North East railway line

North East (original BG line)
North East (original BG line)
Overview
Other name	Albury
Status	Operational with broad gauge passenger services from Flinders Street to Seymour; Gauge converted beyond Seymour;
Owner	M&ER (1860–1964); Victorian Railways (VR) (1867–1974); VR as VicRail (1974–1983); MTA (The Met) (1983–1989); STA (V/Line) (1983–1989); PTC (The Met) (1989–1997); PTC (V/Line) (1989–1995); PTC (V/Line Passenger) (1995–1997); VicTrack (1997–Current);
Locale	Victoria, Australia
Termini	Southern Cross; Albury;
Connecting lines	All metropolitan, regional, and interstate; Albion–Jacana; Oaklands; Tocumwal;
Former connections	Bright; Cudgewa; Heathcote; Mansfield; Peechelba East; Tatong; Upfield—Somerton link; Wahgunyah; Whitfield;
Stations	38 current stations; 13 former stations; 2 current siding; 13 former sidings;
Service
Type	Victorian railway line
Services	Albury Craigieburn Seymour Shepparton
Operator(s)	M&ER (1860–1964); Victorian Railways (VR) (1867–1974); VR as VicRail (1974–1983); MTA (The Met) (1983–1989); STA (V/Line) (1983–1989); PTC (The Met) (1989–1998); PTC (V/Line) (1989–1995); PTC (V/Line Passenger) (1995–1998); Bayside Trains (1998–2000); V/Line Passenger (1998–2010); M>Train (2000–2004); Connex Melbourne (2004–2009); Metro Trains (2009–Current); V/Line (2010–Current);
History
Commenced	21 October 1860
Opened	Southern Cross to North Melbourne on 17 January 1859; North Melbourne to Essendon on 21 October 1860; Essendon to Dysart on 18 April 1872; Dysart to Seymour on 26 August 1872; Seymour to Longwood on 20 November 1872; Longwood to Violet Town on 20 March 1873; Violet Town to Benalla on 18 August 1873; Benalla to Wangaratta on 28 October 1873; Wangaratta to Wodonga on 21 November 1873; Wodonga to Albury on 14 June 1883; Flinders Street to Southern Cross on 29 November 1891;
Completed	14 June 1883
Reopened	North Melbourne to Newmarket on 31 October 1867; Newmarket to Essendon on 9 January 1871;
Electrified	Flinders Street to Essendon on 28 May 1919; Essendon to Broadmeadows on 4 September 1921; Broadmeadows to Craigieburn on 22 July 2007;
Gauge converted	Seymour to Albury on 23 July 2010
Closed	North Melbourne to Essendon on 1 July 1864; Seymour to Albury on 9 November 2008;
Technical
Line length	307.812 km (191.27 mi)
Number of tracks	Broad gauge Six tracks: Flinders Street to North Melbourne; Four tracks: North Melbourne to Kensington; Double track: Kensington to Dysart; Single track: Dysart to Seymour; Standard gauge; Double track: Seymour to border; Single track: Broadmeadows to Seymour; border to Albury;
Track gauge	5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm); 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm);
Electrification	Flinders Street to Craigieburn: 1500 V DC overhead
Operating speed	130 km/h (81 mph) - Passenger; 115 km/h (71 mph) - Freight;
Signalling	BG to Craigieburn: Automatic block signalling; BG to Seymour: Double Line Block; SG to Albury: Centralised Traffic Control;
Maximum incline	1 in 50 (2%)
Route map
Route map
	Legend
	Multiple lines
	via Richmond or Jolimont
	Albury, & Western SG lines
	to Albury, Sydney & Adelaide
	Upfield line
	to Upfield
	Multiple lines
	via Footscray
Metro section (Craigieburn Line)
Kensington
	Flemington Racecourse line
	to Flemington Racecourse
	Albury to Southern Cross
	& Albion-Jacana line to Albion
	Upfield line
	to Flinders Street
Seymour section
Merri Creek
	Heathcote line
	to Bendigo
	Mansfield line
	to Mansfield
	Tocumwal line
	to Tocumwal
	Tatong line
	to Tatong
	Oaklands line
	to Oaklands
	Whitfield line
	to Whitfield
	Yackandandah line
	to Yackandandah
	Peechelba East line
	to Peechelba East
	Wahgunyah line
	to Wahgunyah
	Cudgewa line

