Moolort railway line

The Moolort Line is a cross-country line which connects Maryborough and Castlemaine. The last passenger rail service operated between Castlemaine and Maryborough on 31 July 1977,[1] and most of the line (between Moolort and Maldon Junction) has been out of use since 2004. The Victorian Goldfields Railway operates on around 1.5 km of the line between Castlemaine and Maldon Junction, then continues on to Maldon using the Shelbourne line. Ballast trains used to run from Moolort to Maryborough, but the railway line is now closed from Maldon Junction (which is in Castlemaine) right through to Maryborough. Some level crossings have been asphalted over, however the rails are in effect still below.

Moolort
Overview
StatusClosed apart from 1.5 km Castlemaine to Maldon Junction
Connecting linesMildura Line at Maryborough and Bendigo Line at Castlemaine
Stations6
Service
TypeCross Country
History
Opened7 July 1874
Completed7 July 1874
Closed17 December 2004 (Moolort - Maldon Junction)
Technical
Line length54.653 km (33.96 mi)
Number of tracksSingle track
Route map
Victorian-rail-map-2007.png

The line, beginning in Castlemaine, passes through Campbells Creek, Yapeen, Guildford, Newstead, Moolort, and Carisbrook, before joining the Mildura line at Maryborough.

One of the policies of the Victorian Coalition government elected in November 2010 was to undertake a study into reintroducing passenger services between Ballarat and Bendigo, which would include running between Maryborough and Castlemaine. A media release in 2011 stated that a review was under way,[2] but nothing further has been heard about the plan.

There has been significant discussion on the re-opening of this rail line for passenger services[3]

Maryborough, where Moolort line previously connected to the Victorian Broad Gauge Network
Line is unservicable at McClure St Level Crossing, Maryborough
Moolort Railway
Castlemaine-Bendigo main line
Castlemaine
Melbourne-Castlemaine main line
Maldon line
Campbell
Guildford
Strangway
Newstead
Moolort
Carisbrook
Maryborough

References
  1. "Traffic". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. August 1977. p. 178.
  2. "Rail Revival Study: Geelong – Ballarat – Bendigo investigations underway". Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  3. "Rail Revival Study: Geelong – Ballarat – Bendigo [Railpage] forums detailed discussions". Retrieved 9 December 2013.
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