:Alamein line

{{For|operation before the reopening on 4 July 1898|Outer Circle railway line}}

What is now known as the Alamein line was opened as the Outer Circle Railway between 1890 and 1891. The segment still in use today was opened on 24 March 1890.{{cite book |last=S.E. Dornan and R.G. Henderson |title=Electric Railways of Victoria |publisher=Australian Electric Traction Society |year=1979 |isbn=0-909459-06-1 |page=84}}

The section from Camberwell to Ashburton was reopened 4 July 1898 and was operated by a steam locomotive and single carriage. The northern section, from Riversdale to Deepdene, was reopened on 14 May 1900, with a steam train, known locally as the Deepdene Dasher, running between Ashburton and Deepdene at ~90-minute intervals, connecting at East Camberwell on the lower platform.{{cite book | first1 = David | last1 = Beardsell | first2 = Bruce | last2 = Herbert | title = The Outer Circle: A history of the Oakleigh to Fairfield Park Railway | publisher = Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division) | year = 1979 | isbn = 0-85849-024-2 |page=61}} The Deepdene Dasher was the last passenger steam train in suburban Melbourne.

File:Deepdene Dasher steam train.webp, 1926.|left]]

Electrification of the Melbourne suburban rail network commenced in the 1920s. In 1923, the Railway Commissioners decided not to electrify the line from Deepdene through Riversdale to Ashburton, due to insufficient traffic levels, but would keep the issue under review. Their position was partly reversed, with the Camberwell to Ashburton section later being included in the project. The last steam train ran to Ashburton on 29 October 1924 with electric train services commencing three days later in the form of shuttle trains from Camberwell to Ashburton, running every 40 minutes.{{sfn|Beardsell|Herbert|1979|p=63}} On 15 August 1926, the last steam train the Deepdene Dasher ran, and was replaced by a pair of AEC railmotors coupled back to back.{{sfn|Beardsell|Herbert|1979|p=63}} The Commissioners intended to electrify the line if the volume of traffic increased, but that did not occur, and the service was replaced by road bus on 10 October 1927. The electrified suburban service remains as today's Alamein line.

The line from Camberwell to the terminus was a single line with no crossing loops provided. The single train running operated a shuttle service along the line from Camberwell. Staff and Ticket safeworking was used, except between Camberwell and Riversdale where Lever Locking & Track Control was provided on 2 November 1924. Patronage and revenue on the line doubled after electrification, and on 12 October 1925 a 30 to 45 minute connecting service was provided to Ashburton. From 26 November 1928 two trains were provided at peak hours, with a new crossing loop provided at Hartwell. Through trains to the city at peak hour were provided from 17 May 1934. From 3 October 1938 the daytime off peak frequency was improved to 15 minutes.{{cite book |last=S.E. Dornan and R.G. Henderson |title=Electric Railways of Victoria |publisher=Australian Electric Traction Society |year=1979 |isbn=0-909459-06-1 |page=85}}

On 28 June 1948, the line was extended to the new Housing Commission of Victoria estate of Alamein, with some services extended to the new terminus. After World War II, as part of Operation Phoenix, plans were drawn up to duplicate the line and provide a flying junction connection at Camberwell. It was authorised in 1951, but was delayed due to funding issues and other competing projects.{{cite book |author=David Beardsell and Bruce Herbert |title=The Outer Circle: A history of the Oakleigh to Fairfield Park Railway |publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division) |year=1979 |isbn=0-85849-024-2 |page=67}} The first {{convert|2.2|km|mi|adj=on}} long stage opened on 7 November 1954, from Hartwell to Ashburton stations, followed by the duplication and automatic signalling of the {{convert|1.6|km|mi||abbr=on}} stretch of line from Riversdale to Hartwell section on 31 July 1955. From 15 July 1955, Ashburton station ceased to be a regular terminus. However, reduced loan funds for railway construction during 1955 and 1956 delayed the rest of the works, with the overpass and new line at Camberwell finally commissioned on 29 November 1959. The last stage of the works had to wait until 8 November 1962 when automatic signalling was introduced between Hartwell and Ashburton, and the signal bay at Hartwell closed.{{cite book |last=S.E. Dornan and R.G. Henderson |title=Electric Railways of Victoria |publisher=Australian Electric Traction Society |year=1979 |isbn=0-909459-06-1 |page=86}}

From 9 July 1972, the service was cut to every hour on Sundays, and from 10 December 1973 it was changed to 20 minutes during the day and every 40 minutes at night and on Saturday afternoons. Through trains to Flinders Street off-peak were provided from 20 January 1975 at a frequency of every 15 minutes Monday to Friday, with Box Hill trains running express from Camberwell.

