The Warrnambool railway line is a railway serving the south west of Victoria, Australia. Running from the western Melbourne suburb of Newport through the cities of Geelong and Warrnambool, the line once terminated at the coastal town of Port Fairy before being truncated to Dennington (just west of Warrnambool). This closed section of line has been converted into the 37 km long Port Fairy to Warrnambool Rail Trail. The line continues to see both passenger and freight services today.

Quick Facts Overview, Other name(s) ...
Warrnambool railway line
The twin broad gauge and single standard gauge tracks near Lara
The twin broad gauge and single standard gauge tracks near Lara, 2006
Overview
Other name(s)
  • Port Fairy railway line
  • Dennington railway line
  • South West railway line
Status
Owner
LocaleVictoria, Australia
Termini
Connecting lines
Former connections
Stations
  • 29 current stations
  • 41 former stations
  • 8 sidings
  • 15 former sidings
Service
TypeFormer Victorian regional service
ServicesGeelong Warrnambool Werribee Williamstown
Operator(s)
History
Commenced25 June 1857 (1857-06-25)
Opened
  • Greenwich to Geelong on 25 June 1857 (1857-06-25)
  • Southern Cross to Newport on 17 January 1859 (1859-01-17)
  • Geelong to Winchelsea on 25 November 1876 (1876-11-25)
  • Winchelsea to Birregurra on 13 March 1877 (1877-03-13)
  • Birregurra to Colac on 27 July 1877 (1877-07-27)
  • Colac to Camperdown on 2 July 1883 (1883-07-02)
  • Camperdown to Terang on 23 April 1887 (1887-04-23)
  • Terang to Port Fairy on 4 February 1890 (1890-02-04)
Completed4 February 1890 (1890-02-04)
Electrified
  • Flinders Street to North Melbourne on 28 May 1919 (1919-05-28)
  • North Melbourne to Altona junction on 2 August 1920 (1920-08-02)
  • Altona junction to Werribee on 27 November 1983 (1983-11-27)
Closed
  • Newport to Greenwich on 18 July 1857 (1857-07-18)
  • Dennington to Port Fairy on 12 September 1977 (1977-09-12)
Technical
Line length298.486 km (185.471 mi)
Number of tracks
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Electrification1500 V DC overhead Southern Cross to Werribee
Operating speed160 km/h (99 mph)
Signalling
  • Automatic block signaling: Southern Cross to Altona Junction
  • Automatic and Track Control: Altona Junction to North Geelong
  • Automatic block signaling: North Geelong to Geelong
  • Track Block: Geelong to Waurn Ponds
  • Automatic and Track Control: Waurn Ponds to Warrnambool
Route map

