Sunbury line

Sunbury station was opened in February 1859 as part of the rail line to Bendigo.

The Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company started to build a rail line to Bendigo before operations were taken over by the Department of Railways then the Victorian Railways. The line had been extended as far as Sunbury by February 1859.[5] The line was duplicated between Footscray and Sunbury in early July 1859.[5]

Electrification of the line to St Albans was completed in October 1921, although electrification has already occurred to North Melbourne in May 1919 as part of the Essendon line electrification, and to Footscray in August 1920 as part of the Williamstown line electrification.[6] Electrification shaved 10 minutes off the trip from St Albans to the city.[6]

North Melbourne to South Kensington was quadruplicated in 1924, and South Kensington to Footscray in November 1976.[11] Automatic block signalling was provided between South Kensington and Footscray (and Yarraville on the Williamstown line) in August 1927, from Footscray to West Footscray in October 1927, North Melbourne to South Kensington in June 1928, Sunshine to Albion in July 1929, West Footscray to Sunshine in October 1929, and Albion to St Albans in February 1930, thus resulting in the entire electrified line being provided with this signalling.[11]

On 27 January 2002, electrification of the St Albans line was extended along the regional V/Line tracks to Sydenham.[7] The Sydenham electrification project delivered projects including the closure of the original Sydenham station. A new station located 600m south of the old Sydenham station was constructed and called Watergardens after the nearby Watergardens Shopping Centre. Extension of electrification to Watergardens. There was an extension of the automatic block signalling, reaching up to Watergardens, and a new station was constructed at Keilor Plains.

Diggers Rest station was opened as part of the extension.

Proposals for an extension of electrified metropolitan services Sunbury have dated as far back as the 1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan.[12] $270 million was set aside to complete electrification works. Some Sunbury residents were unfriendly to the idea of electrifying their service. Those who disapproved of the works had concerns including a less comfortable seat and journey, the removal of toilet facilities, the presence of a conductor, and the increase in the number of people using the service.[13] In addition to these issues, there was concern over an increase of congestion at level crossings along the route due to the increase in the number of services.[13] Bendigo residents also raised concern as the new services would make for a slightly slower journey for V/Line passengers travelling further along the line. Ian Dobbs, head of Public Transport Victoria explained the issue, saying that "there's a slight slow-down of services on that particular corridor with this timetable, because we're putting more metro services in the mix." Despite these concerns, the project went ahead, with the works package including[8] an Extension of electrification to Sunbury, extension of the automatic block signalling to Sunbury and upgrades to Sunbury and Diggers Rest stations.

On 18 November 2012, the electrification of the line to Sunbury became operational and as a result, the Sydenham line was renamed the Sunbury line. Metro Trains Melbourne's electrified service now continues from Watergardens station, first to Diggers Rest, and then to its new terminus at Sunbury station. Completion of the electrification gives Sunbury and Diggers Rest stations an enhanced service of 489 trains per week, which is a 64% increase on the 298 trains per week previously operated by V/Line.[14][15]

Announced in conjunction with the Metro Tunnel project, the Sunbury line would receive a $2.1 billion upgrade under the Sunbury Line Upgrade project.[10] The project was delivered by the Rail Projects Victoria, and included[16] the construction of 5 new electrical substations and 10 upgraded ones, platform extensions at 8 stations, train stabling upgrades at Sunbury, Calder Park, and Watergardens depots, the introduction of new raised boarding platforms at 8 stations, upgrades to the conventional signalling system, the introduction of high capacity signalling and the removal of the level crossing at Gap Road, Sunbury (other remaining level crossings will be removed under the Level Crossing Removal Project)

Construction was coordinated on the level crossing removals and other upgrade works so both projects would be delivered more efficiently, with fewer disruptions to passengers while work was carried out. Works on the duplication began in August 2019, with major construction wrapping up in 2023.[17] The level crossing removal at Gap Road in Sunbury was removed in late September 2022.[18] New substations, upgraded stations, other more minor projects were also completed during August and September 2022.[19] In July 2023, the project was completed after a short shutdown of the rail corridor to complete the final elements.[20]

The map of the Metro Tunnel route through the Melbourne central business district.

