Editing Cranbourne line (section)

== Infrastructure ==
=== Rolling stock ===
{{Main|High Capacity Metro Trains}}
[[File:High Capacity Metro Train arriving at Hughesdale station — July 2022.jpg|alt=picture taken by Alison Newman|thumb|A Cranbourne bound [[High Capacity Metro Train]] arriving at [[Hughesdale railway station|Hughesdale station]]]]The Cranbourne line uses a fleet of [[electric multiple unit]] (EMU) [[High Capacity Metro Train]]s 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. Shared with the Pakenham, Sunbury, and Airport lines, the rolling stock will consist of 70 High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMT), once fully delivered.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dtp.vic.gov.au:443/our-transport-future/our-projects/high-capacity-metro-trains|title=Bigger trains for a better Melbourne|first=Department of Transport and|last=Planning|website=dtp.vic.gov.au|access-date=10 March 2023}}</ref> They are built in [[Changchun]], [[China]], with final assembly occurring in [[Newport Workshops|Newport]], [[Melbourne]], by Evolution Rail, a [[consortium]] composed of [[CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles]], [[Downer Rail]] and [[Plenary Group]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Galloway |first=Anthony |date=24 August 2016 |title=Alarm over Chinese trains |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/problems-with-trains-of-chinese-company-bidding-for-victorian-contract/news-story/57bc1a1bec6a3eb960a764a61138103c}}</ref>

Previously, the Cranbourne line was served by a fleet of [[Comeng (train)|Comeng]] and [[Siemens Nexas]] trains. The oldest Comeng trains (stage 1 and some stage 2) have been retired and scrapped as part of the HCMT introduction, however, some of these trains have been displaced onto other Melbourne metropolitan lines.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 October 2021 |title=Comeng trains starting to be scrapped |url=https://www.danielbowen.com/2021/10/18/comeng-trains-starting-to-be-scrapped/ |access-date=12 December 2022 |website=Daniel Bowen}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Victorian Government Department of Transport and Planning |date=2023 |title=New train and tram orders |url=https://transport.vic.gov.au/our-transport-future/our-projects/new-and-upgraded-trains-and-trams/new-train-and-tram-orders |access-date=15 January 2023 |archive-date=1 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201091609/https://transport.vic.gov.au/our-transport-future/our-projects/new-and-upgraded-trains-and-trams/new-train-and-tram-orders |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Alongside the passenger trains, Cranbourne 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.<ref name=":17">{{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}}</ref> Most of these trains are repurposed locomotives previously used by [[V/Line]], Metro Trains, and the [[Southern Shorthaul Railroad]].<ref name=":17" />

=== Accessibility ===
[[File:New Clayton railway station April 2018.jpg|thumb|The rebuilt [[Clayton railway station, Melbourne|Clayton station]] that complies with [[Disability Discrimination Act 1992|DDA guidelines]].]]
In compliance with the [[Disability Discrimination Act 1992|Disability Discrimination Act of 1992]], all stations that are new-built or rebuilt are fully accessible and comply with these guidelines.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Accessibility – Public Transport Ombudsman Victoria |url=https://www.ptovic.com.au/improving-pt/accessibility |access-date=3 January 2023 |website=www.ptovic.com.au}}</ref> The majority of stations on the corridor are fully accessible, however, there are some stations that haven't been upgraded to meet these guidelines.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Station accessibility features |url=https://www.metrotrains.com.au/station-accessibility-features/ |website=Metro Trains Melbourne}}</ref> These stations do feature ramps, however, they have a gradient greater than 1 in 14.<ref name=":12" /> Stations that are fully accessible feature ramps that have a gradient less than 1 in 14, have at-grade paths, or feature lifts.<ref name=":12" /> These stations typically also feature [[Tactile paving|tactile boarding indicators]], independent boarding ramps, wheelchair accessible [[myki]] barriers, [[Audio induction loop|hearing loops]], and widened paths.<ref name=":12" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=n.d. |title=Accessing public transport |url=https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/community/health-support-services/accessing-melbourne/Pages/public-transport.aspx |website=City of Melbourne}}</ref>

