Cranbourne line

This article is about the Metro Trains Melbourne service. For the physical railway itself, see South Gippsland railway line.

Cranbourne
Railways in Melbourne
High Capacity Metro Train arriving at elevated Hughesdale station, Melbourne.
A Cranbourne line High Capacity Metro Train arriving at Hughesdale station.
Overview
Service typeCommuter rail
SystemMelbourne railway network
StatusOperational
LocaleMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
Predecessor
  • Tooradin (1888–1890)
  • Loch (1890–1891)
  • Leongatha (1891–1892)
  • Port Albert (1892–1987)
  • Welshpool (1987–1990)
  • Toora (1990–1992)
  • Koo Wee Rup (1992–1993)
First service1 October 1888; 136 years ago (1888-10-01) as South Gippsland line
Current operator(s)Metro Trains
Former operator(s)
Route
TerminiFlinders Street
Cranbourne
Stops24 (including City Loop stations)
Distance travelled43.920 km (27.291 mi)
Average journey time59 minutes (not via City Loop)
Service frequency
  • 10–16 minutes weekdays peak
  • 20 minutes weekdays off-peak and weekend daytime
  • 30 minutes weekend nights
  • 60 minutes early weekend mornings
  • Double frequency daytime between Flinders Street and Dandenong in combination with Pakenham line
  • Shuttle-only operation at nighttime between Dandenong and Cranbourne
Line(s) used
Technical
Rolling stockHCMT
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Electrification1500 V DC overhead
Track owner(s)VicTrack

The Cranbourne line is a commuter railway line in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.[1] Operated by Metro Trains Melbourne, it is the city's second longest metropolitan railway line at 44 kilometres (27 mi). The line runs from Flinders Street station in central Melbourne to Cranbourne station in the south-east, serving 24 stations via the City Loop, South Yarra, Caulfield, Oakleigh, and Dandenong.[2] The line operates for approximately 20 hours a day (from approximately 4:00 am to around midnight) with 24 hour service available on Friday and Saturday nights. During peak hour, headways of up to 5 to 15 minutes are operated with services every 15–20 minutes during off-peak hours.[1] Trains on the Cranbourne line run with a seven-car formation operated by High Capacity Metro Trains.[3]

The line originally opened in 1888 branching off from the Gippsland line at Dandenong as the South Gippsland line.[4] Services operated as far as Port Albert, with extensive branch lines featuring on the non-electrified network. The line(s) were built to serve the regional townships of Cranbourne, Koo Wee Rup, and Leongatha, amongst others. The line was closed in 1993 after a decline in usage, however, the line was reopened and electrified to Cranbourne in 1995 as part of the "Building Better Cities" program.[5][6] Significant growth has occurred since its reopening, with proposals to extend the line two stations to Clyde receiving support amongst other works on the corridor.[7]

Since the 2010s, due to the heavily utilised infrastructure of the Cranbourne line, significant improvements and upgrades have been made. A $1 billion upgrade of the corridor between Dandenong and Cranbourne is currently under construction, with improvements including the removal of all level crossings, rebuilding stations, and the duplication of 8 km (5 mi) of track.[8] Other works taking place have included the replacement of sleepers, the introduction of new signalling technology, the introduction of new rolling stock, and other works associated with the Metro Tunnel project.[9] These projects have improved the quality and safety of the line, and will be completed by the opening of the Metro Tunnel in 2025.[10]

  1. ^ a b "Cranbourne Line". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Metro's paper timetables mess". Daniel Bowen. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  3. ^ "High Capacity Metro Trains Project, Victoria, Australia". Railway Technology. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  4. ^ "The railway that brought an end to the pioneering days". Leongatha & District Heritage Society. 25 December 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  5. ^ Millar, Royce (19 May 2006). "Election promise runs off the rails". The Age. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  6. ^ Lyndsay Neilson (2008). Butcher, John (ed.). Appendix 1: Funding Allocation, Victorian Area Strategies. epress.anu.edu.au. doi:10.22459/AUC.04.2008. ISBN 9781921313776. Retrieved 1 November 2010. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :11 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference :43 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).