Mildura railway station, Victoria
Encyclopedia
Mildura was the passenger terminus for the Mildura railway line in Victoria
, Australia
. Located in the city of Mildura
it is located on the eastern side of the town centre, alongside the Murray River
. Although there has not been a passenger rail service since 1993, the Victorian Labor Government promised to return the service in 1999.
being on November 13. Between 1922 and 1928 a railmotor service operated between Red Cliffs and Mildura stations to serve local passengers. Major freight consigned from the region included bulk grain, sheep and cattle, and locally grown fruit.
In 1923, a series of sidings were placed between the Mildura railway station and the wharves on the Murray River. These included a zig-zag section to enable trains to travel between the different elevations. These sidings were removed in 1973. Mildura was once the destination of the Vinelander
, the only Victorian intrastate passenger train to have both motorail and sleeping car
facilities for passengers. The current station building dates to November 1979.
In late 2009 removal of the station yard at Mildura commenced, with only a single track retained, with all buildings and additional rail infrastructure including tracks and refuelling area demolished. The project was carried out by the Rural City of Mildura
along with Regional Development Victoria to open up the riverfront area, with $8 million in funding provided by the State Government. As part of the work a new rail freight facility will be constructed to the west of the existing Merbein terminal, as well as refurbishment of the sidings at Red Cliffs
for the storage of maintenance equipment.
(north of the station) operated by Wakefield Transport, which handles approximately 13000 export containers a year, as well as 500 import containers. Cement is also despatched to Mildura from Waurn Ponds (near Geelong), oil and LCL containers were carried until 2007.
Today Mildura lacks passenger rail services, but it is a stop on a number of V/Line
operated coach routes. A service review was announced by the Bracks Government
in 2000, in part due to the independent politician Russell Savage
enabling the formation of a minority Labor government in the 1999 Victorian state election. The service has yet to be returned, but as recently as 2007 the Labor Party was stating that the freight upgrade as the "first stage in the reintroduction of passenger rail to Mildura". In July 2009 the government announced that they would start another transport study into the return of passenger rail services "soon".
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Located in the city of Mildura
Mildura, Victoria
Mildura is a regional city in northwestern Victoria, Australia and seat of the Rural City of Mildura local government area. It is located in the Sunraysia region, and is on the banks of the Murray River. The current population is estimated at just over 30,000.Mildura is a major agricultural centre...
it is located on the eastern side of the town centre, alongside the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
. Although there has not been a passenger rail service since 1993, the Victorian Labor Government promised to return the service in 1999.
History
Agitation for a railway to Mildura commenced as far back as 1888, but it was not until 1898 that the Victorian Parliament recommended the extension of the Ultima line to Mildura, however this was overturned and the line Woomelang extended north instead. The turning of the first sod at the station site was held in November 1901, by October 1903 rails had been laid up to Mildura, the official openingbeing on November 13. Between 1922 and 1928 a railmotor service operated between Red Cliffs and Mildura stations to serve local passengers. Major freight consigned from the region included bulk grain, sheep and cattle, and locally grown fruit.
In 1923, a series of sidings were placed between the Mildura railway station and the wharves on the Murray River. These included a zig-zag section to enable trains to travel between the different elevations. These sidings were removed in 1973. Mildura was once the destination of the Vinelander
Vinelander
The Vinelander was a named passenger train that operated by the Victorian Railways between Melbourne and Mildura, Victoria, Australia from 1972 to 1993. Operating overnight along the Mildura line, it included motorail and sleeping car facilities.-History:...
, the only Victorian intrastate passenger train to have both motorail and sleeping car
Sleeping car
The sleeping car or sleeper is a railway/railroad passenger car that can accommodate all its passengers in beds of one kind or another, primarily for the purpose of making nighttime travel more restful. The first such cars saw sporadic use on American railroads in the 1830s and could be configured...
facilities for passengers. The current station building dates to November 1979.
In late 2009 removal of the station yard at Mildura commenced, with only a single track retained, with all buildings and additional rail infrastructure including tracks and refuelling area demolished. The project was carried out by the Rural City of Mildura
Rural City of Mildura
The Rural City of Mildura is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the north-western part of the state. It has an area of 22,214 square kilometres. Localities within the LGA include Mildura city itself and the towns of Merbein, Red Cliffs, Irymple, Ouyen, Werrimull,...
along with Regional Development Victoria to open up the riverfront area, with $8 million in funding provided by the State Government. As part of the work a new rail freight facility will be constructed to the west of the existing Merbein terminal, as well as refurbishment of the sidings at Red Cliffs
Red Cliffs railway station, Victoria
Red Cliffs is a closed railway station in the town Red Cliffs on the Mildura railway line in Victoria, Australia. Red Cliffs station was established as a passenger station in 1920, a loop siding also being provided at this time. In 1922 a railmotor service commenced between Mildura station and Red...
for the storage of maintenance equipment.
Traffic
The main freight traffic on the line is export grain and containerised wine, grapes, citrus, dried fruit and juice, totalling around 1.5 million tonnes per year. Containers are dispatched to Melbourne from a terminal at MerbeinMerbein, Victoria
Merbein is a town outside Mildura, Victoria, in the Sunraysia region of Australia. At the 2006 census, Merbein had a population of 2526.The area was known as White Cliffs until 1909 when the township was established, the Post Office opening on 16 August 1909.The name was intended to be Merebin,...
(north of the station) operated by Wakefield Transport, which handles approximately 13000 export containers a year, as well as 500 import containers. Cement is also despatched to Mildura from Waurn Ponds (near Geelong), oil and LCL containers were carried until 2007.
Today Mildura lacks passenger rail services, but it is a stop on a number of V/Line
V/Line
V/Line is a not for profit regional passenger train and coach service in Victoria, Australia. It was created after the split-up of VicRail in 1983. V/Line is owned by the V/Line Corporation which is a Victorian State Government statutory authority...
operated coach routes. A service review was announced by the Bracks Government
Steve Bracks
Stephen Philip Bracks AC is a former Australian politician and the 44th Premier of Victoria. He first won the electoral district of Williamstown in 1994 for the Australian Labor Party, and was party leader and Premier from 1999 to 2007....
in 2000, in part due to the independent politician Russell Savage
Russell Savage
Russell Irwin Savage , Australian politician, was the independent member for the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Mildura from 1996 until 2006...
enabling the formation of a minority Labor government in the 1999 Victorian state election. The service has yet to be returned, but as recently as 2007 the Labor Party was stating that the freight upgrade as the "first stage in the reintroduction of passenger rail to Mildura". In July 2009 the government announced that they would start another transport study into the return of passenger rail services "soon".