North East (SG)
North East (SG)
Overview
Status	Operational passenger services from Southern Cross to Albury and Sydney
Owner	Victorian Railways (VR) (1959–1974); VR as VicRail (1974–1983); STA (V/Line) (1983–1989); PTC (V/Line) (1989–1995); PTC (V/Line Passenger) (1995–1997); VicTrack (1997–Current);
Locale	Victoria, Australia
Termini	Southern Cross; Albury;
Connecting lines	Albion–Jacana; Main Southern (NSW); Newport–Sunshine; Oaklands; South Kensington–West Footscray; Western standard gauge;
Former connections	Upfield—Somerton link
Stations	6 current stations
Service
Type	Victorian railway line
Services	Albury Southern; Spirit of Progress, Southern Aurora, Sydney–Melbourne Express, Intercapital Daylight; Shared tracks:; South Kensington–West Footscray, Albion–Jacana, Albury
Operator(s)	Victorian Railways (VR) (1962–1974); Department of Railways New South Wales (1962–1972); Public Transport Commission (NSW) (1972–1980); VR as VicRail (1974–1983); State Rail Authority (NSW) (1980–1989); STA (V/Line) (1983–1989); PTC (V/Line) (1989–1995); CountryLink (1989–2013); PTC (V/Line Passenger) (1995–1998); V/Line Passenger (1998–2010); V/Line (2010–Current); NSW TrainLink (2013–Current);
History
Commenced	November 1959
Opened	Southern Cross to Albury on 3 January 1962;
Completed	3 January 1962
Reopened	New Wodonga section on 23 July 2010
Closed	Old Wodonga section on 9 November 2008
Technical
Number of tracks	Double track: Southern Cross to Tottenham; Seymour to border; Single track: Tottenham to Seymour; border to Albury;
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Route map
Route map
	Legend
	Multiple lines
	via Flinders Street
	Multiple lines
	to Southern Cross or Flinders Street
	Werribee & Williamstown lines
	to Newport
	Newport–Sunshine & Western SG lines
	to Newport & Adelaide
	Newport–Sunshine line
	to Newport
	Multiple lines
	via Deer Park
Albion–Jacana section
	Sunbury, Bendigo, Echuca & Swan Hill lines
	to Sunbury
	Maribyrnong River Viaduct
	over Maribyrnong River
	Melbourne Airport line
	to Melbourne Airport
	Craigieburn, Seymour & Shepparton lines
	via Essendon
	Upfield line
	to Flinders Street
Seymour section
Merri Creek
	Heathcote line
	to Bendigo
	Mansfield line
	to Mansfield
	Tocumwal line
	to Tocumwal
Albury section
Avenel
	Tatong line
	to Tatong
	Oaklands line
	to Oaklands

The North East railway line is a railway line in Victoria, Australia.^[1] The line runs from Southern Cross railway station on the western edge of the Melbourne central business district to Albury railway station in the border settlement of Albury-Wodonga, serving the cities of Wangaratta and Seymour, and smaller towns in northeastern Victoria.

StatusOperational passenger services from Southern Cross to Albury and Sydney

Owner

Victorian Railways (VR) (1959–1974)
VR as VicRail (1974–1983)
STA (V/Line) (1983–1989)
PTC (V/Line) (1989–1995)
PTC (V/Line Passenger) (1995–1997)
VicTrack (1997–Current)

LocaleVictoria, Australia

Termini

Quick facts Overview, Status ...

Close

Other nameAlbury

Status

Operational with broad gauge passenger services from Flinders Street to Seymour
Gauge converted beyond Seymour

Owner

M&ER (1860–1964)
Victorian Railways (VR) (1867–1974)
VR as VicRail (1974–1983)
MTA (The Met) (1983–1989)
STA (V/Line) (1983–1989)
PTC (The Met) (1989–1997)
PTC (V/Line) (1989–1995)
PTC (V/Line Passenger) (1995–1997)
VicTrack (1997–Current)

LocaleVictoria, Australia

Quick facts Overview, Other name ...

Close

The railway line is both standard gauge and broad gauge. It originally was built as broad gauge the entire length, but another track was built as standard gauge between Seymour and Albury, with construction of the standard gauge track commencing in November 1959 and completed in January 1962, completing the Sydney-Melbourne standard gauge railway. Between 2008 and 2010, the broad gauge track between Seymour and Albury was finally converted to be the line's second standard gauge track. The original section between Southern Cross and Jacana remains broad gauge, with the standard gauge joining and running parallel to the broad gauge between Jacana and Seymour, where the broad gauge branches off on the Tocumwal line, and finally continuing as standard gauge all the way to Albury.