km
Up arrow
Multiple lines
via Richmond or Jolimont
1.2
Flinders Street
Parliament
Melbourne Central
Melbourne Central railway station#Transport linksMelbourne Central railway station#Transport links
Flagstaff
Flagstaff railway station#Transport links
0.0
Southern Cross
LowerRight arrow
2.9
North Melbourne
3.1
Dynon Road
Left arrow
3.7
3.7
Left arrow
Left arrow
LowerRight arrow
3.5
South Kensington
Metro section
(Werribee Line)
Left arrow
Melbourne Metro Tunnel
to Caulfield
(under construction)
Saltwater River
(demolished)
5.5
Right arrow
Maribyrnong line
to Maribyrnong River Terminal
(dismantled)
6.6
Hopkins Street
6.9
Footscray
Left arrow
Multiple lines
via Sunshine
Footscray (Suburban)
(demolished)
6.0
Napier Street
6.6
Seddon
7.3
Somerville Road
7.5
Yarraville
Yarraville railway station#Transport links
8.1
Francis Street (Docklands Highway)
8.3
8.6
9.2
Spotswood
ANZAC & Goninans Sidings (was Spotswood Workshops)
Left arrow
10.6
Newport
10.7
Melbourne Road
Greenwich
(demolished)
Newport Workshops | Garden Platform
Freezing Works Siding
(demolished)
LowerRight arrow
Altona line
to Laverton
Williamstown Racecourse (1st)
(demolished)
13.4
Metro Infrastructure Works Siding
13.5
SEC Siding
13.7
Hatherley
(demolished)
14.1
Paisley
(closed)
14.3
Millers Road
15.2
Australian Carbon Black Siding
CRT Siding
15.3
15.5
BP Platform & Sidings
(demolished)
15.8
Kororoit Creek Road
17.7
Maidstone Street
(Removing by 2030)
18.0
Galvin
(demolished)
SCT Siding
UpperRight arrow
Altona line
to Newport
20.6
21.0
Laverton
Laverton railway station, Melbourne#Transport links
22.2
Aircraft
Aircraft railway station#Transport links
23.3
Palmers Road
23.5
Williams Landing
Williams Landing railway station#Transport links
24.5
Forsyth Road
25.7
27.7
Hoppers Crossing
Hoppers Crossing railway station#Transport links
31.7
Werribee
Werribee railway station#Transport links
31.9
32.3
end of overhead
33.7
Werribee Racecourse
(closed)
34.4
end of Metro area
Left arrow
Geelong section
39.6
Manor
(demolished)
41.0
Mambourin
(demolished)
47.6
Little River
47.8
57.5
Lara
Lara railway station#Transport links
61.2
Elders IXL Siding
(closed)
61.9
62.8
Geelong Grammar Siding
(demolished)
63.9
Corio
65.3
Distillers Siding
(demolished)
67.2
North Shore
68.1
Harbour Trust Sidings
Left arrow
68.8
69.9
North Geelong Yard
Left arrow
Geelong–Ballarat line to Ballarat &
Fyansford line to APC Fyansford (dismantled)
70.0
North Geelong
North Geelong railway station#Transport links
71.1
Church Street (Midland Highway)
Geelong Locomotive Depot
72.0
Latrobe Terrace (Princes Highway)
Cunningham Pier
(dismantled)
72.6
Geelong
72.9
Geelong Tunnel
74.4
South Geelong
South Geelong railway station#Transport links
Right arrow
Queenscliff line
to Queenscliff
(dismantled)
76.9
Geelong Racecourse (2nd)
(demolished)
77.7
Breakwater
(demolished)
79.6
Marshall
Marshall railway station#Transport links
Geelong Racecourse (1st)
(demolished)
81.8
Grovedale
(demolished)
84.5
Duneed
(demolished)
84.9
Waurn Ponds
88.3
Waurn Ponds Cement Siding
(closed)
88.9
Waurn Ponds Stabling Sidings
Warrnambool section
90.5
Pettavel
(demolished)
96.7
Moriac
(demolished)
Right arrow
Wensleydale line
to Wensleydale
(dismantled)
103.8
Buckley
(demolished)
108.8
113.7
Winchelsea
123.5
Armytage
(demolished)
128.6
Right arrow
Forrest line
to Forrest
(dismantled)
134.3
Birregurra
139.8
139.9
Warncoort
(demolished)
Left arrow
147.7
Irrewarra
(demolished)
149.9
CRB Siding
(demolished)
150.9
Shell Oil Company
(demolished)
151.5
Right arrow
Crowes line
to Crowes
(dismantled)
153.4
Colac
Colac railway station#Transport links
Left arrow
Alvie line
to Alvie
(dismantled)
161.2
Larpent
(demolished)
168.3
Pirron Yallock
(closed)
178.4
Stoneyford
(demolished)
182.9
Pomborneit
(demolished)
189.5
Weerite
(demolished)
198.5
Camperdown
Camperdown railway station#Transport links
Right arrow
Timboon line
to Timboon
(dismantled)
211.0
Boorcan
(demolished)
213.8
220.8
Terang
Terang railway station#Transport links
Left arrow
Mortlake line
to Mortlake
(dismantled)
232.5
Garvoc
(demolished)
242.7
Panmure
(demolished)
249.6
Cudgee
(demolished)
255.9
Allansford
(demolished)
261.4
Sherwood Park
Sherwood Park railway station#Transport links
264.8
Warrnambool Caltex Oil Sidings
(demolished)
Warrnambool Pier
(demolished)
267.3
Warrnambool
Warrnambool railway station#Transport linksWarrnambool railway station#Transport links
269.0
Briquette Siding
(closed)
270.0
Westvic Siding
272.0
Dennington
(demolished)
276.8
Illowa
(demolished)
283.3
Koroit
(closed)
Left arrow
285.9
Crossley
(demolished)
287.9
Kirkstall
(demolished)
291.9
Moyne
(demolished)
296.4
Rosebrook
(demolished)
298.5
Port Fairy
(demolished)
Port Fairy Wharf
(demolished)
km

Close

Services

Thumb
V/Line VLocity train near Little River, 2006

Metro Trains Melbourne operates suburban passenger services along the inner section of the line as far as Werribee, while V/Line operates the Geelong and the Warrnambool services. For 11 years, from 19 September 1993 until 31 August 2004, the Melbourne to Warrnambool passenger service was run by the private West Coast Railway company.[1][2] Freight services also run on the line, operated by Pacific National and, for a brief period, El Zorro to the WestVic container terminal, between Warrnambool and Dennington.