Projects improving station accessibility have included the Level Crossing Removal Project, which involves station rebuilds and upgrades, individual station upgrade projects, and associated Metro Tunnel works.<ref>{{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 |access-date=3 January 2023 |website=the Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Victoria’s Big Build |date=17 October 2022 |title=Urban design framework |url=https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/level-crossing-removal-project/about/urban-design-framework |access-date=3 January 2023 |website=Victoria’s Big Build}}</ref> These works have made significant strides in improving network accessibility, with more than 66% of Cranbourne line stations classed as fully accessible. This number is expected to grow within the coming years, as a network restructure associated with the opening of the Metro Tunnel is completed by 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Growing Our Rail Network 2018–2025 |url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/footer/legal-and-policies/growing-our-rail-network-2018-2025/ |access-date=3 January 2023 |website=Public Transport Victoria}}</ref>

=== Signalling ===
[[File:FB vs MB.jpg|thumb|Difference between both fixed block and moving block [[Railway signalling|signalling]] systems]]
Since its re-opening in 1995, the Cranbourne line had used a [[Railway signalling#Fixed block|fixed-block, three-position signalling system]] designed for lower frequencies and less services.<ref name=":15">Fisher, Peter (2007). ''Victorian Signalling: by Accident or Design?''. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). {{isbn|978-1-920892-50-0}}</ref> However, the ageing system had undermined reliability due to the presence of system faults and limited frequencies, requiring the Cranbourne, Pakenham, and Sunbury lines to upgrade their signalling system. Since 2021, high-capacity signalling (HCS) has been rolling out on the Pakenham, Cranbourne, and Sunbury lines, allowing trains to safely run closer together and run more frequently.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Victoria's Big Build |date=18 March 2022 |title=High Capacity Signalling |url=https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/metro-tunnel/about/technology/high-capacity-signalling |access-date=13 December 2022 |website=Victoria’s Big Build}}</ref> The new system is being delivered by [[CPB Contractors]] and [[Bombardier Transportation]] under the Rail Systems Alliance. These works valued at $1 billion includes the roll-out of {{convert|55|km}} of HCS and communications systems on the aforementioned lines, allowing an increase in reliability and frequency.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=19 July 2017 |title=Victoria awards Melbourne Metro high-capacity signalling contract |url=https://www.railwaypro.com/wp/victoria-awards-melbourne-metro-high-capacity-signalling-contract/ |access-date=13 December 2022 |website=Railway PRO}}</ref> The line will be equipped with Bombardier's [[Cityflo 650 CBTC|CityFlo 650]] [[Communications-based train control|communications-based train control system]], which will enable operation at 2–3 minute headways.

The upgrade works were completed in phases from 2021. With the upgraded signalling system, trains are now able to run closer to each other. The new system was tested on the [[Mernda railway line|Mernda line]] and a section of the Cranbourne line before being fully implemented.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Victoria's Big Build |date=18 March 2022 |title=Testing on the Mernda line |url=https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/metro-tunnel/construction/rail-lines/mernda-line |access-date=13 December 2022 |website=Victoria’s Big Build |archive-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213102714/https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/metro-tunnel/construction/rail-lines/mernda-line |url-status=dead }}</ref> In March 2022, the Cranbourne line underwent further testing of high-tech signalling equipment, to ensure the new trains and signalling system can safely run alongside older-generation trains—including [[Freight railways in Melbourne|freight]] and V/Line trains—and the existing signalling system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mirage News |date=24 December 2021 |title=Upgrades to bring more trains more often |url=https://www.miragenews.com/upgrades-to-bring-more-trains-more-often-700529/ |access-date=13 December 2022 |website=Mirage News}}</ref>{{clear}}