Sydenham railway line, Melbourne
Encyclopedia
The Sydenham railway line is a suburban electric railway
in Melbourne
, Australia. It has 13 stations
, in Metcard
ticketing Zones 1 and 2. It is the electrified
section of the Bendigo railway within metropolitan Melbourne.
, except on the west bank of the Maribyrnong River
where it requires some moderately heavy earthworks. It has numerous level crossing
s and a few bridges under or over
roads.
The Sydenham line is the only line on the Melbourne Metropolitan train network that does not have a terminating station named after the line. The last station on the Sydenham line is Watergardens, which was known as Sydenham until the construction of the Watergardens Town Centre
.
for the rest of the line, although from South Kensington to Footscray
, it runs alongside the Werribee line, effectively extending the quadruple track
to there.
The line is also paralleled by a double track goods
line and the interstate standard gauge
line, the latter being dual gauge
with the goods line to West Footscray. The goods line joins the Sydenham line at Sunshine
, whilst the standard gauge line to Sydney
continues to run alongside the suburban line to Albion
, where it and a goods line head off in a north-easterly direction.
The line is controlled by automatic block signalling
throughout. Intermediate terminating facilities are provided at Sunshine and St Albans. Stabling facilities are provided at North Melbourne, St Albans, and Sydenham
.
, 14 km beyond Sydenham, by February 1859.
of the line to St Albans was done in October 1921, although electrification occurred to North Melbourne
in May 1919 as part of the Essendon electrification and to Footscray in August 1920 as part of the Williamstown electrification.
North Melbourne to South Kensington was quadruplicated in 1924, and South Kensington to Footscray in November 1976.
Automatic block signalling was provided between South Kensington and Footscray (and Yarraville on the Williamstown line) in August 1927, from Footscray to West Footscray in October 1927, North Melbourne to South Kensington in June 1928, Sunshine to Albion in July 1929, West Footscray to Sunshine in October 1929, and Albion to St Albans in February 1930, thus resulting in the entire electrified line being provided with this signalling.
Branches from the City Loop at
Southern Cross
and Flagstaff.
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Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia. It has 13 stations
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
, in Metcard
Metcard
"OneLink" redirects here. For the computer/cable company, see OneLink Communications.Metcard is the brand name of an integrated ticketing system used to access public transport in Melbourne, Australia. It is a universal ticket which allows users to ride on the city's Metlink network, consisting of...
ticketing Zones 1 and 2. It is the electrified
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
section of the Bendigo railway within metropolitan Melbourne.
Description
The Sydenham line generally traverses flat country and thus has no major earthworksEarthworks (engineering)
Earthworks are engineering works created through the moving or processing of quantities of soil or unformed rock.- Civil engineering use :Typical earthworks include roads, railway beds, causeways, dams, levees, canals, and berms...
, except on the west bank of the Maribyrnong River
Maribyrnong river
The Maribyrnong River rises about 50 km north of Melbourne, Victoria , near Mount Macedon. It flows generally southward and combines with the Yarra River to flow into Port Phillip....
where it requires some moderately heavy earthworks. It has numerous level crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
s and a few bridges under or over
Overpass
An overpass is a bridge, road, railway or similar structure that crosses over another road or railway...
roads.
The Sydenham line is the only line on the Melbourne Metropolitan train network that does not have a terminating station named after the line. The last station on the Sydenham line is Watergardens, which was known as Sydenham until the construction of the Watergardens Town Centre
Watergardens Town Centre
Watergardens Town Centre is a super regional shopping centre and homemaker complex located twenty-four kilometres north-west of Melbourne primarily in the suburb of Taylors Lakes and partially in the suburb of Sydenham, served by Watergardens railway station...
.
Infrastructure
The line is quadrupled to South Kensington railway station, then is double trackDouble track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
for the rest of the line, although from South Kensington to Footscray
Footscray, Victoria
Footscray is a suburb 5 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Footscray had a population of 11,401....
