CRANBOURNE RAILWAY LINE, MELBOURNE

The 'Cranbourne railway line' is a suburban electric railway in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia.

Contents

Description

Infrastructure

History

List of stations

External links, maps, and timetables

Description

The line traverses flat country and there is little in the way of earthworks. There are several level crossings along the line. The area around Cranbourne is one of Melbourne's main growth areas, giving the line considerable potential for growing patronage.

Infrastructure

The line, which branches from the Pakenham line at Dandenong, is single track throughout, with a crossing loop towards the Cranbourne end of the line. Trains can also cross at Cranbourne itself, which has two platforms. Power signalling is provided throughout, being controlled from Dandenong. There are no intermediate terminating facilities, and no stabling sidings on the line.
Beyond Cranbourne there is a siding between Cameron Street and Berwick-Cranbourne Road near the Cranbourne "Shed" and the new Hunt Club Estate. The line then continues to Leongatha, but between Cranbourne and Loch the line is unserviceable. Government plans have the line to Leongatha being rebuilt and reopened, but there appears to be little happening in this regard.

History

The Cranbourne line opened in December 1886 as part of the section to Tooradin. This was the first section of the South Gippsland Railway.
In November 1993 Train Order working replaced Electric Staff to Cranbourne, then in March 1995, the line from near Dandenong to Cranbourne was electrified and provided with power signalling. (It had previously been electrified for a short distance to the Commonwealth Engineering siding).
The line beyond Cranbourne was booked out of use in 1998, although it had not been regularly used since 1993.

List of stations

'Bold' stations are terminuses, ''italic'' stations are staffed.
Branches from Pakenham line at Dandenong station.

★ '
★ 'Zone 2''

★ '''Dandenong''' (DNG) – Pakenham line branches

★ Merinda Park (MPK)

★ '''Cranbourne''' (CBE)

External links, maps, and timetables

★ Timetables

★ Official line map

★ Network map

★ Statistics and detailed schematic map at the VicSig enthusiast website