Williamstown line

The Williamstown line is a commuter railway line in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Operated by Metro Trains Melbourne, it is the city's third shortest metropolitan railway line at Template:Convert.

The line runs from Flinders Street station in central Melbourne to Williamstown station in the inner west, serving 12 stations via Footscray, Yarraville, and Newport.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The line operates for approximately 19 hours a day (from approximately 5:00 am to around 12:00 am) with 24-hour service available on Friday and Saturday nights. During peak hours, the line operates with headways of up to 20 minutes, ensuring frequent service for commuters. During off-peak hours, the service intervals are adjusted to provide service every 20–30 minutes, accommodating the lower demand.<ref name=":32">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Trains on the Williamstown Line run with two three-car formations of Comeng, Siemens Nexas, and X'Trapolis 100 trainsets.<ref name=":182">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Together with the Southern Cross to Sunbury portion of the Deniliquin railway line, it is the first and oldest government-built line in Victoria, having opened on 13 January 1859.<ref name=":5" /> The line was built to serve the port at Williamstown, giving it economic importance to the then-colony as it established itself as an important international passenger port.<ref name=":5" /> The line has played an important part in the development of Victoria's railways, with the first workshops opening along the line in the 1800s.<ref name="theme" />

Since the 2010s, due to the heavily utilised infrastructure of the Williamstown line, improvements and upgrades have been made. Works have included replacing sleepers, upgrading signalling technology, the removal of level crossings, the introduction of new rolling stock, and station accessibility upgrades.<ref name=":0" />

History

19th century

• WilliamstownWorkshops1870.jpg

  The original Williamstown Workshops in 1870.

• Railway Pier Williamstown.jpg

  Railway (Nelson) Pier in Williamstown, 1883

• Breakwater Pier, Williamstown (1890).png

  Breakwater Pier, Williamstown was one of three piers connected directly to the railway line, 1890.

Construction of the line was started by the Melbourne, Mount Alexander, and Murray River Railway Company (MMA&MRR) with the construction of Batman Hill (now Southern Cross) station in 1853. Interestingly, the station did not see a train for another 6 years till services began in 1857.<ref name=":5">Template:Anderson-All Stations</ref> In response to 12 months of inaction by the MMA&MRR and pressure from the government and financial backers, the company organised a gala event at Williamstown on 12 June 1854.<ref name="Anderson-All Stations|page=17">Template:Anderson-All Stations</ref>

Recognising the challenges faced by private companies and the pressing need for railway development, the government took action to address the situation. On 19 March 1856, despite only small sections being completed, the government intervened and acquired the line, assuming responsibility for its construction and further development.<ref name="Anderson-All Stations|page=17"/>

In 1858, the Williamstown Workshops opened for the assembly of engines and carriages imported from England. Other buildings were soon added, with a total of seven locomotives built.<ref name="theme">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During the late 1880s when railway management described the workshops as inadequate, moves were made to construct new workshops at Newport. By 1889 the new shops were open and Williamstown was closed.<ref name="lee842">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="lee84">Template:Cite book</ref>

Although it is now operated as a branch from the main Werribee/Geelong line at Newport, the line was originally built from the city with the Geelong line being the branch. The line officially opened in January 1859, but the section between the Newport Workshops and Williamstown Pier was in use by Geelong-line trains from October 1857 as it provided a connection to the ferry services departing from the pier.<ref name=":4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> From Williamstown Pier, passengers could connect to a ferry across Hobsons Bay to Port Melbourne.<ref name=":4" />

20th century

In August 1920, the line was fully electrified from North Melbourne to the Williamstown Pier. Later in 1927, the section from South Kensington to Footscray received three-position signalling with further extensions of the three position signalling occurring in 1929 and 1997.<ref name="lee842" />

Due to the proximity to the nearby wharf facilities, the Williamstown line provided a vital connection between Melbourne and the freight and passenger facilities at the port provided. The railway was built to serve the Government port at Williamstown, giving it great economic importance to the Colony of Victoria and establishing its role as an international passenger port.<ref name="lee842" />