Moves were made to close the line or convert it to light rail in the 1980s, as well as plans under the Kennett government to close the line in the early 1990s.{{Cite web |date=6 September 2016 |title=Kennett's public transport cuts denounced |url=https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/kennetts-public-transport-cuts-denounced |access-date=19 February 2023 |website=Green Left |language=en |archive-date=19 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219100157/https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/kennetts-public-transport-cuts-denounced |url-status=live }} However, the Alamein line has remained open well into the 21st century.

The 2000s saw the introduction of the X'Trapolis 100 rolling stock on the line. The new stock features three doors per side on each carriage with the ability to accommodate up to 456 seated passengers in each six-car configuration.{{Cite web |last1=Dowling |first1=Jason |last2=Clay |first2=Lucas |date=9 May 2008 |title=New trains will have fewer seats |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/new-trains-will-have-fewer-seats-20080509-ge722z.html |access-date=19 August 2023 |website=The Age |language=en}}

Services on the Alamein line operate from approximately 5:00 am to around 12:00 am daily. In general, during peak hours, train frequency is 10–20 minutes while services during non-peak hours drop to 20–30 minutes throughout the entire route. Due to the limited number of passengers on the Alamein line, services operate as a shuttle in off-peak times to Camberwell instead of continuing into the central business district. On Friday and Saturday nights, services run 24 hours a day, with 60 minute frequencies available outside of normal operating hours.{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Melbourne Weekend Night Network Train Map |url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/PTV-default-site/Maps-and-Timetables-PDFs/Maps/Night-Network-maps/Night-Train-Map-SEPT-2021.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112114049/https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/PTV-default-site/Maps-and-Timetables-PDFs/Maps/Night-Network-maps/Night-Train-Map-SEPT-2021.pdf |archive-date=12 January 2023 |access-date=18 December 2022}}

Train services on the Alamein line are also subjected to maintenance and renewal works, usually on selected Fridays and Saturdays.{{Cite web |title=Buses replace trains between Camberwell, Ringwood and Alamein |url=https://www.metrotrains.com.au/planned-works/buses-replace-trains-between-camberwell-ringwood-and-alamein/ |access-date=28 August 2023 |website=www.metrotrains.com.au |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Rail And Road Upgrades Over The Long Weekend {{!}} Premier of Victoria |url=http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/rail-and-road-upgrades-over-long-weekend |access-date=28 August 2023 |website=www.premier.vic.gov.au |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Department of Transport |date=27 April 2022 |title=Public transport and road disruptions this long weekend |url=https://www.miragenews.com/public-transport-and-road-disruptions-this-long-770923/ |access-date=28 August 2023 |website=Mirage News |language=en-AU}} Shuttle bus services are provided throughout the duration of works for affected commuters.{{Cite news |date=15 November 2016 |title=Where do train replacement buses come from? |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-15/where-do-train-replacement-buses-come-from/8018532 |url-status=live |access-date=18 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214224815/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-15/where-do-train-replacement-buses-come-from/8018532 |archive-date=14 December 2022}}

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
• ▲ – Only inbound trains stop
• ▼ – Only outbound trains stop
• | – Trains pass and do not stop

