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Alamein
Railways in Melbourne
Building at Willison station on the Alamein line, June 2024
Overview
Service typeCommuter rail
SystemMelbourne railway network
StatusOperational
LocaleMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
Predecessor
  • Outer Circle (pre 1898)
  • Flinders Street – Ashburton (1898–1924)
  • Riversdale – Deepdene (1900–1925)
  • Riversdale – East Kew (1925–1943)
  • Flinders Street – Ashburton ^ (1924–1948)
^ are electric services
First service4 July 1898; 126 years ago (1898-07-04)
Current operator(s)Metro Trains
Former operator(s)
Route
TerminiFlinders Street
Alamein
Stops18 (including City Loop stations)
Distance travelled14.9 km (9.3 mi)
Average journey time27 minutes (not via City Loop)
Service frequency
  • 15–30 minutes weekdays peak
  • 15 minutes weekdays off-peak
  • 20 minutes weekend daytime
  • 30 minutes nights
  • 60 minutes early weekend mornings
  • Most weekday peak services operate through to the City. Shuttles to/from Camberwell station operate at all other times
Line(s) usedAlamein, Outer Circle
Technical
Rolling stockX'Trapolis 100
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Electrification1500 V DC overhead
Track owner(s)VicTrack

The Alamein line is a commuter railway line on the Melbourne metropolitan railway network serving the city of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. Operated by Metro Trains Melbourne, the line is coloured dark blue and is one of the four lines that constitute the Burnley group. It is the city's second shortest metropolitan railway line at 14.9 kilometres (9.3 mi). The line runs from Flinders Street station in central Melbourne to Alamein station in the east, serving 18 stations via Burnley, Camberwell, Riversdale, and Ashburton.[1]

The line operates for approximately 19 hours a day (from approximately 5:00 am to around 12:00 am) with all-night service on Fridays and Saturdays. During peak hours, headways of up to 15 minutes are operated with services every 10–30 minutes during off-peak hours.[1] Trains on the Alamein line run with one or two three-car formations of X'Trapolis 100 trainsets.

Sections of the Alamein line opened as early as 1898, with the line fully extended to Alamein by 1948.[2] The Alamein line was originally part of the Outer Circle line which operated from 1890 until its closure in 1897. The line was built to connect Melbourne with the suburb towns of Camberwell and Ashburton, amongst others previously served by the Outer Circle line. Minor upgrades have occurred since its opening, including historical level crossing removal works and regular infrastructure upgrades.[3][4]

History

[edit]

19th century

[edit]
For operation before the reopening on 4 July 1898, see Outer Circle railway line.

What is now known as the Alamein line was opened as the Outer Circle Railway between 1890 and 1891. The segment still in use today was opened on 24 March 1890.[2]

20th century

[edit]

The section from Camberwell to Ashburton was reopened 4 July 1898 and was operated by a steam locomotive and single carriage.[2] The northern section, from Riversdale to Deepdene, was reopened on 14 May 1900, with a steam train, known locally as the Deepdene Dasher, running between Ashburton and Deepdene at ~90-minute intervals, connecting at East Camberwell on the lower platform.[5] The Deepdene Dasher was the last passenger steam train in suburban Melbourne.[2]

A steam train at a platform in 1926.
The Deepdene Dasher steam train at Deepdene station, 1926.

Electrification of the Melbourne suburban rail network commenced in the 1920s. In 1923, the Railway Commissioners decided not to electrify the line from Deepdene through Riversdale to Ashburton, due to insufficient traffic levels, but would keep the issue under review.[2] Their position was partly reversed, with the Camberwell to Ashburton section later being included in the project. The last steam train ran to Ashburton on 29 October 1924 with electric train services commencing three days later in the form of shuttle trains from Camberwell to Ashburton, running every 40 minutes.[2][6] On 15 August 1926, the last steam train the Deepdene Dasher ran, and was replaced by a pair of AEC railmotors coupled back to back.[6] The Commissioners intended to electrify the line if the volume of traffic increased, but that did not occur, and the service was replaced by road bus on 10 October 1927.[2] The electrified suburban service remains as today's Alamein line.