File:Newport-workshops-west-block-assortment.jpg

The Newport Workshops pictured in August 2005

The Newport Workshops in Victoria have played a significant role in the railway system, highlighting their importance through various expansion initiatives. Notable expansions took place from 1905 to 1915 and again from 1925 to 1930.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> At the peak of operation it was one of Victoria's largest and best-equipped engineering establishments, with up to 5,000 employees on site.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The workshops had their own cricket grounds, and the game of Trugo is said to have been invented by workers on their lunch hour in the 1920s.<ref name="ThematicEnvironmental">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the late 1980s, the original segments of the workshops were removed from everyday use with modern workshops built along the eastern side of the site, which remains in use today.<ref>Template:Victorian Rail-Newsrail</ref>

The only section of the line to have closed was the Williamstown to Williamstown Pier section which closed in March 1987.

21st century

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In January 2021, a major timetable rewrite resulted in increased frequencies and weekend daytime shuttle services being extended from Newport to Flinders Street.<ref name=":2" /> Peak hour weekday services now stop at South Kensington, which simplifies stopping patterns on the Werribee and Sunbury lines.<ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Future

Level crossing removals

File:North Williamstown Northbound View.JPG

North Williamstown station was rebuilt as part of nearby level crossing removal works.

The Level Crossing Removal Project has announced the removal of 3 level crossings on the Williamstown line, to be completed in stages from 2021 to 2030. In 2021, one level crossing was removed at Ferguson Street in Williamstown.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The crossing was removed by lowering the rail line onto a rail trench under the road, with the adjacent North Williamstown station also being lowered.<ref name=":0" /> A final two crossings will be removed along the line by 2030. The crossing at Hudsons Road in Spotswood will be removed by elevating the rail line above the road with Spotswood station also being rebuilt as part of the project.<ref name=":192">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The crossing at Anderson Street, Yarraville, will be closed off as part of other level crossing removal works.<ref name=":192"/> At the end of these works, the Williamstown line will have 1 remaining crossing at Giffard St in Williamstown that is not scheduled for removal.

Network reconfiguration

When the new cross-city rail corridor being built by the Metro Tunnel opens in 2025 there will be a reorganisation of the Melbourne rail network.<ref name=":42">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Victorian Department of Transport and Planning plans to return the Frankston line to the City Loop, with dedicated use of the Caulfield group tunnel track.<ref name=":6">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This will mean Frankston line trains will no longer through-run with Werribee and Williamstown line trains, and will again stop at City Loop stations Flagstaff, Melbourne Central and Parliament.<ref name=":6" /> As part of the reconfiguration, the Werribee and Williamstown lines would instead begin through-running services to Sandringham for the first time.<ref name=":6" />

Network and operations

Services

Services on the Williamstown line operate from approximately 5:00 am to around 12:00 am daily.<ref name=":9">Template:Cite news</ref> In general, during peak hours, train frequency is 10 minutes while services during non-peak hours drop to 20–40 minutes throughout the entire route.<ref name=":32"/> Services do not run through the City Loop, instead terminating at Flinders Street.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Rather than running through the City Loop, services continue onto the Frankston line with boosted frequencies in combination with the Werribee line.<ref name=":13">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During periods with low patronage, shuttle services operate between Newport and Williamstown operate in the evenings, weekend mornings, and as part of the Night Network. Night Network operates on Friday nights and weekends, with services running 24 hours a day with 60-minute frequencies available outside of normal operating hours.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Train services on the Williamstown 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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
Services do not operate via the City Loop

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

==== Guide<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> ====

Weekdays

- Services to Williamstown stop at all stations

- Services run as a shuttle between Newport and Williamstown (After 8pm)

Weekends

- Services to Williamstown stop at all stations

- Services run as a shuttle between Newport and Williamstown (Before 11am and after 7pm)