The line is owned by VicTrack, but the standard gauge sections are leased to and maintained by the Australian Rail Track Corporation.^[2]

[1]

[2]

Operator	Assumed operations	Ceased operations	Length of operations
Department of Railways New South Wales	3 January 1962	19 October 1972	10 years
Public Transport Commission, NSW	20 October 1972	30 June 1980	7 years
State Rail Authority, NSW	1 July 1980	16 January 1989	8 years
State Rail Authority (as CountryLink)	16 January 1989	31 December 2003	14 years
RailCorp (as CountryLink)	1 January 2004	30 June 2013	9 years
NSW TrainLink	30 June 2013	incumbent	12 years (ongoing)

Operator	Assumed operations	Ceased operations	Length of operations
Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company	21 October 1860	1 July 1864	3 years
Victorian Railways	31 October 1867	30 June 1983	115 years
Metropolitan Transit Authority (The Met)	1 July 1983	30 June 1989	5 years
State Transport Authority (V/Line)	1 July 1983	30 June 1989	5 years
Public Transport Corporation (The Met)	1 July 1989	30 June 1998	8 years
Public Transport Corporation (V/Line)	1 July 1989	1995	5 years
Public Transport Corporation (V/Line Passenger)	1995	30 June 1998	3 years
Bayside Trains	1 July 1998	29 August 1999	13 months
V/Line Passenger	1 July 1998	29 August 1999	13 months
National Express (as Bayside Trains)	29 August 1999	October 2000	13 months
National Express (as V/Line Passenger)	29 August 1999	22 December 2002	3 years
National Express (as M>Train)	October 2000	22 December 2002	26 months
M>Train	22 December 2002	18 April 2004	15 months
V/Line Passenger	22 December 2002	1 July 2010	7 years
Connex Melbourne	18 April 2004	29 November 2009	5 years
Metro Trains Melbourne	30 November 2009	incumbent	16 years (ongoing)
V/Line	1 July 2010	incumbent	15 years (ongoing)

Station	Opened^[66]^[67]	Closed^[66]^[67]	Age	Notes^[66]^[67]
Flagstaff	27 May 1985		40 years
Melbourne Central	26 January 1981		45 years	Formerly Museum
Parliament	22 January 1983		43 years
Flinders Street	12 September 1854		171 years	Formerly Melbourne Terminus
Southern Cross (BG)	17 January 1859		167 years	Formerly Batman's Hill Formerly Spencer Street
North Melbourne	6 October 1859		166 years
Kensington	1 November 1860	1 July 1864	3 years	Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company
Kensington	9 October 1871		154 years
Newmarket	1 November 1860	1 July 1864	3 years	Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company
Newmarket	9 October 1871		154 years
Ascot Vale	1 November 1860	1 July 1864	3 years	Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company
Ascot Vale	9 October 1871		154 years
Moonee Ponds	1 November 1860	1 July 1864	3 years	Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company
Moonee Ponds	9 October 1871		154 years
Essendon	1 November 1860	1 July 1864	3 years	Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company
Essendon	9 October 1871		154 years
Glenbervie	11 September 1922		103 years
Strathmore	28 October 1890		135 years	Formerly North Essendon
Pascoe Vale	10 November 1885		140 years
Oak Park	13 August 1956		69 years
Glenroy	24 January 1887		139 years
Jacana	15 February 1959		67 years
Broadmeadows (BG)	1 February 1873		153 years
Broadstore Siding	12 October 1942	c. 1980's	Approx. 37 years
Coolaroo	6 June 2010		15 years
Roxburgh Park	18 April 1872	24 September 1963	91 years	Was originally Somerton
Roxburgh Park	1 October 2007		18 years	Reopened as Roxburgh Park
Somerton Yard (BG)	30 June 1889		136 years
Craigieburn	18 April 1872		154 years
Donnybrook	14 October 1872		153 years
Beveridge	14 October 1872	2 April 1990	117 years
Wallan	18 April 1872		154 years
Lightwood	1890	24 April 1941	50 years	Formerly Merri Merri Siding Formerly Merri Formerly Merri Siding
Heathcote Junction	17 March 1890		136 years	Formerly Kilmore Junction
Wandong	11 April 1876		150 years	Also known as Morpeth's Siding
Mathieson's Siding	12 August 1885	?		Was originally Wandong Ballast Pits Siding
Mathieson's Siding	2 July 1888	26 February 1924	35 years	Reopened as Mathieson's Siding
Kilmore East	18 April 1872		154 years	Formerly Kilmore
Kilmore East Quarry Siding	13 September 1976		49 years
Broadford	18 April 1872		154 years
McDougall's Siding	26 March 1890	13 January 1987	96 years	Formerly McDougall
Lowry's Siding	19 November 1888	c. 31 May 1909	Approx. 20 years
Tallarook	18 April 1872		154 years
Dysart	18 April 1872	20 August 1872	4 months	Was originally Schoolhouse Lane
Dysart	1 June 1889	3 May 1987	97 years	Formerly Schoolhouse Lane Also known as Dysart Military Siding
Seymour (BG)	26 August 1872		153 years
Gravelside Siding	24 June 1885	c. 6 December 1890	Approx. 5 years	Was originally Gravel Pit Sidings
Gravelside Siding	7 August 1894	11 January 1938	43 years	Formerly Gravel Pit Sidings
Mangalore	13 January 1880	c. 5 October 1982	Approx. 102 years
Avenel (BG)	20 November 1872	9 November 2008	135 years
Monea	27 February 1882	13 June 1960	78 years
Locksley	18 October 1882	1 April 1973	90 years	Formerly Burnt Creek Wood Siding Formerly Burnt Creek
Longwood	20 November 1872	c. 5 October 1982	Approx. 109 years
Creighton	9 February 1887	1 September 1970	83 years	Formerly Synon's Siding Formerly Creighton's Creek
Euroa (BG)	20 March 1873	9 November 2008	135 years
Balmattum	12 March 1889	24 July 1965	76 years
Violet Town (BG)	20 March 1873	9 November 2008	135 years
Burkes Hill Siding	25 April 1889	5 February 1892	33 months
Burkes Hill Siding	13 October 1899	14 July 1902	33 months
Baddaginnie	19 June 1882	7 May 1978	95 years
Hanson's Siding	3 May 1904	c. 3 February 1925	Approx. 20 years	Formerly Caelli's Siding
Benalla (BG)	18 August 1873	9 November 2008	135 years
Winton	9 December 1877	1 May 1971	93 years
Head's Siding	9 September 1907	c. 20 Oct 1942	Approx. 35 years	Formerly Head and Green's Siding
Glenrowan	2 November 1874	c. 5 October 1982	Approx. 107 years
Alumatta Siding	17 June 1882	c. 1908	Approx. 25 years	Was originally Wangaratta Meat Siding
Alumatta Siding	16 April 1943	16 August 1989	46 years	Reopened as Alumatta Siding
Wangaratta (BG)	28 October 1873	9 November 2008	135 years
Bowser	2 February 1891	1 October 1972	81 years	Formerly Beechworth Junction
Springhurst (BG)	29 November 1873	9 November 2008	134 years	Formerly Springs Also known as Bontherambo or Naringa
Barambogie Ballast Siding	1874	1876	24 months	Was originally Doma Mungi Siding
	February 1922	7 April 1933	11 years	Reopened as State Rivers & Water Supply Commission's Siding
	7 January 1935	14 September 1960	25 years	Reopened as Chiltern Valley Siding
Chiltern (BG)	c. 1873	9 November 2008	Approx. 135 years
Barnawartha	c. 1873	26 October 1986	Approx. 113 years
Wodonga West	?	1899
Wodonga (BG)	21 November 1873	9 November 2008	134 years
Wodonga Coal Siding (BG)	7 August 1916	9 November 2008	92 years	inc. Bogie exchange area
Albury (BG)	14 June 1883	9 November 2008	125 years