The line from Camberwell to the terminus was a single line with no crossing loops provided. The single train running operated a shuttle service along the line from Camberwell. Staff and Ticket safeworking was used, except between Camberwell and Riversdale where Lever Locking & Track Control was provided on 2 November 1924. Patronage and revenue on the line doubled after electrification, and on 12 October 1925 a 30 to 45 minute connecting service was provided to Ashburton.[2] From 26 November 1928 two trains were provided at peak hours, with a new crossing loop provided at Hartwell.[2] Through trains to the city at peak hour were provided from 17 May 1934. From 3 October 1938 the daytime off peak frequency was improved to 15 minutes.[7]

On 28 June 1948, the line was extended to the new Housing Commission of Victoria estate of Alamein, with some services extended to the new terminus.[7] After World War II, as part of Operation Phoenix, plans were drawn up to duplicate the line and provide a flying junction connection at Camberwell. It was authorised in 1951, but was delayed due to funding issues and other competing projects.[3] The first 2.2-kilometre (1.4 mi) long stage opened on 7 November 1954, from Hartwell to Ashburton stations, followed by the duplication and automatic signalling of the 1.6 km (0.99 mi) stretch of line from Riversdale to Hartwell section on 31 July 1955. From 15 July 1955, Ashburton station ceased to be a regular terminus.[7] However, reduced loan funds for railway construction during 1955 and 1956 delayed the rest of the works, with the overpass and new line at Camberwell finally commissioned on 29 November 1959.[3] The last stage of the works had to wait until 8 November 1962 when automatic signalling was introduced between Hartwell and Ashburton, and the signal bay at Hartwell closed.[8]

From 9 July 1972, the service was cut to every hour on Sundays, and from 10 December 1973 it was changed to 20 minutes during the day and every 40 minutes at night and on Saturday afternoons. Through trains to Flinders Street off-peak were provided from 20 January 1975 at a frequency of every 15 minutes Monday to Friday, with Box Hill trains running express from Camberwell.[8]

Moves were made to close the line or convert it to light rail in the 1980s, as well as plans under the Kennett government to close the line in the early 1990s.[9] However, the Alamein line has remained open well into the 21st century.

21st century

[edit]

The 2000s saw the introduction of the X'Trapolis 100 rolling stock on the line. The new stock features three doors per side on each carriage with the ability to accommodate up to 456 seated passengers in each six-car configuration.[10]

Network and operations

[edit]

Services

[edit]

Services on the Alamein line operate from approximately 5:00 am to around 12:00 am daily.[1] In general, during peak hours, train frequency is 10–20 minutes while services during non-peak hours drop to 20–30 minutes throughout the entire route.[1] Due to the limited number of passengers on the Alamein line, services operate as a shuttle in off-peak times to Camberwell instead of continuing into the central business district.[1] On Friday and Saturday nights, services run 24 hours a day, with 60 minute frequencies available outside of normal operating hours.[11]

Train services on the Alamein line are also subjected to maintenance and renewal works, usually on selected Fridays and Saturdays.[12][13][14] Shuttle bus services are provided throughout the duration of works for affected commuters.[15]

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
  • ▲ – Only inbound trains stop
  • ▼ – Only outbound trains stop
  • | – Trains pass and do not stop
Alamein Services[16]
Station Zone Local Ltd Express Riversdale Shuttle
◼ Flinders Street 1 ● ● ▼
◼ Southern Cross ◐ ◐
◼ Flagstaff ◐ ◐
◼ Melbourne Central ◐ ◐
◼ Parliament ◐ ◐
◼ Richmond ● ● ▼
◻ East Richmond ◐ ● ◐
◼ Burnley ● | ◐
◻ Hawthorn ● | ◐
◼ Glenferrie ● ▲ ▼
◻ Auburn ● | ◐
◼ Camberwell ● ● ▼ ●
◻ Riversdale ● ● ▼ ●
◻ Willison ● ● ●
◻ Hartwell ● ● ●
◻ Burwood ● ● ●
◼ Ashburton ● ● ●
◻ Alamein ● ● ●

Operators

[edit]

The Alamein line has had a total of 6 operators since its opening in 1898. The majority of operations throughout its history have been government run: from its first service in 1898 until the 1999 privatisation of Melbourne's rail network, four different government operators have run the line.[17] These operators, Victorian Railways, the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the Public Transport Corporation and Hillside Trains have a combined operational length of 101 years. Hillside Trains was privatised in August 1999 and later rebranded as Connex Melbourne. Metro Trains Melbourne, the current private operator, then took over the operations in 2009.[17][18][19] Both private operators have had a combined operational period of 25 years.[20]

Past and present operators of the Alamein line:
Operator Assumed operations Ceased operations Length of operations
Victorian Railways 1898 1983 85 years
Metropolitan Transit Authority 1983 1989 6 years
Public Transport Corporation 1989 1998 9 years
Hillside Trains (government operator) 1998 1999 1 years
Connex Melbourne 1999 2009 10 years
Metro Trains Melbourne 2009 incumbent 15 years (ongoing)