{{Table alignment}}

The Alamein line has had a total of 6 operators since its opening in 1898. The majority of operations throughout its history have been government run: from its first service in 1898 until the 1999 privatisation of Melbourne's rail network, four different government operators have run the line."Melbourne's Rail Network to be Split" Railway Digest November 1997 page 12 These operators, Victorian Railways, the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the Public Transport Corporation and Hillside Trains have a combined operational length of 101 years. Hillside Trains was privatised in August 1999 and later rebranded as Connex Melbourne. Metro Trains Melbourne, the current private operator, then took over the operations in 2009."City in Brief" Railway Gazette International December 1997 page 835{{cite web |date=April 2007 |title=Victoria's public transport – Assessing the results of privatisation |url=https://ipa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/archive/1179188058_document_allsop_transport.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325111242/https://ipa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/archive/1179188058_document_allsop_transport.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2023 |access-date=25 March 2023 |publisher=Institute of Public Affairs |page=8}} Both private operators have had a combined operational period of {{Age|1999|08|28}} years.{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=Mex |date=25 June 2009 |title=New train, tram operators for Melbourne |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/new-train-tram-operators-for-melbourne-20090625-cxgx.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101122206/https://www.theage.com.au/national/new-train-tram-operators-for-melbourne-20090625-cxgx.html |archive-date=1 January 2023 |access-date=1 January 2023 |website=The Age}}

{{Alamein Line|float=right|collapse=yes}}{{maplink

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|text=Interactive map of the Alamein line in eastern Melbourne.

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|title=Alamein Line

}}{{Infobox rail line

| name = Alamein (physical track)

| other_name =

| color =

| logo =

| logo_width =

| logo_alt =

| image =

| image_width =

| image_alt =

| caption =

| type =

| system =

| status = Operational with passenger services from Flinders Street to Alamein

| locale = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

| start = {{rwsa|Flinders Street}}

| end = {{rwsa|Alamein}}

| continuesfrom =

| continuesas = Outer Circle

| connectinglines = All metropolitan, regional, and interstate

| formerconnections= {{Plainlist|

• Kew
• Outer Circle

}}

| stations = {{ubl|18 current stations|7 former stations}}

| routes = Alamein

| daily_ridership =

| ridership2 =

| planopen =

| open = {{Plainlist|

• Princes Bridge to Richmond on {{Start date|1859|2|8|df=y}}
• Richmond to Pic-nic on {{Start date|1860|9|24|df=y}}
• Pic-nic to Hawthorn on {{Start date|1861|4|13|df=y}}
• Flinders Street to Princes Bridge on {{Start date|1865|12|18|df=y}}
• Hawthorn to Camberwell on {{Start date|1882|4|3|df=y}}
• Camberwell to Alamein* on {{Start date|1890|5|30|df=y}}
• Riversdale to East Kew on {{Start date|1891|3|24|df=y}}

}}

| yearcommenced = {{Start date|1890|5|30|df=y}}

| yearcompleted = {{Start date|1948|6|28|df=y}}

| close = {{Plainlist|

• Riversdale to East Kew on {{End date|1893|4|12|df=y}}
• Ashburton to Alamein* on {{End date|1895|12|9|df=y}}
• Camberwell to Ashburton on {{End date|1897|5|1|df=y}}
• Riversdale to East Kew on {{End date|1943|9|7|df=y}}

}}

| event1label = Reopen

| event1 = {{Plainlist|

• Camberwell to Ashburton on {{Start date|1898|7|4|df=y}}
• Riversdale to Deepdene on {{Start date|1900|5|14|df=y}}
• Deepdene to East Kew on {{Start date|1925|2|11|df=y}}
• Ashburton to Alamein on {{Start date|1948|6|28|df=y}}

}}

| event2label = Electrified

| event2 = {{Plainlist|

• Flinders Street to Camberwell on {{Start date|1922|12|19|df=y}}
• Camberwell to Ashburton on {{Start date|1924|10|30|df=y}}
• Ashburton to Alamein on {{Start date|1948|6|28|df=y}}

}}

| event3label =

| event3 =

| owner = {{Plainlist|

• Victorian Railways (VR) (1890–1974)
• VR as VicRail (1974–1983)
• MTA (The Met) (1983–1989)
• PTC (The Met) (1989–1997)
• VicTrack (1997–Current)

