Echuca railway station

Echuca is the northernmost operating passenger railway station along the Deniliquin line in Victoria, Australia. It is also the terminus of the freight-only Toolamba–Echuca line. It serves the border settlement of Echuca–Moama.

Echuca
PTV regional rail station
Southbound view in August 2007
Location116 Sturt Street
Echuca, Victoria 3564
Australia
Coordinates36°07′52″S 144°45′12″E
Owned byVicTrack
Operated byV/Line
Line(s)
Distance249.99 kilometres from Southern Cross
Platforms1
Tracks3
Train operatorsV/Line
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
Other information
StatusOperational, staffed part-time
Station codeECH
WebsitePublic Transport Victoria
History
Opened1864 (1864)
ElectrifiedNo
Services
Preceding station   V/Line   Following station
Bendigo line
(Deniliquin line)
Terminus
Closed station navigation
Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Moama
towards Deniliquin		   Deniliquin line   Line open
Terminus   Toolamba–Echuca line   Tongala
towards Toolamba
Official nameEchuca Railway Station Complex
Designated20 August 1982
Reference no.H1059[1]

It is the terminus for V/Line services from Melbourne, but the Deniliquin line continues to operate northwards past the state border for freight traffic. Freight sidings and a silo exist opposite the station.

History
View of station buildings in June 2015.

The railway reached Echuca in 1864, and transformed the town into a major river port, with the opening of the Echuca Wharf and substantial urban growth in the 1870s.[2] In 1876, the Deniliquin and Moama Railway Company opened their 71 km (44 mi) long private railway northwards to Deniliquin.[3]

The brick station building at Echuca was provided on opening of the line, along with a double gable roofed brick goods shed, and three road locomotive depot. The station building was expanded in 1877, a large water tower being erected in the same year (demolished in 1977),[4] and the iron footbridge was added in 1880.[5] The concrete rail bridge over the Murray River to the north of the station opened in 1989, replacing a road and rail bridge which opened in 1878.[2]

A short branch line between Echuca and the port opened with the line, but was closed in 1971. In 2000, $150,000 funding for the reconstruction of the line was provided.[6] By 2002 work was underway, with the cost increased to $330,000. However, by 2007 the branch was out of use and disconnected from the main line.[7]

The branch line from Echuca to Toolamba closed in 2007, but was reopened in October 2013.[8][9]

Platforms & services

Echuca has one side platform. It is serviced by terminating Echuca V/Line trains from Southern Cross.[10]

Echuca is also served by V/Line road coach services between Bendigo and Moama[10] and NSW TrainLink road coach services to Albury and Wagga Wagga.[11]

References
  1. "Echica Railway Station Complex". Victorian Heritage Database. Government of Victoria. Archived from the original on 15 May 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  2. "Echuca-Moama Road Rail Bridge over Murray River". Office of Environment & Heritage. NSW Government. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
  3. Australian Bureau of Statistics. "Private Railways". Year Book Australia, 1921. www.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 20 July 2008.
  4. "Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. August 1977. p. 182.
  5. "Echuca Railway Station Complex (listing VICH1059)". Australia Heritage Places Inventory. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
  6. "Minister Announces Funding for the Port of Echuca Rail Link". Media Release: Minister for Transport. www.dpc.vic.gov.au. 29 May 2000. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
  7. "Switchpoint: Victorian Rail Freight Network Review" (PDF). p. 70. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
  8. Coalition government reopens Echuca to Toolamba line for rail freight Premier of Victoria 3 October 2013
  9. Echuca to Toolamba reopens Archived 2014-05-12 at the Wayback Machine Rail Express 9 October 2013
  10. Echuca/Moama - Melbourne timetable Public Transport Victoria
  11. "Southern timetable". NSW Trainlink. 7 September 2019.
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