Route

[edit]
Map
Interactive map of the Alamein line in eastern Melbourne.
Alamein (physical track)
Overview
StatusOperational with passenger services from Flinders Street to Alamein
Owner
LocaleMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
Termini
Continues asOuter Circle
Connecting linesAll metropolitan, regional, and interstate
Former connections
Stations
  • 18 current stations
  • 7 former stations
Service
ServicesAlamein
History
Commenced30 May 1890 (1890-05-30)
Opened
  • Princes Bridge to Richmond on 8 February 1859 (1859-02-08)
  • Richmond to Pic-nic on 24 September 1860 (1860-09-24)
  • Pic-nic to Hawthorn on 13 April 1861 (1861-04-13)
  • Flinders Street to Princes Bridge on 18 December 1865 (1865-12-18)
  • Hawthorn to Camberwell on 3 April 1882 (1882-04-03)
  • Camberwell to Alamein* on 30 May 1890 (1890-05-30)
  • Riversdale to East Kew on 24 March 1891 (1891-03-24)
Completed28 June 1948 (1948-06-28)
Reopen
  • Camberwell to Ashburton on 4 July 1898 (1898-07-04)
  • Riversdale to Deepdene on 14 May 1900 (1900-05-14)
  • Deepdene to East Kew on 11 February 1925 (1925-02-11)
  • Ashburton to Alamein on 28 June 1948 (1948-06-28)
Electrified
  • Flinders Street to Camberwell on 19 December 1922 (1922-12-19)
  • Camberwell to Ashburton on 30 October 1924 (1924-10-30)
  • Ashburton to Alamein on 28 June 1948 (1948-06-28)
Closed
  • Riversdale to East Kew on 12 April 1893 (1893-04-12)
  • Ashburton to Alamein* on 9 December 1895 (1895-12-09)
  • Camberwell to Ashburton on 1 May 1897 (1897-05-01)
  • Riversdale to East Kew on 7 September 1943 (1943-09-07)
Technical
Line length14.9 km (9.26 mi) + Riversdale to East Kew section
Number of tracks
  • Twelve tracks: Flinders Street to Richmond
  • Four tracks: Richmond to Burnley
  • Triple track: Burnley to Camberwell
  • Double track: Camberwell to Ashburton
  • Single track: Ashburton to Alamein & Riversdale to East Kew
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Electrification1500 V DC overhead
Operating speed65 km/h (40 mph) – Electric
SignallingAutomatic block signaling
Maximum incline1 in 50 (2%)

The Alamein line forms a relatively straight route from the Melbourne central business district to its terminus in Alamein. The route is 14.9 kilometres (9.3 mi) long and is predominantly doubled-tracked, however between Flinders Street station and Richmond, the track is widened to 12 tracks, narrowing to 4 tracks between Richmond and Burnley, to 3 track between Burnley and Camberwell, and to two tracks after Camberwell .[21] After Ashburton, the line is narrowed to a single track which remains till its terminus in Alamein. After departing from its terminus at Flinders Street, the Alamein line traverses gentle hills with moderately heavy earthworks for most of the line. Some sections of the line have been elevated or lowered into a cutting to eliminate level crossings.[4] As of 2020, there are two level crossings remaining on the line with no current plans to remove them.[22]

The line follows the same alignment as the Belgrave, Glen Waverley, and Lilydale lines with the Glen Waverley line splitting off after Burnley and the three remaining services splitting off at Camberwell. The Alamein line continues on its southern alignment, whereas the Belgrave and Lilydale lines takes an eastern alignment towards their final destinations.[23] All of the rail line goes through built-up suburbs towards its terminus in Alamein.[24]

Stations

[edit]

The line serves 18 stations across 15 kilometres (9.3 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.[25]

