Ballarat line

This article is about the V/Line services. For the physical railway, see Ararat railway line and Mildura railway line.

Ballarat
VLocity VL81 arriving into Ballarat
Overview
Service typePassenger service
StatusOperating
LocaleVictoria, Australia
Current operator(s)V/Line
Former operator(s)Victorian Railways
Ridership4.68 million (2022–23)[1]
WebsiteV/Line Ballarat on Twitter
Route
TerminiSouthern Cross
[2]
Stops13
Distance travelled123 km (76 mi)[3]
Service frequency
  • Weekday services between Southern Cross and Melton run approx. every 20 minutes
  • Weekday services between Southern Cross and Wendouree run approx. every 40 minutes
  • Extra services to Southern Cross originate from Bacchus Marsh during the weekday morning peak
  • Weekend services run approx. once an hour between Southern Cross and Wendouree
[2]
On-board services
Class(es)Economy
Technical
Rolling stockVLocity[4]
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Operating speed160 km/h (99 mph) maximum[5]
Track owner(s)VicTrack
Ararat
VLocity VL80 arriving into Ararat
Overview
Service typeLong-distance (paper ticket) service
StatusOperating
LocaleVictoria, Australia
Route
TerminiSouthern Cross
Ararat
Stops15
Distance travelled211 km (131 mi)[6]
Average journey time2h 30min (approx)[7]
Service frequency4 weekday return services, 2 weekend return services[7]
On-board services
Class(es)Economy
Technical
Rolling stockVLocity[4]
Maryborough
VLocity VL38 at Maryborough
Overview
Service typeLong-distance (paper ticket) service
StatusOperational
LocaleVictoria, Australia
First service24 July 2010; 14 years ago (2010-07-24)[8]
Current operator(s)V/Line
Former operator(s)Victorian Railways (to Mildura)
Route
TerminiBallarat
Maryborough
Stops5
Distance travelled68.7 km (42.7 mi)
Average journey time52 minutes
Service frequencyTwo return services per day
Line(s) usedMildura
On-board services
Class(es)Economy
Disabled accessYes
Technical
Rolling stockVLocity[4]
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Track owner(s)VicTrack

The Ballarat line is a regional passenger rail service operated by V/Line in Victoria, Australia. It serves 13 stations towards its terminus in Ballarat's western suburb of Wendouree via Melton and Bacchus Marsh. Services are operated primarily using V/Line VLocity diesel multiple unit sets in either 3- or 6-car configurations.

It is the second most-used regional rail service in Victoria (behind the Geelong line), carrying 4.68 million passengers in the 2022-23 financial year.[1]

The Ararat line extends further west from Wendouree to Ararat, while the Maryborough line is operated primarily as a shuttle from Ballarat along the Mildura line to Maryborough.

  1. ^ a b V/Line Corporation (25 September 2023). Annual Report 2022-23 (Report). Archived from the original on 5 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Train Schedule: Melbourne to Wendouree and Wendouree to Melbourne via Ballarat". VLine. 30 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Train Operating Data: Deer Park Junction to Ararat". Network service plan. V/Line Corporation. 25 October 2017. p. 4. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "Passenger Schedules: South Western Down". Network service plan. V/Line Corporation. 10 December 2017. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  5. ^ "Train Operating Data: Deer Park Junction to Ararat". Network service plan. V/Line Corporation. 25 October 2017. p. 1. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  6. ^ "Train Operating Data: Deer Park Junction to Ararat". Network service plan. V/Line Corporation. 25 October 2017. p. 5. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Train Schedule: Melbourne to Ararat and Ararat to Melbourne via Ballarat". VLine. 7 November 2021.
  8. ^ "V/Line - Maryborough line launch".