# Warrnambool line

The Warrnambool line is a long-distance regional rail service in Victoria, Australia. Operated by V/Line, it is the state's fourth longest railway line at 267.3 kilometres (166.1 mi). The line runs from Southern Cross station in central Melbourne to Warrnambool station in the south-west, serving 21 stations via Wyndham Vale, Geelong, Waurn Ponds, and Colac. The line has five return services each weekday and four return services on weekends. Trains on the Warrnambool service run with three- to five-car N-type carriage sets, which are hauled by N class locomotives, and three-car Vlocity units.
The service was taken over by V/Line after the closure of West Coast Railway in 2004. The track that the service operates on was originally built to connect Melbourne with the rural towns of Geelong, Colac, Warrnambool, and Port Fairy, amongst others. Sections of the Port Fairy line opened as early as 1857, with the line fully extended to Warrnambool in February 1890. A section of the line between Warrnambool and Port Fairy was closed in 1977 due to limited demand. Today V/Line only operates as far as Warrnambool.
Since the 2010s, there have been a number of upgrades to the line to improve the speed, accessibility and frequency of the service, including the Regional Rail Link, the Regional Rail Revival, and the planned Geelong Fast Rail project.

## History
### 19th century

The line to Geelong 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. 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.

### 20th century

In the early 20th century, a similar service named "The Flyer" was introduced as an extension of the Geelong Flier to Port Fairy. The service shaved 90 minutes off the whole journey, compared with the schedule of its predecessors. This service was operated by the longer-distance E-class carriages and lasted until about 1967.
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. 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. The Regional Rail Revival project will duplicate the track from South Geelong to Waurn Ponds in late 2024.
In September 1977, the line beyond Warrnambool was closed, with the final service to Port Fairy being hauled by a Victorian Railways B75 locomotive on 12 September.
In the 1980s the Victorian Railways decided to give names to its flagship services, to follow on from the previously named "Vinelander" & "Gippslander", and "The Westcoaster" was born. It had buffet facilities on board and shaved minutes off the journey time
West Coast Railway was formed in 1993 when the Kennett government privatised long-distance country rail services previously run by the government-owned operator V/Line to private operators. Bids were lodged in February 1993 with West Coast Railway being announced as the successful tender on 30 April of the same year. The initial franchise was for eight years with operations commencing on 19 September 1993. The service continued using the name "The Westcoaster" until services were returned to V/Line operation and the name fell into disuse.

### 21st century

In August 2001, Connex purchased a 50% shareholding of West Coast Railway. In 2003, Connex sold its shareholding to Australian Public Trustees. West Coast Railway continued to operate the line until 2004 when the contract was handed back the government with V/Line resuming operation of the line.
Since transfer to V/Line, five new stations have opened on the line: Marshall station in 2004, Sherwood Park station, near Warrnambool, in 2006, Waurn Ponds station in 2014, and Tarneit and Wyndham Vale in 2015.
From 29 January 2017, V/Line started running a fourth service return service on weekdays with Sunday road coach services being replaced by trains. This meant that three Sunday train services ran in both directions instead of two. Following the timetable change in late August 2017, weekday Warrnambool trains no longer serve Wyndham Vale or Tarneit stations. In December 2018, due to a lack of available rolling stock, H carriages were used on the line past Geelong for the first time. H carriages are no longer used on the Warrnambool service.
From 31 March 2023, the cost of V/Line rail tickets were capped to the same fare as metropolitan services, with daily fares being capped at $9.20 or $4.60 for concession. These changes are expected to bring a large rise in patronage, with fears of overcrowding on V/Line services.

#### Regional Rail Link

Due to an increase in congestion on the Werribee line where Metro and V/Line services have to share tracks, a proposal was created to construct a separate line for regional trains called the "Tarneit Link". The project was expanded and re-branded as the Regional Rail Link when announced as part of the Brumby Government's Victorian Transport Plan in December 2008. The project was revised to separating all regional trains between Southern Cross and Geelong, Ballarat, and Bendigo, from suburban rail movements, with the proposed route beginning at Southern Cross, travelling through Sunshine and Tarneit to West Werribee.
In December 2013, the first section of the upgrade works were completed and the Warrnambool service could no longer stop at North Melbourne station. On 21 June 2015, the Deer Park–West Werribee railway line opened. Consequently, Warrnambool trains began to run via Wyndham Vale and Tarneit stations, rather than via Werribee and Newport stations on the Werribee Line.