Station Accessibility Opened Terrain Train connections Other connections
Flinders Street Yes—step free access 1854[26] Lowered
16 connections
 Trams Buses
Southern Cross 1859[26] Ground level
27 connections
 Trams Buses Coaches SkyBus
Flagstaff 1985[26] Underground
10 connections
 Trams
Melbourne Central 1981[26] Trams Buses
Parliament 1983[26] Trams
Richmond No—steep ramp 1859[26] Elevated
8 connections
 Trams Buses
East Richmond Yes—step free access 1860[26] Ground level
3 connections
 Trams
Burnley No—steep ramp 1880[26]
Hawthorn 1861[26] Ground level
2 connections
 Trams Buses
Glenferrie 1882[26] Elevated Trams
Auburn Ground level Buses
Camberwell Lowered Trams Buses
Riversdale 1890[26] Ground level
Wilison 1908[26]
Hartwell 1906[26]
Burwood 1890[26] Trams
Ashburton Yes—step free access Buses
Alamein 1948[26]
Station histories
Station Opened[27] Closed[27] Age Notes[27]
Parliament 22 January 1983 41 years
Melbourne Central 26 January 1981 43 years
  • Formerly Museum
Flagstaff 27 May 1985 39 years
Southern Cross 17 January 1859 165 years
  • Formerly Batman's Hill
  • Formerly Spencer Street
Flinders Street 12 September 1854 170 years
  • Formerly Melbourne Terminus
Princes Bridge 8 February 1859 1 October 1866 7 years
2 April 1879 30 June 1980 101 years
Botanic Gardens 2 March 1859 c. April 1862 Approx. 3 years
Punt Road 8 February 1859 12 December 1859 10 months
  • Replaced by Swan Street (200m further along line)
Richmond 12 December 1859 165 years
  • Formerly Swan Street
East Richmond 24 September 1860 164 years
  • Formerly Church Street
Burnley 1 May 1880 144 years
  • Formerly Burnley Street
Pic Nic 24 September 1860 6 October 1895 35 years
Hawthorn 13 April 1861 163 years
Glenferrie 3 April 1882 142 years
  • Formerly Glenferrie Road
Auburn 3 April 1882 142 years
  • Formerly Auburn Road
Camberwell 3 April 1882 142 years
East Kew 24 March 1891 12 April 1893 24 months
  • As part of the Outer Circle line
14 May 1900 6 September 1943 43 years
  • Freight service
Deepdene 24 March 1891 12 April 1893 24 months
  • As part of the Outer Circle line
14 May 1900 9 October 1927 27 years
Roystead 14 May 1900 9 October 1927 27 years
  • Formerly Stanley
  • Formerly Balwyn
Shenley 24 March 1891 12 April 1893 24 months
  • As part of the Outer Circle line
14 May 1900 9 October 1927 27 years
East Camberwell 14 May 1900 9 October 1927 27 years
  • Lower level
Riversdale 30 May 1890 1 May 1897 6 years
  • As part of the Outer Circle line
4 July 1898 126 years
Willison 8 June 1908 116 years
  • Formerly Golf Links
Hartwell 7 May 1906 118 years
  • Formerly Hartwell Hill
Burwood 30 May 1890 1 May 1897 6 years
  • As part of the Outer Circle line
  • Formerly Hartwell
4 July 1898 126 years
  • Formerly Hartwell
Ashburton 30 May 1890 1 May 1897 6 years
  • As part of the Outer Circle line
  • Formerly Norwood
4 July 1898 126 years
Alamein 28 June 1948 76 years

Infrastructure

[edit]

Rolling stock

[edit]

The Alamein line uses X'Trapolis 100 electric multiple unit (EMU) trains operating in a one or two three-car configuration, with three doors per side on each carriage and can accommodate of up to 456 seated passengers in each six-car configuration.[10][28] The trains were originally built between 2002 and 2004 as well as between 2009 and 2020 with a total of 212 three-car sets constructed. The trains are shared with 7 other metropolitan train lines and have been in service since 2003.[29]

Alongside the passenger trains, Alamein 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.[30] Most of these trains are repurposed locomotives previously used by V/Line, Metro Trains, and the Southern Shorthaul Railroad.[30]

Accessibility

[edit]

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.[31][32][33] Less than half of stations on the line are fully accessible as they haven't been upgraded to meet these guidelines.[34] These stations do feature ramps, however, they have a gradient greater than 1 in 14.[34] Stations that are fully accessible feature ramps that have a gradient less than 1 in 14, have at-grade paths, or feature lifts.[34][35] These stations typically also feature tactile boarding indicators, independent boarding ramps, wheelchair accessible myki barriers, hearing loops, and widened paths.[34][35]

Individual station upgrade projects have helped improve station accessibility on the line, however, only 40% of stations on the line are fully wheelchair accessible.[34][36]

Signalling

[edit]

