Warrnambool V/Line rail service

In 1993, passenger services on the line were contracted by the State Government to a private company, West Coast Railway.

That arrangement lasted until 2004, when the contract was handed back to the government, and V/Line resumed the operation of Warrnambool services. Three new stations have opened on the line since then: Marshall station in 2004,[1] Sherwood Park station, near Warrnambool, in 2006,[2] and Waurn Ponds station in 2014.

After 22 December 2013, following the opening of the first section of the Regional Rail Link (RRL) from Southern Cross to South Kensington, Warrnambool services no longer stopped at North Melbourne station.

From 12 October 2014, V/Line Warrnambool train services began stopping at the new Waurn Ponds station as part of the extension of Geelong line services to that location.

On 21 June 2015, the new RRL line from Manor Junction to Deer Park West opened. Consequently, Warrnambool trains began to run via Wyndham Vale and Tarneit stations, rather than via Werribee and Newport stations on the Werribee Line.[3]

In December 2018, due to a lack of available rollingstock, H carriages were used on the line past Geelong for the first time.[4]

From 29 January 2017, V/Line started running a fourth service return service on weekdays, and Sunday road coach services were replaced by trains, so that three Sunday train services run in both directions instead of two.[5] Following a timetable change on 27 August 2017, weekday Warrnambool trains no longer serve Wyndham Vale or Tarneit stations.

From March 31st 2023, the cost of V/Line rail tickets were capped to the same fare fee as metro services with a daily fares being capped at $9.20 or $4.60 for concession.[6][7][8]

In 2017, the Regional Rail Revival program was announced which included an upgrade to the Warrnambool line. The first stage was aimed at allowing a fifth return service to be introduced and involved:[9][10]

• Signalling upgrades including the construction of trenches, cabling, and additional infrastructure (complete)
• A new 2.2km crossing loop at Boorcan (complete)
• 12 level crossing upgrades between Waurn Ponds and Warrnambool with boom gates, flashing lights, bells, and more advanced train detection technology (complete)

Stage 1 of the upgrade was completed in December 2022 with a fifth weekday return service introduced between Melbourne and Warrnambool.[11] In September 2021, a second stage of upgrades aimed at allowing VLocity trains to operate on the line was announced with a targeted completion date of late 2023. This second stage includes:[12]

• Upgrades to train detection technology at more than 50 public level crossings (underway)
  • Installation of boom gates, bells, and flashing lights at 17 of those crossings (underway)
• The upgrade of stabling facilities at Warrnambool Station (underway)
• Track upgrades to replace old wooden sleepers (complete)

Once the project is fully complete, there will be no unprotected public level crossings on the line, with all protected by boom gates and flashing lights. The project is targeted for completion in late 2023 with works progressing.[12]

The Western Rail Plan is a plan that aims to improve the quality of rail services in Melbournes western suburbs through infrastructure upgrades on a range of metropolitan and regional lines.[13] Geelong Fast Rail was one project identified in the Western Rail Plan as a matter of priority, as it would allow for Geelong and Warrnambool services to travel back via the Werribee line, cutting travel time and allowing electrification of other corridors to occur which are currently being served exclusively by V/Line trains.[14] Phase 1 of Geelong Fast Rail will consist of the following projects aimed at cutting travel times by 15 minutes:[14]

• New track between Werribee and Laverton dedicated to regional services
• Upgrades and widening of bridges over main roads, creeks, and rivers
• Upgraded stations at Werribee and Laverton
• Signalling and train control system upgrades

Construction on the project expected to get underway in 2023, with the Australian and Victorian governments committing $2 billion each to the project which is expected to create 2800 new jobs.[15]

On weekdays, there are five express services per day. All Melbourne-bound services operate express between Geelong and Southern Cross, stopping only at Footscray.[16] On weekends and public holidays, there are a total of three services per day—two local and one express evening service.[16] On Friday nights and weekends, two coach services to Waurn Ponds acts as overnight connections which both depart at 2.15am.[17]

Train services on the line are also subjected to maintenance and renewal works, usually on selected Fridays and Saturdays. Shuttle coach services are provided throughout the duration of works for affected commuters.[18]

Legend — Station status

• ◼ Premium Station – Station staffed from first to last train
• ◻ Host Station – Usually staffed during morning peak, however this can vary for different stations on the network.

Legend — Stopping patterns

• ● – All trains stop
• ◐ – Some services do not stop
• ▲ – Only inbound trains stop
• ▼ – Only outbound trains stop
• | – Trains pass and do not stop

The Warrnambool line is classified by V/Line as a long-distance service, subsequently adding additional amenities to the service. Standard on all V/Line services, toilets and luggage racks are available in addition to other amenities.[20] On locomotive hauled services, first class is available in a 2+2 configuration in N-class carriages. Each train typically has two economy carriages with a total of 176 seats in a 3+2 configuration and one first class carriage with 52 seats in the cabin.[21] From late 2023, VLocity trains will be introduced on the line replacing outdated N-class carriages. The new trains won't have a first class cabin but will have a cafe facility.[22] Cafe facilities are also available on-board all Warrnambool services serving a range of pre-made warm goods, pre-packaged sandwiches and snacks, as well as drinks.[23] Quiet carrages aren't available on locomotive hauled services, but once VLocity's are introduced from late 2023 the feature will be present on-board.[23]

