Whittlesea railway line

Whittlesea
Whittlesea
Overview
Status	Operational with passenger services from Flinders Street to Mernda; Dismantled beyond Mernda;
Owner	Victorian Railways (VR) (1889–1974); VR as VicRail (1974–1983); MTA (The Met) (1983–1989); PTC (The Met) (1989–1997); VicTrack (1997–Current);
Locale	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Termini	Flinders Street; Whittlesea;
Connecting lines	All metropolitan, regional, and interstate
Former connections	Inner Circle
Stations	29 current stations; 11 former stations;
Service
Services	Mernda
History
Commenced	8 October 1888
Opened	Flinders Street to Princes Bridge on 18 December 1865; Collingwood to Inner Circle South Junction on 8 May 1888; Inner Circle North Junction to Reservoir on 8 October 1889; Reservoir to Whittlesea on 23 December 1889; Princes Bridge to Collingwood on 21 October 1901; Rushall to Merri on 5 December 1904;
Completed	5 December 1904
Reopened	Lalor to Epping on 29 November 1964; Epping to South Morang on 27 November 2011; South Morang to Mernda on 2 July 2018;
Electrified	Princes Bridge to Reservoir on 31 July 1921; Reservoir to Thomastown on 16 December 1929; Thomastown to Lalor on 30 November 1959; Lalor to Epping on 30 November 1964; Epping to South Morang on 27 November 2011; South Morang to Mernda on 2 July 2018;
Closed	Lalor to Whittlesea on 29 November 1959
Technical
Line length	41.468 km (25.77 mi)
Number of tracks	Double track
Track gauge	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Electrification	1500 V DC overhead
Operating speed	80 km/h (50 mph) – Electric
Signalling	Automatic block signaling
Maximum incline	1 in 40 (2.5%)
Route map
Route map
	Legend
	Multiple lines
	via North Melbourne
	Multiple lines
	via Richmond
	Hurstbridge line
	to Hurstbridge
	Inner Circle line
	to Royal Park
	Keon Parade
	(Removing by 2025)
	This diagram: view; talk; edit;

The Whittlesea railway line is a former railway line operating in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The line was opened in 1889, with part of the line now the modern day Mernda line.