The Alamein line uses three-position signalling, which is used across the Melbourne train network. Three position signalling was first introduced on the line in 1919, with the final section to Ashburton converted to the new type of signalling in 1962.[5][27] Since Ashburton and Alamein stations are very close to each other, the single track between the two stations uses station limits working.[5][27]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "Alamein Line". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i S.E. Dornan and R.G. Henderson (1979). Electric Railways of Victoria. Australian Electric Traction Society. p. 84. ISBN 0-909459-06-1.
  3. ^ a b c David Beardsell and Bruce Herbert (1979). The Outer Circle: A history of the Oakleigh to Fairfield Park Railway. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). p. 67. ISBN 0-85849-024-2.
  4. ^ a b Stone, John; Woodcock, Ian (10 April 2018). "Level-crossing removals: learning from Melbourne's experience". Melbourne School of Design. University of Melbourne and RMIT University. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Beardsell, David; Herbert, Bruce (1979). The Outer Circle: A history of the Oakleigh to Fairfield Park Railway. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). p. 61. ISBN 0-85849-024-2.
  6. ^ a b Beardsell & Herbert 1979, p. 63.
  7. ^ a b c S.E. Dornan and R.G. Henderson (1979). Electric Railways of Victoria. Australian Electric Traction Society. p. 85. ISBN 0-909459-06-1.
  8. ^ a b S.E. Dornan and R.G. Henderson (1979). Electric Railways of Victoria. Australian Electric Traction Society. p. 86. ISBN 0-909459-06-1.
  9. ^ "Kennett's public transport cuts denounced". Green Left. 6 September 2016. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  10. ^ a b Dowling, Jason; Clay, Lucas (9 May 2008). "New trains will have fewer seats". The Age. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Melbourne Weekend Night Network Train Map" (PDF). 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Buses replace trains between Camberwell, Ringwood and Alamein". www.metrotrains.com.au. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Rail And Road Upgrades Over The Long Weekend | Premier of Victoria". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  14. ^ Department of Transport (27 April 2022). "Public transport and road disruptions this long weekend". Mirage News. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Where do train replacement buses come from?". ABC News. 15 November 2016. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  16. ^ "Alamein Line". Public Transport Victoria. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  17. ^ a b "Melbourne's Rail Network to be Split" Railway Digest November 1997 page 12
  18. ^ "City in Brief" Railway Gazette International December 1997 page 835
  19. ^ "Victoria's public transport – Assessing the results of privatisation" (PDF). Institute of Public Affairs. April 2007. p. 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  20. ^ Cooper, Mex (25 June 2009). "New train, tram operators for Melbourne". The Age. Archived from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  21. ^ "Richmond VIC, 3121, Australia". Google Maps. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  22. ^ Anderton, Gary (20 November 2020). "Key level crossing removals must feature in this year's State Budget – Michael O'Brien MP, Member for Malvern". Michael O'Brien MP. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  23. ^ Wray, Tyson (19 January 2017). "Melbourne's train lines definitively ranked from best to worst". Time Out Melbourne. Archived from the original on 12 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  24. ^ "Camberwell VIC 3124, Australia". Google Maps. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  25. ^ Lee, Robert S. (2007). The railways of Victoria 1854–2004. Rosemary Annable, Donald S. Garden. Carlton, Vic.: Melbourne University Publishing. ISBN 978-0-522-85134-2. OCLC 224727085. Archived from the original on 8 May 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "What year did your railway station open? | Public Transport Users Association (Victoria, Australia)". 3 August 2018. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  27. ^ a b c d e Anderson, Rick (2010). Stopping All Stations. Clunes, Victoria: Full Parallel Productions. ISBN 978-0646543635. OCLC 671303814.
  28. ^ "WTT NETWORK CONFIGURATION: METRO ROLLING STOCK". Metro Trains Melbourne. 20 February 2023. pp. 8–9.
  29. ^ "Franchise Agreement – Train" (PDF). 1 March 2014. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  30. ^ a b "NETWORK SERVICE PLAN | Addenda". 1 February 2011. Archived from the original on 7 March 2011.
  31. ^ "Accessibility – Public Transport Ombudsman Victoria". www.ptovic.com.au. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  32. ^ "Disability Discrimination Act 1992". Australian Government Federal Register of Legislation. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  33. ^ "Third Review of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (Transport Standards)" (PDF). Infrastructure Australia. November 2021. p. 35.
  34. ^ a b c d e "Access Guide". www.metrotrains.com.au. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  35. ^ a b "Station accessibility features". Metro Trains Melbourne. 2023. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  36. ^ "Left behind: the fight for accessible public transport in Victoria". the Guardian. 12 June 2022. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
[edit]
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