History

Thumb
N class locomotive hauled train running near Lara, 2006
Thumb
V/Line train crossing the Breakwater Bridge, 2006

The Warrnambool line was originally built by the private Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company and opened on 25 June 1857, the line being sold to the Victorian Railways in 1860.[3] The line was designed by English engineer Edward Snell, and built as a single track. The standard of engineering was called into question as the light timber bridges required extra maintenance and had a short life span, while the decision to build only a single track resulted in slow and infrequent trains. Travelers between Melbourne and Geelong continued to prefer the bay steamers across Port Phillip Bay, leading to diminished profits for the company.[4] At a railway commission enquiry, Snell defended his approach as necessary to complete the work in time, with the expectation that the engineering works would be upgraded as traffic and revenue increased.[5] The railway had the misfortune of a fatal accident on its first run. The company's superintendent – and a friend of Snell's – was struck when leaning out of the train's engine as it approached a bridge. An inquiry cleared the company of any negligence.

Thumb
Colac station goods shed and platform, 2006

The line was progressively duplicated from the 1950s to the 1980s.[6]

The line was later extended south-west, to Winchelsea in 1876, Colac in 1877, Camperdown in 1883, Terang in 1877 and Warrnambool, Dennington and Port Fairy in 1890. This line is now closed beyond Warrnambool,[7] with the last train leaving Port Fairy on 10 September 1977, hauled by B75, with the line officially closing on 12 September 1977.[8] A branch line was built from Koroit (between Warrnambool and Port Fairy) to Hamilton (on the Ararat – Portland railway), via Penshurst, in 1890. At the same time a short-lived connection was opened between Penshurst and Dunkeld (also on the Ararat – Portland railway). It closed eight years later.

Branch lines were also constructed from South Geelong to Queenscliff in 1879, from Moriac (between Geelong and Winchelsea) to Wensleydale and Terang to Mortlake in 1890, from Birregurra (between Winchelsea and Colac) to Forrest in 1891, from Camperdown to Timboon in 1892, from Irrewarra (east of Colac) to Cressy in 1910, and from Colac to Alvie in 1923.

A 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge branch was also opened from Colac to Beech Forest in 1902, principally to carry timber, and was extended to Weeaproniah and Crowes in 1911.

The branch lines began to be closed from the late 1940s, the Wensleydale line being the first in 1948, followed by the Forrest line in 1957, the Irrewarra line in 1953, the Alvie line in 1954, the Beech Forest line in 1962 (the section from Weeaproniah to Crowes having been closed in 1954), and the Timboon line in 1988.

In 1993 West Coast Railway won the government tender to operate passenger services to Warrnambool using former Victorian Railways locomotives and rolling stock, including a regular steam hauled service. West Coast Railway ceased operations in 2004 handing the services back to government control by V/Line.

New Marshall and Waurn Ponds stations opened along the line in April 2005 and October 2014 respectively.

In July 2012, the Minister for Public Transport announced that a new crossing loop would be constructed on the line at Warncoort, between Birregurra and Colac. Tenders were called for in August.[9][better source needed] The loop opened in April 2014.[10]

In 2017, the Victorian State Government announced upgrades to allow VLocity railcars to travel to Warrnambool. The Warrnambool line upgrades, as part of Regional Rail Revival, include new signalling, level crossing upgrades and a second track between Boorcan and Weerite, either side of Camperdown.[11][12] Other upgrades of the line (Geelong line upgrade) as part of the Regional Rail Revival include the duplication of track between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds and an upgrade of Waurn Ponds station.[13]

19th century

The Port Fairy line was originally built by the Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company and opened on 25 June 1857, with the line being sold to the Victorian Railways in 1860.[3] The line was designed by English engineer Edward Snell, and built as a single track. The line was later extended south-west, to Winchelsea in 1876, Colac in 1877, Camperdown in 1883, Terang in 1877, and finally Warrnambool, Dennington, and Port Fairy in 1890. The line is now closed beyond Warrnambool, with the last train leaving Port Fairy in September 1977.[7][8]