The 2012 Network Development Plan identified the need for a north–south tunnel connecting the Sunbury line to the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines.[21] In 2017, the Metro Tunnel began construction, involving the construction of five new underground stations, twin 9-kilometre (5.6 mi) tunnels, and other associated infrastructure improvements. Leaving the existing Sunbury line alignment before South Kensington station, new stations will be built at Arden, Parkville, State Library (with connections to Melbourne Central), Town Hall (with connections to Flinders Street station), and Anzac, before continuing onto the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines. These works will be completed by 2025, and upon completion, will create a singular rail line from Sunbury and Melbourne Airport (from 2029) to Cranbourne and Pakenham.[9]

Ginifer station was rebuilt during the removal of the Furlong Road level crossing.

The Level Crossing Removal Project has announced the removal of all 8 remaining level crossings on the Sunbury line, to be completed in stages from 2016 to 2026. In 2016, 2 level crossings were removed at Furlong Road and Main Road, St Albans, through the rail under method.[22] These two removals also included a rebuilt St Albans and Ginifer stations.[23] Another crossing was removed by raising the road above the rail line at Melton Highway, Sydenham in January 2018.[24] In September 2022, another single crossing was removed at Gap Road in Sunbury by lowering the road underneath the rail line.[25] The final 4 crossings to be removed will occur in 2025 and 2026. Calder Park Drive will be removed by raising the road over the crossing in 2025, with the nearby Holden Road being closed off.[26][27] Old Calder Highway and Watsons Road will be the final two crossings to be removed, made possible by raising the road over the rail line by 2026.[28]

Services on the Sunbury line operates from approximately 5:00 am to around 12:00 daily.[1] In general, during peak hours, train frequency is 5–20 minutes in the AM peak on the Sunbury line while during non-peak hours the frequency is reduced to 20–30 minutes throughout the entire route.[3] On Friday nights and weekends, services run 24 hours a day, with 60 minute frequencies available outside of normal operating hours.[29]

Train services on the Sunbury line are also subjected to maintenance and renewal works, usually on selected Fridays and Saturdays. Shuttle bus services are provided throughout the duration of works for affected commuters.[30]

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
Some services do not operate via the City Loop

• ● – All trains stop
• ◐ – Some services do not stop
• | – Trains pass and do not stop

The Sunbury line has had a total of 7 operators since its opening in 1859. The majority of operations throughout its history have been government run: from its first service in 1859 until the 1999 privatisation of Melbourne's rail network, four different government operators have run the line.[32] These operators, Victorian Railways, the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the Public Transport Corporation, and Bayside Trains have a combined operational length of 141 years.

Bayside Trains was privatised in August 1999 and later rebranded M>Train. In 2002, M>Train was placed into receivership and the state government regained ownership of the line, with KPMG appointed as receivers to operate M>Train on behalf of the state government.[33][34][35] Two years later, rival train operator Connex Melbourne took over the M>Train operations including the Sunbury line. Metro Trains Melbourne, the current private operator, then took over the operations in 2009. The private operators have had a combined operational period of 23 years.[36]