#### Level crossing removals

The Level Crossing Removal Project removed 3 level crossings in the area surrounding Deer Park in 2022 and 2023. The crossing at Robinsons Road was removed by constructing a road tunnel underneath the rail line, with the project being completed in September 2022. Another crossing was removed at Mt Derrimut Road via the construction of an elevated rail bridge. This removal also included a newly elevated Deer Park station, car-parking, and public open space. The final crossing that was removed was the one at Fitzgerald Road in neighbouring suburb of Ardeer. This crossing was removed in April 2022 via the construction of a road bridge over the line. Despite a large number of remaining crossings on the line, there are no more scheduled to be removed by the Level Crossing Removal Project.

## Future
### Regional Rail Revival

In 2017, the Regional Rail Revival program was announced which included an upgrade to the Warrnambool service. The first stage was aimed at allowing a fifth return service to be introduced and involved:
* Signalling upgrades including the construction of trenches, cabling, and additional infrastructure (complete)
* A new 2.2 km 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. 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 2024. This second stage includes:
* 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.

### Geelong Fast Rail

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. 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. Phase 1 of Geelong Fast Rail will consist of the following projects aimed at cutting travel times by 15 minutes:
* 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.

## Network and operations
### Services

On weekdays, there are five express services per day. All Melbourne-bound services operate express between Geelong and Southern Cross, stopping only at Footscray. On weekends and public holidays, there are a total of four services per day—three express and one local service.
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.

#### Stopping patterns

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

### On-board amenities

The Warrnambool service 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. On locomotive hauled long-distance services (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 a 2+2 configuration as well as a luggage compartment. Cafe facilities are also available on-board all locomotive-hauled Warrnambool services serving a range of pre-made warm goods, pre-packaged sandwiches and snacks, as well as drinks. Quiet carriages aren't available on locomotive hauled services, However are provided on VLocity railcars

### Operators

Prior to V/Line taking back operation of the Warrnambool service from West Coast Railway in 2004, there had been 3 previous operators. The majority of operations on the line have been government run, with these operators including the Victorian Railways, the State Transport Authority, and the Public Transport Corporation.
| Operator | Assumed operations | Ceased operations | Length of operations |
| Victorian Railways | 1876 | 1983 | 107 years |
| State Transport Authority (V/Line) | 1983 | 1989 | 6 years |
| Public Transport Corporation (V/Line) | 1989 | 1993 | 4 years |
| West Coast Railway | 1993 | 2004 | 11 years |
| V/Line Passenger | 2004 | 2010 | 6 years |
| V/Line | 2010 | incumbent | 15 years (ongoing) |

### Route

The Warrnambool line forms a somewhat curved route from the Melbourne central business district to its terminus. The route is 267.3 kilometres (166.1 mi) long and is doubled tracked up until Waurn Ponds where it narrows to one track. Exiting the city, the Warrnambool line traverses somewhat flat country. Past Waurn Ponds the line begins to curve due to the natural terrain. On track constructed as part of the Regional Rail Link, there are numerous cuttings and embankments designed to eliminate new level crossings. After Wyndham Vale, the line has many level crossings especially past Waurn Ponds station.
The line follows the same alignment as the Geelong line until Waurn Ponds where the Geelong line terminates and the Warrnambool line continues onto Warrnambool. The track up to Waurn Ponds primarily travels through built-up suburbs, industrial areas, and some farm land. After Waurn Ponds, the line travels through open countryside and through small regional towns. The portion of the line before Waurn Ponds is one of Melbourne and Victoria's main growth corridors, where farmland is being replaced with housing and commercial developments, leading to a rise in patronage.

