and Sunbury lines to upgrade their signalling system. Since 2021, the Cranbourne, Pakenham, and Sunbury lines have been rolling out high-capacity signalling (HCS) allowing trains to safely run closer together, meaning they can travel more frequently. The system is being delivered by CPB Contractors and Bombardier Transportation will deliver the $1 billion Rail Systems Alliance, which includes the roll-out of high capacity signalling and communications system on the rail network. The companies will install high-capacity signalling (HCS) system on 55 km of lines to increase frequency. The line will be equipped with Bombardier’s CityFlo 650 communications-based train control system, which will enable operation at 2-3 minute headways.

The upgrading works were completed in phases from 2021. With the upgraded signalling system, trains are now able to run closer to each other. The new system was tested on the Mernda line and a section of the Cranbourne line before being fully implemented on the lines.

Future

Metro Tunnel

''Main Article Metro Tunnel''

In 2012 the Network Development Plan Metropolitan Rail proposed a new north-south tunnel that would help reduce congestion in the city loop. The new tunnel will connect the Sunbury line in Melbourne's north-west and the Pakenham & Cranbourne lines in Melbourne's south-east. In 2019 construction on the tunnel began and is expected to be complete by 2025. The tunnel will feature 5 new stations at Arden, Parkville, State Library, Town Hall and Anzac.

Melbourne Airport Rail Link

''Main Article Melbourne Airport rail link''

The Melbourne Airport Rail link will split off from the Sunbury line at Sunshine and will operate along a new 27km line to Melbourne Airport. The lines construction will include upgrading Sunshine station to allow construction of additional platforms. The line will feature two new stations at Keilor East and Melbourne Airport railway station. Trains on this line will operate through the Metro Tunnel before heading towards Pakenham or Cranbourne. Construction started in 2022 and is expected to be completed by 2029.

Clyde Extension

In 2018 opposition leader Matthew Guy promises that he would extend the Cranbourne line to Clyde if he wins the 2018 Victorian state election. In 2019 the extension was brought back up by Big Build Victoria. To prepare for the planned extension the line recieved a major upgrade from 2020 to 2022 that duplicated the single track sections as well a removing most level crossings in between Dandenong and Cranbourne. The proposed line will operate via the old South Gippsland line corridoor and will serve two new stations at Cranbourne East and Clyde.

Incidents

On 3 November 2012, a truck travelling along Abbotts Road, in Dandenong South, was hit by a Cranbourne-bound train at about 11:40am. The accident caused the train to jack-knife, causing severe damage to the train, as well as the track and overhead infrastructure. One passenger died at the scene of the accident, having suffered a heart attack, while at least 13 others, including the train driver, were injured.

See Also

* Dandenong railway line triplication
* Metro Tunnel
* Pakenham railway line
* Level Crossing Removal Project

External Links

Cranbourne line timetable

Official line map

Network map

Statistics and detailed schematic map
at th
VicSig
enthusiast website

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cranbourne Railway Line
Railway lines in Melbourne
Railway lines opened in 1886
1886 establishments in Australia
Public transport routes in the City of Melbourne (LGA)
Transport in the City of Yarra
Transport in the City of Stonnington
Transport in the City of Glen Eira
Transport in the City of Monash
Transport in the City of Kingston (Victoria)
Transport in the City of Greater Dandenong
Transport in the City of Casey