Station	Opened^[66]^[67]	Closed^[66]^[67]	Age	Notes^[66]^[67]
Southern Cross (SG)	16 March 1962		64 years	Formerly Spencer Street
Victoria Dock (Westgate)	?
Appleton Dock	?
Swanson Dock	c. 1969		Approx. 57 years
Melbourne Yard	?
Melbourne Steel Terminal	1995	2015	20 years
South Dynon	1964		62 years
North Dynon	?
Sunshine (SG)	January 1963	2004	41 years
McIntyre Sidings	12 May 1964		61 years	Formerly Lysaght's Siding
Broadmeadows (SG)	2009		17 years
Somerton Yard (SG)	5 August 1962		63 years
Seymour (SG)	1974		52 years
Avenel (SG)	August 2010		15 years
Euroa (SG)	August 2010		15 years
Violet Town (SG)	August 2010		15 years
Benalla (SG)	10 March 1964		62 years
Wangaratta (SG)	10 March 1964		62 years
Springhurst (SG)	August 2010		15 years
Chiltern (SG)	August 2010		15 years
SCT Barnawartha	October 2016		9 years
Wodonga (SG)	25 June 2011		14 years
Wodonga Coal Siding (SG)	7 August 1916	1 September 2009	93 years	inc. Bogie exchange area
Albury (SG)	3 February 1881		145 years

Broad gauge via Essendon

1962 Standard Gauge track

Construction

First days

Operations

Passenger services

Freight services

Gauge transfer facilities

Gauge conversion

1943 Wodonga level crossing accident

1969 Violet Town rail accident

Wallan train derailment

Regional Rail Revival

Services

Craigieburn service

Seymour service

Albury service

Spirit of Progress

Intercapital Daylight

Southern Aurora

Sydney–Melbourne Express

XPT

Freight

Operators

New South Wales operators

Victorian operators

Stations

BG

SG

Branch lines

South of Craigieburn

Between Craigieburn and Seymour

North of Seymour

Signalling

Maintenance

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