### Stations

The line serves 21 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.
| Station | Accessibility | Opened | Terrain | Train connections |
| Southern Cross | Yes—step free access | 1859 | 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 | Yes—step free access | 1859 | Ground level | 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 | Yes—step free access | 1884 | Elevated | 4 connections  Ararat line   Ballarat line   Geelong line   Maryborough line |
| Tarneit | Yes—step free access | 2015 | Ground level | 1 connection  Geelong line |
| Wyndham Vale | Yes—step free access | 2015 | Lowered | 1 connection  Geelong line |
| Little River | Yes—step free access | 1857 | Ground level | 1 connection  Geelong line |
| Lara | Yes—step free access | 1856 | Ground level | 1 connection  Geelong line |
| Corio | Yes—step free access | 1890 | Ground level | 1 connection  Geelong line |
| North Shore | Yes—step free access | 1895 | Ground level | 2 connections  Geelong line   The Overland |
| North Geelong | Yes—step free access | 1883 | Ground level | 1 connection  Geelong line |
| Geelong | Yes—step free access | 1856 | Ground level | 1 connection  Geelong line |
| South Geelong | Yes—step free access | 1856 | Ground level | 1 connection  Geelong line |
| Marshall | Yes—step free access | 2004 | Ground level | 1 connection  Geelong line |
| Waurn Ponds | Yes—step free access | 2014 | Ground level | 1 connection  Geelong line |
| Winchelsea | No—steep ramp | 1876 | Ground level | |
| Birregurra | No—steep ramp | 1877 | Ground level | |
| Colac | Yes—step free access | 1877 | Ground level | |
| Camperdown | Yes—step free access | 1883 | Ground level | |
| Terang | Yes—step free access | 1877 | Ground level | |
| Sherwood Park | No—steep ramp | 2006 | Ground level | |
| Warrnambool | No—steep ramp | 1890 | Ground level | |
Station histories :
| Station | Opened | Closed | Age | Notes |
| Southern Cross | 17 January 1859 || || data-sort-value=60,640 | 166 years | Formerly Batman's Hill Formerly Spencer Street |
| Footscray | 24 September 1900 || || data-sort-value=45,415 | 124 years | |
| Sunshine | 7 September 1885 || || data-sort-value=50,910 | 139 years | Formerly Braybrook Junction |
| Deer Park | 2 April 1884 || || data-sort-value=51,433 | 140 years | Formerly Kororoit Creek |
| Tarneit | 15 June 2015 || || data-sort-value=3,513 | 9 years | |
| Wyndham Vale | 15 June 2015 || || data-sort-value=3,513 | 9 years | |
| Wyndham Vale South Sidings | ? | | | Future Black Forest Road station site |
| Manor | 2 February 1911 || 1 November 1970 || data-sort-value=21,822 | 59 years | |
| Mambourin | November 1888 || 1893 || data-sort-value=1,522 | 4 years | Formerly Pearce's Bros Siding |
| Little River | 1 January 1957 || || data-sort-value=24,862 | 68 years | Formerly Little River Formerly Bulban |
| Lara | 1 November 1856 || || data-sort-value=61,447 | 168 years | Formerly Duck Ponds |
| Elders IXL Siding | 12 March 1986 || 2010 || data-sort-value=8,721 | 23 years | |
| Geelong Grammar Siding | 24 May 1955 || || data-sort-value=41,190 | 112 years | |
| Corio | 15 September 1890 || || data-sort-value=49,076 | 134 years | Formerly Cowies Creek Formerly Cowie |
| Distillers Siding | 14 February 1928 || c. 21 February 1987 || data-sort-value=21,557 | Approx. 59 years | |
| North Shore | 15 April 1895 || || data-sort-value=47,403 | 129 years | Formerly North Shore Formerly Corio |
| Harbour Trust Sidings | 8 March 1909 || || data-sort-value=42,328 | 115 years | |
| North Geelong Yard | 28 January 1885 || || data-sort-value=51,132 | 139 years | |
| North Geelong | 1 August 1883 || || data-sort-value=51,678 | 141 years | Formerly West Geelong |
| Geelong Locomotive Depot | 20 May 1917 || || data-sort-value=39,333 | 107 years | |
| Cunningham Pier | ? | ? | | Formerly Railway Pier |
| Geelong | 1 November 1856 || || data-sort-value=61,447 | 168 years | |
| South Geelong | 1 November 1883 || || data-sort-value=51,586 | 141 years | |
| Geelong Racecourse (2nd) | 1 January 1911 || 19 October 2005 || data-sort-value=34,625 | 94 years | Formerly Geelong Showgrounds |
| Breakwater | 28 December 1889 || 6 March 1895 || data-sort-value=1,894 | 5 years | |
| Breakwater | 25 June 1895 || 12 August 1898 || data-sort-value=1,144 | 3 years | |
| Marshall | 14 July 1879 || 17 February 1964 || data-sort-value=30,898 | 84 years | Formerly Connewarra |
| Marshall | 26 April 2005 || || data-sort-value=7,215 | 19 years | |
| Geelong Racecourse (1st) | 26 January 1877 || c. January 1878 || data-sort-value=365 | Approx. 12 months | On main line |
| Geelong Racecourse (1st) | 22 January 1878 || 13 January 1906 || data-sort-value=10,217 | 27 years | On branch |
| Grovedale | c. 25 November 1876 || 1954 || data-sort-value=28,185 | Approx. 77 years | Formerly Germantown |
| Duneed | c. 25 November 1876 || 26 July 1921 || data-sort-value=16,313 | Approx. 44 years | |
| Waurn Ponds | 12 October 2014 || || data-sort-value=3,759 | 10 years | |
| Waurn Ponds Cement Siding | 22 March 1963 || 31 May 2021 || data-sort-value=21,255 | 58 years | |
| Waurn Ponds Stabling Sidings | 27 February 2023 || || data-sort-value=699 | 22 months | |
| Pettavel | ? | 22 August 1952 | ? | Formerly Pettavel Road |
| Moriac | 1 October 1877 || 5 October 1982 || data-sort-value=38,354 | 105 years | Formerly Mount Moriac |
| Buckley | ? | 17 October 1955 | ? | Formerly Buckley's Road |
| Winchelsea | 25 November 1876 || || data-sort-value=54,118 | 148 years | |
| Armytage | 24 August 1911 || 12 November 1956 || data-sort-value=16,517 | 45 years | |
| Birregurra | 13 March 1877 || || data-sort-value=54,010 | 147 years | |
| Warncoort | 13 March 1877 || 22 August 1958 || data-sort-value=29,746 | 81 years | |
| Irrewarra | 1 October 1877 || 22 August 1958 || data-sort-value=29,544 | 80 years | |
| CRB Siding | 1927 | ? | ? | |
| Shell Oil Company | ? | December 1975 | ? | |
| Colac | 27 July 1877 || || data-sort-value=53,874 | 147 years | Was originally Colac Beach |
| Larpent | ? | ? | ? | |
| Pirron Yallock | ? | 5 October 1982 | ? | |
| Stoneyford | ? | 17 October 1955 | ? | |
| Pomborneit | ? | 14 August 1978 | ? | |
| Weerite | ? | 22 July 1975 | ? | |
| Camperdown | 2 July 1883 || || data-sort-value=51,708 | 141 years | |
| Boorcan | 23 April 1887 || 5 October 1982 || data-sort-value=34,863 | 95 years | |
| Terang | 23 April 1887 || || data-sort-value=50,317 | 137 years | |
| Garvoc | ? | 30 January 1966 | ? | |
| Panmure | 4 February 1890 || 5 October 1982 || data-sort-value=33,845 | 92 years | |
| Cudgee | ? | 26 September 1960 | ? | |
| Allansford | ? | 5 October 1982 | ? | |
| Sherwood Park | 19 February 2006 || || data-sort-value=6,916 | 18 years | |
| Warrnambool Caltex Oil Sidings | 27 November 1946 || 1966 || data-sort-value=7,000 | 19 years | |
| Warrnambool Pier | c. 1890 | ? | ? | |
| Warrnambool | 4 February 1890 || || data-sort-value=49,299 | 134 years | |
| Briquette Siding | ? | ? | ? | |
| Westvic Siding | ? | | ? | |