Night Network

- Services run as a shuttle between Newport and Williamstown

colspan="4" style="background:#Template:Rcr;" |Williamstown Services<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Station	Zone	Local	Shuttle
◼ Template:Rwsa	1	●
◼ Template:Rwsa		●
◼ Template:Rwsa		●
Template:Htxt Template:Rwsa		●
◼ Template:Rwsa		●
Template:Htxt Template:Rwsa		●
◻ Template:Rwsa		●
Template:Htxt Template:Rwsa		●
◼ Template:Rwsa		●	●
Template:Htxt Template:Rwsa		●	●
Template:Htxt Template:Rwsa		●	●
◼ Template:Rwsa		●	●

Operators

File:Williamstown railway line.jpg

Connex Melbourne previously operated the line from 2004 until Metro Trains Melbourne commenced operations in 2009.

The Williamstown line has had a total of 8 operators since its opening in 1859. The first section of the line from near Newport to Williamstown Pier was originally opened by the government in 1857 and used by the Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company (G&MR) until the remainder of the government line to Spencer Street (now Southern Cross) opened 2 years later in 1859. This was operated by the government under the newly formed Victorian Railways (VR) using the full length from Williamstown Pier to Spencer Street (G&MR then used the VR line from Newport to Spencer Street). Many operators throughout its history have been government run. From its government acquisition in 1856 until the 1999 privatisation of Melbourne's rail network, four different government operators have run the line.<ref>"Melbourne's Rail Network to be Split" Railway Digest November 1997 page 12</ref> 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.<ref>National Express walks out of Australian rail service Template:Webarchive The Daily Telegraph (London) 17 December 2002</ref><ref>Receivers take over train, tram group Template:Webarchive The Age 24 December 2002</ref><ref>Victorian passenger services get new managers Template:Webarchive Rail Express 28 January 2003</ref> Two years later, rival train operator Connex Melbourne took over the M>Train operations including the Williamstown 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 Template:Age years.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Past and present operators of the Williamstown line:

Operator	Assumed operations	Ceased operations	Length of operations
Geelong and Melbourne Railway (G&MR)	1857	1859	2 years
Victorian Railways	1859	1983	124 years
Metropolitan Transit Authority	1983	1989	6 years
Public Transport Corporation	1989	1998	9 years
Bayside Trains (government operator)	1998	2000	2 years
M>Train	2000	2004	4 years
Connex Melbourne	2004	2009	5 years
Metro Trains Melbourne	2009	incumbent	Template:Age years (ongoing)

Route

The Williamstown line forms a mostly straight route from the Melbourne central business district to its terminus in Williamstown. The route is Template:Convert long and is fully doubled tracked from Flinders Street to its terminus (excluding Williamstown station where the track narrows to one track at the single platform). After changing from Frankston services at Flinders Street, the Williamstown line traverses flat country with few curves and minimal earthworks for most of the line. Some sections of the line have been elevated or lowered to remove level crossings, including at Williamstown North station. There is only one crossing remaining on the line which is not scheduled to be removed.<ref name=":0" />

The line follows the same alignment as the Werribee line with the two services splitting onto different routes at Newport. The Williamstown line continues its southern alignment, whereas the Werribee line takes a western alignment towards their final destinations.<ref name=":82">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Most of the rail line goes through built-up suburbs and heavy industrial areas.<ref name=":82" />