, it runs alongside the Werribee line, effectively extending the quadruple track
Quadruple track
Quadruple track railway consists of four parallel tracks. On a quad-track line, two tracks are used in each direction. It is also sometimes called four-track railway....
to there.
The line is also paralleled by a double track goods
Freight train
A freight train or goods train is a group of freight cars or goods wagons hauled by one or more locomotives on a railway, ultimately transporting cargo between two points as part of the logistics chain...
line and the interstate standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
line, the latter being dual gauge
Dual gauge
A dual-gauge or mixed-gauge railway has railway track that allows trains of different gauges to use the same track. Generally, a dual-gauge railway consists of three rails, rather than the standard two rails. The two outer rails give the wider gauge, while one of the outer rails and the inner rail...
with the goods line to West Footscray. The goods line joins the Sydenham line at Sunshine
Sunshine, Victoria
Sunshine is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia lying 11 to 13 km west of the CBD. Its Local Government Area is the City of Brimbank. At the 2006 Census, Sunshine had a population of 8,070.-History:...
, whilst the standard gauge line to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
continues to run alongside the suburban line to Albion
Albion, Victoria
Albion is a small suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 13 km west from Melbourne's central business district. It is completely surrounded by other parts of Sunshine except for Ardeer which lies to Albion's due west across Kororoit Creek. Its Local Government Area is the City of Brimbank...
, where it and a goods line head off in a north-easterly direction.
The line is controlled by automatic block signalling
Railway signal
A signal is a mechanical or electrical device erected beside a railway line to pass information relating to the state of the line ahead to train/engine drivers. The driver interprets the signal's indication and acts accordingly...
throughout. Intermediate terminating facilities are provided at Sunshine and St Albans. Stabling facilities are provided at North Melbourne, St Albans, and Sydenham
Sydenham, Victoria
For other places called Sydenham, see Sydenham .Sydenham is a suburb 25 km north-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Brimbank. At the 2006 Census, Sydenham had a population of 9644....
.
Origins
The Melbourne and Murray River Railway had been built out as far as SunburySunbury railway station, Melbourne
Sunbury is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in the township of Sunbury, on the Melbourne - Bendigo railway. The station is staffed during daylight hours for most train services until approximately 8pm, and is in Metcard and myki Zone 2...
, 14 km beyond Sydenham, by February 1859.
1921 - 2002: The St Albans line
ElectrificationRailway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
of the line to St Albans was done in October 1921, although electrification occurred to North Melbourne
North Melbourne railway station
North Melbourne is a railway station located on the northern edge of the central business district of Melbourne, Australia. The station is the point through which pass the west and north-west bound Craigieburn, Flemington Racecourse, Sydenham, Upfield, Werribee and Williamstown suburban railway...
in May 1919 as part of the Essendon electrification and to Footscray in August 1920 as part of the Williamstown electrification.
North Melbourne to South Kensington was quadruplicated in 1924, and South Kensington to Footscray in November 1976.
Automatic block signalling was provided between South Kensington and Footscray (and Yarraville on the Williamstown line) in August 1927, from Footscray to West Footscray in October 1927, North Melbourne to South Kensington in June 1928, Sunshine to Albion in July 1929, West Footscray to Sunshine in October 1929, and Albion to St Albans in February 1930, thus resulting in the entire electrified line being provided with this signalling.
2002 onwards: The Sydenham line
Electrification and automatic block signalling were extended to Sydenham in January 2002.Line guide
Bold stations are termini, where some train services terminate; italic stations are staffed; and stations with an asterisk (*) are manned only during morning peak.Branches from the City Loop at
Southern Cross
Southern Cross Station
Southern Cross is a major railway station and transport hub in Melbourne Docklands, Victoria, Australia. It is located on Spencer Street between Collins and La Trobe Streets at the western edge of the central business district...
and Flagstaff.
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External links
- Statistics and detailed schematic map at the VicSig enthusiast website