Ballarat - Geelong Line

Shorter video on the Ballarat - Geelong Line. Thanks for watching.

[@matthewhaywood7411]

I feel like reopening ballarat-bendigo would be a far more useful route, takes a couple of hours to drive, but 6 hours plus using public transport in its current form. This would significantly in my mind increase patronage also to and from echuca and district possibly even opening up a dialogue toward services to Deniliquin

[@TransportHistoryMelbourn-bl3rq]

I agree that the potential of a Bendigo - Ballarat line is significant, however it should be noted that the section from Maryborough - Castlemaine has been long closed with tracks ripped up, making restoration of services a far dream at best. Also the winding route would significantly impact the time, making competing with cars more difficult. That being said, an eventual extension of the Maryborough line to Castlemaine and onto Bendigo would definitely have a positive impact and definitely help the issues the Maryborough line currently faces.

[@smurftums]

It's interesting how the mixed trains took a similar time between Ballarat and Geelong (2hrs 15 minutes) compared to using the Vlocity trains to do the same, except via Melbourne (2hrs 19 minutes)! A single car Sprinter DMU and much needed track upgrades, could make the trip possible in under an hour, even with three or so stops between Ballarat and Geelong. Otherwise use the Endeavour railcars from NSW when/if the line is upgraded to standard gauge (which was supposed to happen).

[@TransportHistoryMelbourn-bl3rq]

Thats quite interesting to note, although not a surprise due to the speed of trains in the 19th century haha. I would also like to see the sprinters put on regional shuttles, however they are getting older and repurposing one now would just be delaying its inevitable retirement. Re-gauging the line probably wont happen for a while anymore, and if it did it would likely be done as dual gauge, restricting it to iirc 80km/h, making any benefits of trackworks functionally void.

[@TheDemocrab]

It's worth noting that the more recent reports into reopening the line suggesting that it wasn't viable financially had credible accusations of gilding their projected costs (eg. Buying back the existing heritage station buildings and restoring them to fit modern code when all of them have suitable locations for adjacent modern stations ala Creswick, ensuring full 160km/h operation when 130km/h is a lot cheaper and enough to beat the congested Geelong road in travel time, etc) although there's been little movement or rumblings on reopening the line since.

[@TransportHistoryMelbourn-bl3rq]

Thats very interesting and sadly not surprising, hopefully there is some proposal of some significance to come in the near future before the line let fall into disrepair.

[@johnd8892]

Passenger services ran on the Geelong to Ballarat line well into the 1980s when i travelled on the line. But as the route of only a few Melbourne to Ballarat and further afield services. Printed country timetables will confirm this but were often thrown away when out of date. I seem to recall it was the Great Northern Limited train that I specifically sought out for my travel on the line one Saturday after studying the timetables. I can't recall any travellers using the intermediate stations and very few getting on at the Geelong area stops. An indication of how little the patronage might be if the huge expense of upgrading the track and providing passenger services between these country cities.

[@JohnSmith-jm8id]

I have also travelled on this line on timetabled V Line services to Dimboola in 1985 and 1987.

[@TransportHistoryMelbourn-bl3rq]

Thats very interesting, as local trains ceased in 1978 I assume the train you caught did not stop at any intermediate stations? perhaps it was a redirected due to a closure of the mainline? Interested in knowing if you happen to remember more.

[@johnd8892]

@@TransportHistoryMelbourn-bl3rq I have thought it was Saturday prestige trains that were timetabled to travel by that route. It was by studying the printed timetable that I found this out and chose to travel on it. So your theory about diversions and the track being unfit for passenger trains is wrong. If demand was there they would have stopped at intermediate stations too but that may have ceased due to lack of demand. Another commenter confirms these trains ran. Perhaps the state library should have the timetable publications to examine for more research.

[@TransportHistoryMelbourn-bl3rq]

After a little bit of digging I can confirm you are completely correct, with this timetable from 1982 listing the Overland as running "via North Geelong NON STOP to Ballarat". undertheclocksblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/vicraildimboola1982.pdf I'm very curious as to why this is the case, as the mainline would've been plenty sufficient and significantly shortened the trip. Perhaps it was to avoid the local traffic on the mostly single track direct line? or it could've had something to do with the lengths of the passing loops? Very interesting indeed.