Stations

The line serves 12 stations across Template:Convert of track. The stations are a mix of elevated, lowered, and ground level designs. The many elevated and lowered stations being constructed as part of level crossing removals.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> From 2030, Spotswood station will be elevated as part of additional level crossing removal works.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Station	Accessibility	Opened	Terrain	Train connections	Other connections
Flinders Street	Yes—step free access	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Lowered	Template:Collapsible list	Template:Symbol Template:Symbol
Southern Cross		1859<ref name=":112" />	Ground level	Template:Collapsible list	Template:Symbol Template:Symbol Template:Symbol Template:Symbol
Template:Rwsa				Template:Collapsible list	Template:Symbol
South Kensington	No—steep ramp	1891<ref name=":112" />		Template:Collapsible list
Template:Rwsa	Yes—step free access	1859<ref name=":112" />		Template:Collapsible list	Template:Symbol Template:Symbol
Seddon	No—steep ramp	1906<ref name=":112" />		Template:Collapsible list
Yarraville	Yes—step free access	1871<ref name=":112" />			Template:Symbol
Spotswood		1878<ref name=":112" />
Newport	No—steep ramp	1859<ref name=":112" />			Template:Symbol
North Williamstown	Yes—step free access		Below ground
Williamstown Beach			Ground level
Williamstown

Station histories

Station	Opened<ref name="Anderson">Template:Anderson-All Stations</ref>	Closed<ref name="Anderson"/>	Age	Notes<ref name="Anderson" />
Template:Rwsa	Template:TAC2	Formerly Melbourne Terminus
Template:Rwsa	Template:TAC2	Formerly Batman's Hill Formerly Spencer Street
Template:Rwsa	Template:TAC2
Template:Rwsa	Template:TAC2
Template:Rwsa	Template:TAC2
Template:Rwsa	Template:TAC2
Footscray (Suburban)	Template:TAC2
Template:Rwsa	Template:TAC2
Template:Rwsa	Template:TAC2
Template:Rwsa	Template:TAC2	Formerly Edom Formerly Bayswater Formerly Spottiswoode
Template:Rwsa	Template:TAC2	Formerly Geelong Junction Formerly Williamstown Junction
Template:Rwsa	Template:TAC2
Garden Platform (Newport Workshops)	?	?
Template:Rwsa	Template:TAC2
Template:Rwsa	Template:TAC2	Formerly Beach
Template:Rwsa	Template:TAC2
Template:Rwsa	Template:TAC2	Formerly Pier
Williamstown Yard	?	?		Site of former Williamstown Workshops
Thompson's Siding	?	?		Formerly Gray Bros Siding
Nelson Pier	?	?
Gellibrand Pier	?	1 March 1956
Breakwater Pier	?	?

Infrastructure

Rolling stock

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File:817M at North Williamstown(28224676692).jpg

A Siemens Nexas EMU arriving at North Williamstown station.

The Williamstown line uses diverse 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> These train sets are the oldest on the Melbourne rail network and subsequently will be replaced by the mid 2030s.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Siemens Nexas EMUs are also widely featured on the line, originally built between 2002 and 2005. These train sets feature more modern technology than the Comeng trains.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The final type of rolling stock featured on the line is the X'Trapolis 100 built by Alstom between 2002 and 2004 as well as between 2009 and 2020.<ref name=":18">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> All of these rolling stock models are widely used on other lines across the metropolitan network and work as the backbone of the network.

Alongside the passenger trains, Williamstown 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">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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:Train pulling into Williamstown Station June 2014.jpg

Williamstown station is fully wheelchair accessible featuring tactile boarding indicators and wheelchair accessible ramps.

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The majority of stations on the corridor are fully accessible, however, there are some stations that have not been upgraded to meet these guidelines.<ref name=":12">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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 boarding indicators, independent boarding ramps, wheelchair accessible myki barriers, hearing loops, and widened paths.<ref name=":12" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Projects improving station accessibility have included the Level Crossing Removal Project, which involves station rebuilds and upgrades and other individual station upgrade projects.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> These works have made significant strides in improving network accessibility, with more than 75% of Williamstown line stations classed as fully accessible. This number is expected to grow within the coming years with the completion of level crossing removal works on the corridor by 2029.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Signalling

The Williamstown line uses three position signalling which is widely used across the Melbourne train network.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Three position signalling was first introduced in 1927, with the last section of the line converted to the new type of signalling in 1997.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

External links

• Williamstown line timetable
• Network map
• Template:Commons category-inline