Sunbury railway line
km Multiple lines via Richmond or Jolimont City Loop 0.0 Flinders Street ●●●●●●●●●●●● 1.4 Parliament ●●●●●●●●● 2.7 Melbourne Central 3.3 Flagstaff 1.2 Southern Cross ● City Loop Albury, North East SG & Western SG lines to Albury, Sydney & Adelaide 2.9 North Melbourne ●●●●●●● 3.1 Dynon Road Upfield line to Upfield 3.7 CityLink 3.7 Moonee Ponds Creek Craigieburn, Seymour & Shepparton lines via Essendon Flemington Racecourse line to Flemington Racecourse South Kensington–West Footscray line to West Footscray 4.7 South Kensington (not a stop) Melbourne Metro Tunnel to Caulfield (under construction) Saltwater River (demolished) 5.5 Maribyrnong River Maribyrnong line to Maribyrnong River Terminal (dismantled) 6.6 Hopkins Street 6.9 Footscray ●●●●●●●●●●■ South Kensington–West Footscray, North East SG & Western SG lines to Southern Cross Werribee & Williamstown lines to Newport 7.8 Middle Footscray 8.3 Geelong Road 8.6 West Footscray 10.3 Tottenham 10.4 Ashley Street 11.0 White City (demolished) Newport–Sunshine & Western SG lines to Newport & Adelaide Maidstone (demolished) 12.2 Stony Creek Newport–Sunshine line to Newport 13.5 Sunshine ●●●●● 13.6 Hampshire Road Multiple lines via Deer Park 13.3 Anderson Road 14.9 Albion 15.0 Ballarat Road Albion–Jacana & North East SG lines to Broadmeadows 16.3 Western Ring Road 17.2 Ginifer 19.0 St Albans 19.6 Keilor Plains 21.0 Taylors Road 23.7 Kings Road 24.5 Watergardens ●● 27.7 Calder Park Sidings Holden (demolished) 33.9 Diggers Rest 34.4 Calder Highway 39.5 Sunbury ●● 39.8 end of overhead 40.7 Rupertswood (closed) 41.0 Jackson Creek 41.4 end of Metro area Bendigo, Echuca & Swan Hill lines to Bendigo km
broad gauge standard gauge dual gauge

The Sunbury line forms a relatively linear route from the Melbourne central business district to its terminus in Sunbury. The route is 40.3 kilometres (25.0 mi) long and is fully doubled tracked from Flinders Street to its termnius. The only underground section of the Sunbury line is in the City Loop, where the service stops at 3 underground stations.[37] Exiting the city, the Sunbury line traverses mainly flat country, except on the west bank of the Maribyrnong River where it requires some moderately heavy earthworks. The line is paralleled by a double track goods line and the interstate standard gauge line, the latter being dual gauge with the goods line to West Footscray. The goods line joins the Sunbury line at Sunshine, whilst the standard gauge line to Sydney continues to run alongside the suburban line to Albion, where it and a goods line head off in a north-easterly direction. Some sections of the line has been elevated or lowered into a cutting to eliminate level crossings.[38]

The line follows the same alignment as multiple lines with the Sunbury line splitting off at North Melbourne. The Sunbury line continues on its western (then northern) alignment, whereas the other lines continue onto a northern, western, or south-western alignment.[39] Most of the rail line goes through built-up suburbs and some industrial areas before becoming more rural before the end of the line.[39]

The line serves 18 stations across 40.3 kilometres (25.0 mi) of track. The stations are a mix of elevated, lowered, underground, and ground level designs. Underground stations are present only in the City Loop, with the majority of elevated and lowered stations being constructed as part of level crossing removals.[40] From 2025, services will cease to stop at Flinders Street, Southern Cross, Flagstaff, Melbourne Central, Parliament, and North Melbourne stations due to the opening of the Metro Tunnel.

