<< Back | Home | Site Map

Timetables 1991 to 2000

This section includes a major contribution from Roderick B. Smith, Editor of "Rail News Victoria" and includes timetables collected over many years by the author.

Timetable and Service Overview

Contributed by Roderick B. Smith

"The Vinelander" and "The Sunraysia"

* The incoming Liberal government targeted the train for bus replacement, to save $5 million per year. It excused its renege by stating that the losses were greater than thought when the unequivocal guarantee of retention was made. Suitable buses were not yet ready for the 23.8.93 changes; an interim timetable was published. The proposed last run was the up from Mildura on Friday17.9. The buses were available earlier. The last "The Vinelander" was the up from Mildura on Sunday12.9, with N466, set Z61 and sleeping cars SJ282 & "Nomuldi". The down was docked at Spencer St platform 5 (N459 with SJ & SZ sleeping cars), and passengers had boarded. At 21.20 they were told that a landslide had blocked the tracks; they were taken by bus; one car was sent by semitrailer. The excuse was exposed in the press next week as a fabrication to avoid a repetition of the Bairnsdale impounding of a passenger train.

References:

* DD: Divisional Diary; NL: VR News Letter; RT: Railway Transportation.

* Poole `VR passenger rollingstock' in Feb.54 ARHS Bulletin (many mistakes).

* Smith `VR airconditioned carriages' in Aug.74 Newsrail.

* Insall `Cheers to the Vinelander' in Sept.93 Newsrail.

* Gould Century of rail; History of rail services Birchip and district 1893-1993 (Sunnyland Press, 1993).

* Isaacs et al Railway refreshments in Victoria (Australian Association of Timetable Collectors, 1992).

Timetables

The following timetables have been extracted from Master Train Plans and Network Service Plans (Internal operating documents) published by the Public Transport Corporation and later, the Victorian Rail Track Corporation. The timetables shown are representative of the train services for the lines covered in this history.

Note 1: The reference "MTP" indicates the source is an internal Master Train Plan document.

Note 2: The Master Train Plan was changed to "Network Service Plan" about November 1997.

June 1990 Mildura Passenger and Goods Down MTP

June 1990 Mildura Passenger and Goods Up MTP

June 1990 Pinnaroo MTP

June 1990 Yelta MTP

Goods Trains operate as arranged.

February 1992 Mildura Passenger and Goods Down MTP

February 1992 Mildura Passenger and Goods Up MTP

February 1992 Pinnaroo MTP

February 1992 Yelta

Good Trains operate as arranged.

August 1993 Mildura Down MTP

Note: Mildura line passenger services cancelled.

August 1993 Mildura Up MPT

Note: Passenger line passenger services cancelled.

August 1991 Pinnaroo MTP

August 1993 Yelta MTP

Goods trains operate as arranged.

March 1995 Mildura Line Down MTP

Note: Extension of Goods Trains from Mildura to Merbein

March 1995 Mildura Line Up MTP

Note: Extension of Goods Trains from Mildura to Merbein

March 1995 Pinnaroo MTP

July 1996 Mildura Line Down and Up MTP

Note: Schedules shown for Maryborough - Merbein section only.

October 1996 Mildura Line Down and Up MTP

October 1996 Pinnaroo MTP

Note: South Australian Border to Pinnaroo temporarily closed to all rail services. Pinnaroo to Tailem Bend converted to standard gauge.

1997 November Mildura Line Down and Up NSP

November 1997 Pinnaroo NSP

Note: South Australian Border to Pinnaroo temporarily closed to all rail services. Pinnaroo to Tailem Bend converted to standard gauge.

March 1998 Mildura Line Down and Up NSP

March 1998 Pinnaroo NSP

Note: South Australian Border to Pinnaroo temporarily closed to all rail services. Pinnaroo to Tailem Bend converted to standard gauge.