Branch lines were constructed from South Geelong to Queenscliff in 1879, from Moriac (between Geelong and Winchelsea) to Wensleydale and Terang to Mortlake in 1890, from Birregurra (between Winchelsea and Colac) to Forrest in 1891, from Camperdown to Timboon in 1892, from Irrewarra (east of Colac) to Cressy and Ballarat in 1910, and from Colac to Alvie in 1923.[7]

20th century

Thumb
Crowes station, terminus of the Crowes railway line, was opened in 1912 and closed in 1954.
Thumb
Goods shed at the original terminus at Port Fairy, 2015

Throughout the mid 20th century, numerous branch lines were closed. The Wensleydale line was the first to close in 1948, followed by the Forrest line in 1957, the Colac–Ballarat line in 1953, the Alvie line in 1954, the Forrest line in 1962 (the section from Weeaproniah to Crowes having been closed earlier in 1954), and the Timboon line in 1988, amongst a few others.[14][15][16][17] These branch lines were closed due to limited passenger and freight demand with passenger rail services being replaced by coach services.

Whilst the track beyond Waurn Ponds station is mostly single with some passing loops, many duplication projects have occurred along the Geelong section of the line. The section from North Geelong to Geelong was duplicated late April 1922.[18] 37 years later in 1959, the section of track from Corio to North Geelong was duplicated. In 1979 the track from Werribee to Little River was duplicated and the sections from Little River to Lara and Lara to Corio in 1981.[19] The Regional Rail Revival project duplicated the track between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds in August 2024.[20][21]

In September 1977, the line beyond Warrnambool was closed. The final service to Port Fairy was hauled by a Victorian Railways B75 locomotive on 12 September.[7][8]