}}

| operator =

| character =

| depot =

| stock =

| linelength = {{convert|14.9|km|mi|2|abbr=on}} + Riversdale to East Kew section

| tracklength =

| tracks = {{Plainlist|

• Twelve tracks: Flinders Street to Richmond
• Four tracks: Richmond to Burnley
• Triple track: Burnley to Camberwell
• Double track: Camberwell to Ashburton
• Single track: Ashburton to Alamein & Riversdale to East Kew

}}

| gauge = {{Track gauge|1600 mm}}

| old_gauge =

| load_gauge =

| minradius =

| maxincline = {{Incline|50}}

| electrification = 1500 V DC overhead

| speed = {{Convert|65|km/h|abbr=on}} – Electric

| signalling = Automatic block signalling

| elevation =

| website =

| map =

| map_state = collapsed

| embedded =

}}

The Alamein line forms a relatively straight route from the Melbourne central business district to its terminus in Alamein. The route is {{convert|14.9|km}} long and is predominantly doubled-tracked, however between Flinders Street station and Richmond, the track is widened to 12 tracks, narrowing to 4 tracks between Richmond and Burnley, to 3 track between Burnley and Camberwell, and to two tracks after Camberwell .{{Cite web |title=Richmond VIC, 3121, Australia |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/37%C2%B049%2726.1%22S+144%C2%B059%2726.5%22E/@-37.823918,144.9881271,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d-37.823918!4d144.990702?entry=ttu |access-date=19 August 2023 |website=Google Maps |language=en}} After Ashburton, the line is narrowed to a single track which remains till its terminus in Alamein. After departing from its terminus at Flinders Street, the Alamein line traverses gentle hills with moderately heavy earthworks for most of the line. Some sections of the line have been elevated or lowered into a cutting to eliminate level crossings. As of 2020, there are two level crossings remaining on the line with no current plans to remove them.{{Cite web |last=Anderton |first=Gary |date=20 November 2020 |title=Key level crossing removals must feature in this year's State Budget – Michael O'Brien MP, Member for Malvern |url=https://www.michaelobrien.com.au/key-level-crossing-removals-must-feature-in-this-years-state-budget/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215095437/https://www.michaelobrien.com.au/key-level-crossing-removals-must-feature-in-this-years-state-budget/ |archive-date=15 February 2023 |access-date=15 February 2023 |website=Michael O'Brien MP |language=en-AU}}

The line follows the same alignment as the Belgrave, Glen Waverley, and Lilydale lines with the Glen Waverley line splitting off after Burnley and the three remaining services splitting off at Camberwell. The Alamein line continues on its southern alignment, whereas the Belgrave and Lilydale lines takes an eastern alignment towards their final destinations.{{Cite web |last=Wray |first=Tyson |title=Melbourne's train lines definitively ranked from best to worst |url=https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/blog/melbournes-train-lines-definitively-ranked-from-best-to-worst-011917 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212120710/https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/blog/melbournes-train-lines-definitively-ranked-from-best-to-worst-011917 |archive-date=12 December 2022 |access-date=12 December 2022 |website=Time Out Melbourne|date=19 January 2017 }} All of the rail line goes through built-up suburbs towards its terminus in Alamein.{{Cite web |title=Camberwell VIC 3124, Australia |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/37%C2%B050%2743.2%22S+145%C2%B004%2735.9%22E/@-37.845327,145.0740661,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d-37.845327!4d145.076641?entry=tts&shorturl=1 |access-date=19 August 2023 |website=Google Maps |language=en}}

The line serves 18 stations across {{convert|15|km}} 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.{{Cite book |last=Lee |first=Robert S. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/224727085 |title=The railways of Victoria 1854–2004 |date=2007 |publisher=Melbourne University Publishing |others=Rosemary Annable, Donald S. Garden |isbn=978-0-522-85134-2 |location=Carlton, Vic. |oclc=224727085 |access-date=29 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508063019/http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/224727085 |archive-date=8 May 2022 |url-status=live}}