Station	Accessibility	Opened	Terrain	Train connections	Other connections
Flinders Street	Yes—step free access	1854[41]	Lowered	16 connections  Alamein line   Belgrave line   Craigieburn line   Cranbourne line   Flemington Racecourse line   Frankston line   Gippsland line   Glen Waverley line   Hurstbridge line   Lilydale line   Mernda line   Pakenham line   Sandringham line   Upfield line   Werribee line   Williamstown line
Southern Cross		1859[41]	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   Swan Hill line   The Overland   Upfield line   Warrnambool line   Werribee line   Williamstown line
Parliament		1983[41]	Underground	10 connections  Alamein line   Belgrave line   Craigieburn line   Cranbourne line   Glen Waverley line   Hurstbridge line   Lilydale line   Mernda line   Pakenham line   Upfield line
Melbourne Central		1981[41]
Flagstaff		1985[41]
North Melbourne		1859[41]	Ground level	7 connections  Craigieburn line   Flemington Racecourse line   Seymour line   Shepparton line   Upfield line   Werribee line   Williamstown line
Footscray				10 connections  Ararat line   Ballarat line   Bendigo line   Echuca line   Geelong line   Maryborough line   Swan Hill line   Warrnambool line   Werribee line   Williamstown line
Middle Footscray	No—steep ramp	1906[41]
West Footscray	Yes—step free access	1888[41]
Tottenham	No—steep ramp	1891[41]
Sunshine	Yes—step free access	1885[41]		4 connections  Ararat line   Ballarat line   Geelong line   Maryborough line
Albion	No—steep ramp	1860[41]
Ginifer	Yes—step free access	1982[41]	Below ground
St Albans		1887[41]
Keilor Plains		2002[41]	Ground level
Watergardens		1859[41]		2 connections  Bendigo line   Swan Hill line
Diggers Rest
Sunbury				2 connections  Bendigo line   Echuca line

A Siemens Nexas train at Tottenham station.

The Sunbury line uses two different types of electric multiple unit (EMU) trains that are operated in a split six-car configuration, with three doors per side on each carriage. The primary rolling stock featured on the line is the Comeng EMUs, built by Commonwealth Engineering between 1981 and 1988.[43] These train sets are the oldest on the Melbourne rail network and their operation on the line will be replaced by the High Capacity Metro Trains in 2025.[44] The second type of rolling stock is the Siemens Nexas EMUs which are also widely featured on the line, originally built between 2002 and 2005 these train sets feature more modern technology than the Comeng trains.[45]

Alongside the passenger trains, Sunbury line tracks and equipment are maintained by a fleet of engineering trains. The four types of engineering trains are: the shunting train; designed for moving trains along non-electrified corridors and for transporting other maintenance locomotives, for track evaluation; designed for evaluating track and its condition, the overhead inspection train; designed for overhead wiring inspection, and the infrastructure evaluation carriage designed for general infrastructure evaluation.[46] Most of these trains are repurposed locomotives previously used by V/Line, Metro Trains, and the Southern Shorthaul Railroad.[46]

High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMT) will be introduced on the line from 2025.

Upon the opening of the Metro Tunnel in 2025, the Sunbury line will exclusively use a fleet of electric multiple unit (EMU) High Capacity Metro Trains operating in a seven-car configuration, with three doors per side on each carriage and can accommodate of up to 1,380 passengers in each train-set. Currently in operation on the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines, the opening of the Metro Tunnel will also see the introduction of the trains on the Sunbury line. From 2029, HCMTs will also be used on the Airport line. Once fully delivered, the rolling stock will consist of 70 trains.[47] The trains are built in Changchun, China, with final assembly occurring in Newport, Melbourne, by Evolution Rail, a consortium composed of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles, Downer Rail and Plenary Group.[48]

St Albans station features wheelchair accessible ramps and elevators.

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.[49] Well over half of the stations on the corridor are fully accessible, however, there are some stations that haven't been upgraded to meet these guidelines.[50] These stations do feature ramps, however, they have a gradient greater than 1 in 14.[50] Stations that are fully accessible feature ramps that have a gradient less than 1 in 14, have at-grade paths, or feature lifts.[50] These stations typically also feature tactile boarding indicators, independent boarding ramps, wheelchair accessible myki barriers, hearing loops, and widened paths.[50][51]

Projects improving station accessibility have included the Level Crossing Removal Project, which involves station rebuilds and upgrades, and individual station upgrade projects.[52][53] These works have made significant strides in improving network accessibility, with more than 83% of Craigieburn line stations classed as fully accessible. Future station upgrade projects will continue to increase the number of fully accessible stations overtime.

The Sunbury line uses three position signalling which is widely used across the Melbourne train network.[54] Three position signalling was first introduced in 1929, with the final section of the line converted to the new type of signalling in 2005.[55][56] The Sunbury lines signalling system will be upgraded as part of the Sunbury Line Upgrade in 2023.[10]