## Infrastructure
### Rolling stock

The Warrnambool service uses N class diesel-electric locomotives with N-class carriages operating in a three five-car set, 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. The Warrnambool line is one of the two remaining lines that uses the loco hauled V/Line N class with N type carriages as services to Albury, Bairnsdale and Shepparton are all operated by V/Line VLocity as of October 2024.
Upon the completion of Stage 2 of the Warrnambool line upgrade as part of the Regional Rail Revival project from 1 November 2024, the Warrnambool service has used VLocity trains. 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. 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). Only commuter VLocities are available for use on broad gauge, with all long-distance VLocities currently on Standard Gauge. Unlike existing long distance locomotive hauled trains, first class isn't available on board the VLocity trains. Commuter and 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. From 1 December 2024, Vlocity services were introduced on all except overnight stabling services to Warrnambool, with only two services in each direction on weekdays and one on weekends still being locomotive hauled.
Alongside the passenger trains, Port Fairy 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). Most of these trains are repurposed locomotives previously used by V/Line, Metro Trains, and the Southern Shorthaul Railroad.

### Accessibility

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. The majority of stations on the corridor are fully accessible, however, there are some stations that haven't been upgraded to meet these guidelines. These stations do feature ramps, however, they have a gradient greater than 1 in 14. Stations that are fully accessible feature ramps that have a gradient less than 1 in 14, have at-grade paths, or feature lifts. These stations typically also feature tactile boarding indicators, independent boarding ramps, wheelchair accessible myki barriers, hearing loops, and widened paths.
Projects improving station accessibility have included the Regional Rail Revival (RRL) program, which involves station rebuilds and upgrades. These works have made significant strides in improving network accessibility, with more than 80% of the stations on the line classed as fully accessible. This number is expected to grow within the coming years as works progress on the RRL.

### Signalling

The Warrnambool line uses a combination of different signalling types due to the length of the line. The line is generally Automatic and Track Control, with Automatic Block Signalling between North Geelong and Geelong, and between Sherwood Park and Warrnambool.

## Line guide

vteWarrnambool railway line :
Legend :