The Alamein line uses X'Trapolis 100 electric multiple unit (EMU) trains operating in a one or two three-car configuration, with three doors per side on each carriage and can accommodate of up to 456 seated passengers in each six-car configuration.{{Cite web |date=20 February 2023 |title=WTT NETWORK CONFIGURATION: METRO ROLLING STOCK |url=https://cmsportal.metrotrains.com.au/docnum.aspx?id=A8520 |website=Metro Trains Melbourne |pages=8–9}} The trains were originally built between 2002 and 2004 as well as between 2009 and 2020 with a total of 212 three-car sets constructed. The trains are shared with 7 other metropolitan train lines and have been in service since 2003.{{Cite web |date=1 March 2014 |title=Franchise Agreement – Train |url=http://ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/PTV/PTV%20docs/Partnership-agreements/Train-Franchise-Agreement-Vol-2-of-2.pdf |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301010405/http://ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/PTV/PTV%20docs/Partnership-agreements/Train-Franchise-Agreement-Vol-2-of-2.pdf |archive-date=1 March 2014 |access-date=17 February 2023}}

Alongside the passenger trains, Alamein 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.{{Cite web |date=1 February 2011 |title=NETWORK SERVICE PLAN {{!}} Addenda |url=https://www.vline.com.au/pdf/networkaccess/networkserviceplan/addenda.pdf/addenda |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307165249/https://www.vline.com.au/pdf/networkaccess/networkserviceplan/addenda.pdf/addenda |archive-date=7 March 2011}} Most of these trains are repurposed locomotives previously used by V/Line, Metro Trains, and the Southern Shorthaul Railroad.

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.{{Cite web |title=Accessibility – Public Transport Ombudsman Victoria |url=https://www.ptovic.com.au/improving-pt/accessibility |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103084345/https://www.ptovic.com.au/improving-pt/accessibility |archive-date=3 January 2023 |access-date=3 January 2023 |website=www.ptovic.com.au}}{{Cite web |last= |title=Disability Discrimination Act 1992 |url=http://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2022C00087/Html/Text |access-date=20 August 2023 |website=Australian Government Federal Register of Legislation |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=November 2021 |title=Third Review of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (Transport Standards) |url=https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/third-review-disability-standards-accessible-public-transport-2002-transport-standards.pdf |website=Infrastructure Australia |page=35}} Less than half of stations on the line are fully accessible as they haven't been upgraded to meet these guidelines.{{Cite web |title=Access Guide |url=https://www.metrotrains.com.au/station-accessibility-features/ |access-date=20 August 2023 |website=www.metrotrains.com.au |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Station accessibility features |url=https://www.metrotrains.com.au/station-accessibility-features/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208020143/https://www.metrotrains.com.au/station-accessibility-features/ |archive-date=8 December 2022 |access-date=3 January 2023 |website=Metro Trains Melbourne}} These stations typically also feature tactile boarding indicators, independent boarding ramps, wheelchair accessible myki barriers, hearing loops, and widened paths.

Individual station upgrade projects have helped improve station accessibility on the line, however, only 40% of stations on the line are fully wheelchair accessible.{{Cite web |date=12 June 2022 |title=Left behind: the fight for accessible public transport in Victoria |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/13/left-behind-the-fight-for-accessible-public-transport-in-victoria |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103084335/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/13/left-behind-the-fight-for-accessible-public-transport-in-victoria |archive-date=3 January 2023 |access-date=3 January 2023 |website=the Guardian}}

The Alamein line uses three-position signalling, which is used across the Melbourne train network. Three position signalling was first introduced on the line in 1919, with the final section to Ashburton converted to the new type of signalling in 1962. Since Ashburton and Alamein stations are very close to each other, the single track between the two stations uses station limits working.

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/1/alamein/ Alamein line timetable]
• [https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/more/maps/#networkmaps Network map]
• {{commonscat-inline|Alamein railway line}}

{{Victorian Railway Lines|selected=melbourne}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alamein Railway Line}}

Category:Railway lines in Melbourne

Category:Railway lines opened in 1891

Category:1891 establishments in Australia

Category:Public transport routes in the City of Melbourne (LGA)

Category:Transport in the City of Yarra

Category:Transport in the City of Boroondara