Stations

More information Station, Opened ...
Station Histories
Station Opened[22][23] Closed[22][23] Age Notes[22][23]
Southern Cross17 January 1859 || || data-sort-value=60,566 | 165 years
  • Formerly Batman's Hill
  • Formerly Spencer Street
Footscray24 September 1900 || || data-sort-value=45,341 | 124 years
Sunshine7 September 1885 || || data-sort-value=50,836 | 139 years
  • Formerly Braybrook Junction
Deer Park2 April 1884 || || data-sort-value=51,359 | 140 years
  • Formerly Kororoit Creek
Tarneit15 June 2015 || || data-sort-value=3,439 | 9 years
Wyndham Vale15 June 2015 || || data-sort-value=3,439 | 9 years
Wyndham Vale South Sidings ?
  • Future Black Forest Road station site
Manor2 February 1911 || 1 November 1970 || data-sort-value=21,822 | 59 years
MambourinNovember 1888 || 1893 || data-sort-value=1,826 | 5 years
  • Formerly Pearce's Bros Siding
Little River1 January 1857 || || data-sort-value=61,312 | 167 years
  • Formerly Little River
  • Formerly Bulban
Lara1 November 1856 || || data-sort-value=61,373 | 168 years
  • Formerly Duck Ponds
Elders IXL Siding12 March 1986 || 2010 || data-sort-value=9,012 | 24 years
Geelong Grammar Siding24 May 1955 || || data-sort-value=41,116 | 112 years
Corio15 September 1890 || || data-sort-value=49,002 | 134 years
  • Formerly Cowies Creek
  • Formerly Cowie
Distillers Siding14 February 1928 || c. 21 February 1987 || data-sort-value=21,557 | Approx. 59 years
North Shore15 April 1895 || || data-sort-value=47,329 | 129 years
  • Formerly North Shore
  • Formerly Corio
Harbour Trust Sidings8 March 1909 || || data-sort-value=42,254 | 115 years
North Geelong Yard28 January 1885 || || data-sort-value=51,058 | 139 years
North Geelong1 August 1883 || || data-sort-value=51,604 | 141 years
  • Formerly West Geelong
Geelong Locomotive Depot20 May 1917 || || data-sort-value=39,259 | 107 years
Cunningham Pier ? ?
  • Formerly Railway Pier
Geelong1 November 1856 || || data-sort-value=61,373 | 168 years
South Geelong1 November 1883 || || data-sort-value=51,512 | 141 years
Geelong Racecourse (2nd)1 January 1911 || 19 October 2005 || data-sort-value=34,625 | 94 years
  • Formerly Geelong Showgrounds
Breakwater28 December 1889 || 6 March 1895 || data-sort-value=1,894 | 5 years
25 June 1895 || 12 August 1898 || data-sort-value=1,144 | 3 years
Marshall14 July 1879 || 17 February 1964 || data-sort-value=30,898 | 84 years
  • Formerly Connewarra
26 April 2005 || || data-sort-value=7,141 | 19 years
Geelong Racecourse (1st)26 January 1877 || c. January 1878 || data-sort-value=352 | Approx. 11 months
  • On main line
22 January 1878 || 13 January 1906 || data-sort-value=10,217 | 27 years
  • On branch
Grovedalec. 25 November 1876 || 1954 || data-sort-value=28,476 | Approx. 77 years
  • Formerly Germantown
Duneedc. 25 November 1876 || 26 July 1921 || data-sort-value=16,313 | Approx. 44 years
Waurn Ponds12 October 2014 || || data-sort-value=3,685 | 10 years
Waurn Ponds Cement Siding22 March 1963 || 31 May 2021 || data-sort-value=21,255 | 58 years
Waurn Ponds Stabling Sidings27 February 2023 || || data-sort-value=625 | 20 months
Pettavel ?22 August 1952 ?
  • Formerly Pettavel Road
Moriac1 October 1877 || 5 October 1982 || data-sort-value=38,354 | 105 years
  • Formerly Mount Moriac
Buckley ?17 October 1955 ?
  • Formerly Buckley's Road
Winchelsea25 November 1876 || || data-sort-value=54,044 | 147 years
Armytage24 August 1911 || 12 November 1956 || data-sort-value=16,517 | 45 years
Birregurra13 March 1877 || || data-sort-value=53,936 | 147 years
Warncoort13 March 1877 || 22 August 1958 || data-sort-value=29,746 | 81 years
Irrewarra1 October 1877 || 22 August 1958 || data-sort-value=29,544 | 80 years
CRB Siding1927 ? ?
Shell Oil Company ?December 1975 ?
Colac27 July 1877 || || data-sort-value=53,800 | 147 years
Larpent ? ? ?
Pirron Yallock ?5 October 1982 ?
Stoneyford ?17 October 1955 ?
Pomborneit ?14 August 1978 ?
Weerite ?22 July 1975 ?
Camperdown2 July 1883 || || data-sort-value=51,634 | 141 years
Boorcan23 April 1887 || 5 October 1982 || data-sort-value=34,863 | 95 years
Terang23 April 1887 || || data-sort-value=50,243 | 137 years
Garvoc ?30 January 1966 ?
Panmure4 February 1890 || 5 October 1982 || data-sort-value=33,845 | 92 years
Cudgee ?26 September 1960 ?
Allansford ?5 October 1982 ?
Sherwood Park19 February 2006 || || data-sort-value=6,842 | 18 years
Warrnambool Caltex Oil Sidings27 November 1946 || 1966 || data-sort-value=7,291 | 19 years
Warrnambool Pierc.1890 ? ?
Warrnambool4 February 1890 || || data-sort-value=49,225 | 134 years
Briquette Siding ? ? ?
Westvic Siding ? ?
Denningtonc. pre 1897 || 1 September 1958 || data-sort-value=22,206 | Approx. 60 years
  • Passengers
  • Siding for British Imperial Oil Coy (later Shell)
  • Siding for Anglo Swiss Condensed Milk Coy (later Nestle)
1 September 1958 || 2002 || data-sort-value=16,144 | 44 years
  • Siding for British Imperial Oil Coy (later Shell)
  • Siding for Anglo Swiss Condensed Milk Coy (later Nestle)
IllowaAugust 1890 || 12 September 1977 || data-sort-value=31,806 | 87 years
  • Formerly Farnham
Koroit4 February 1890 || 12 September 1977 || data-sort-value=31,996 | 87 years
Crossley4 February 1890 || 1 August 1955 || data-sort-value=23,918 | 65 years
  • Formerly West Koroit
Kirkstall4 February 1890 || 1 September 1957 || data-sort-value=24,680 | 67 years
  • Formerly Crossley
Moyne4 February 1890 || 1 September 1957 || data-sort-value=24,680 | 67 years
  • Formerly Korongah
  • Formerly Moyne Siding
Rosebrook4 February 1890 || 1 August 1955 || data-sort-value=23,918 | 65 years
Port Fairy4 February 1890 || 12 September 1977 || data-sort-value=31,996 | 87 years
Port Fairy Wharf ? ? ?
Close

References

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