The Warrnambool line has had a total of 6 operators since its opening in 1876. The majority of operations on the line have been government run. From the first service by the Victorian Railways in 1876 till the line was shortly privatised between 1993 and 2004, 5 government owned operators have operated the line.[24] These operators have been the Victorian Railways, State Transport Authority, Public Transport Corporation, V/Line Passenger, and V/Line have had a combined operational period of 136 years and is still ongoing.[25] In comparison, West Coast Railway only operated the line for a short period of 11 years between 1993 and 2004.[26]

The line serves 20 stations across 267.3 kilometres (166.1 mi) of track. The stations are a mix of lowered and ground level designs. The only station that isn't at ground level is Wyndham Vale which was constructed in a lowered fashion as part of the Regional Rail Link in 2015.[27]

Station	Accessibility	Opened	Terrain	Train connections	Other connections
Southern Cross	Yes—step free access	1859[28]	Ground level	27 connections  Alamein line   Albury line   Ararat line   Ballarat line   Belgrave line   Bendigo line   Craigieburn line   Cranbourne line   Echuca line   Flemington Racecourse line   Geelong line   Gippsland line   Glen Waverley line   Hurstbridge line   Lilydale line   Maryborough line   Mernda line   NSW TrainLink Southern   Pakenham line   Seymour line   Shepparton line   Sunbury line   Swan Hill line   The Overland   Upfield line   Werribee line   Williamstown line
Footscray		1859[28]		10 connections  Ararat line   Ballarat line   Bendigo line   Echuca line   Geelong line   Maryborough line   Sunbury line   Swan Hill line   Werribee line   Williamstown line
Deer Park		1884[28]	Elevated	4 connections  Ararat line   Ballarat line   Geelong line   Maryborough line
Tarneit		2015[28]	Ground level	1 connection  Geelong line
Wyndham Vale			Lowered
Little River		1857[28]	Ground level
Lara		1856[28]
Corio		1890[28]
North Shore		1895[28]		2 connections  Geelong line   The Overland
North Geelong		1883[28]		1 connection  Geelong line
Geelong		1856[28]
South Geelong
Marshall		2004[28]
Waurn Ponds		2014[28]
Winchelsea	No—steep ramp	1876[28]
Birregurra		1877[28]
Colac	Yes—step free access
Camperdown		1883[28]
Terang		1877[28]
Sherwood Park	No—steep ramp	2006[28]
Warrnambool		1890[28]

The Warrnambool line uses N class diesel-electric locomotive-hauled N-class carriages operating in a three (or sometimes more)-car configuration, with two doors per side on each carriage and can accommodate of up to 88 economy passengers or 52 first class passengers in one individual car configuration. The locomotives were originally built between 1985 and 1987 for V/Line by Clyde Engineering with a total of 25 produced. The locomotives are shared with other V/Line long-distance regional services and have been in service since 1985. In addition to locomotives, VicRail N-class carriages are also in use by V/Line. The carriage sets have both first class in a 2+2 seating arrangement and economy seating in a 2+3 arrangement. Snack bar facilities are also provided on board alongside toilets, drinking fountains, and luggage areas. Originally delivered as three-car sets, some sets were extended in length with Z type carriages.

Alongside the passenger trains, Warrnambool line tracks and equipment are maintained by a fleet of engineering trains. The two types of engineering trains are: the shunting train; designed for moving trains along non-electrified corridors and for transporting other maintenance locomotives and the infrastructure evaluation carriage designed for general infrastructure evaluation including track and electrical infrastructure (if travelling along electrified corridors).[31] Most of these trains are repurposed locomotives previously used by V/Line, Metro Trains, and the Southern Shorthaul Railroad.[31]

Upon the completion of Stage 2 of the Warrnambool line upgrade as part of the Regional Rail Revival project in late 2023, the Warrnambool line will be able to use long-distance VLocity trains.[9] VLocity trains operate in a three-car configuration (with the ability to be configured up to 6 cars or 9 (on select segments only)) with two doors per side on each carriage and a seating capacity of 222 seats per three car set in a 2+2 configuration.[32] There are two types of interior layouts: commuter (with seating, toilets, and luggage racks) and long distance (with seating, toilets, a kiosk style cafe, and luggage racks).[33] Unlike existing long distance locomotive hauled trains, first class isn't available on-board the long distance VLocity trains.[22] Long distance VLocity's are currently in operation on all other long distance lines to some extent, with more progressively being delivered. The trains have been continuously built at Alstom's Dandenong factory in Melbourne's south-east since 2004.[34]

In compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act of 1992, all stations that are new-built or rebuilt are fully accessible and comply with these guidelines.[35] The majority of stations on the corridor are fully accessible, however, there are some stations that haven't been upgraded to meet these guidelines.[36] These stations do feature ramps, however, they have a gradient greater than 1 in 14.[36] Stations that are fully accessible feature ramps that have a gradient less than 1 in 14, have at-grade paths, or feature lifts.[36] These stations typically also feature tactile boarding indicators, independent boarding ramps, wheelchair accessible myki barriers, hearing loops, and widened paths.[36][37]

Projects improving station accessibility have included the Regional Rail Revival (RRL) program, which involves station rebuilds and upgrades.[38] These works have made significant strides in improving network accessibility, with more than 80% of Warrnambool line stations classed as fully accessible. This number is expected to grow within the coming years as works progress on the RRL.[39]

The Warrnambool line uses a combination of different signalling types due to the length of the line. From the city to North Geelong the line uses Automatic and Track Control, to Geelong Automatic Block Signalling, to Waurn Ponds Track Block, and to Warrnambool Train Order Working.[40]