Morwell railway station is a regional railway station on the Gippsland line, part of the Victorian railway network. It serves the town of Morwell, in Victoria, Australia. Morwell station is a ground level unstaffed station, featuring one side platform. It opened on 1 June 1877.[1][2]
A disused track exists opposite the single platform, which was used in the past when State Electricity Commission and rail freight trains were more common.
Two branch lines exist at the down end of the station; the Maryvale paper mill branch, and the Energexbriquette branch. The former is regularly used for paper trains each weekday, while the latter is not in use. The Energex briquette branch originally opened to traffic in 1951.[1]
History
The station was electrified on 15 March 1956, and had regular electric locomotive services until 2 July 1987.[1] The overhead wires were later removed.[3]
In 1966, a signal panel was provided at the station, when Automatic and Track Control was provided between Morwell and Moe.[1] The panel was abolished on 28 April 2006.[4]
The station was also the terminus of the Mirboo North branch line. The last passenger service operated on 7 September 1968,[2] with passenger services ceasing two days later, on 9 September.[1] The last freight service operated on 18 June 1974,[2] with the line closing six days later, on 24 June.[5]
In 1988, a number of points at the station were abolished, as well as a siding leading to the former dock platform.[1]
The station was upgraded during the early 1990s.[6]
Much of the old yard located adjacent to the station was removed in 2004, as part of works associated with the Regional Fast Rail project. Latrobe City Council's offices now reside in the former location of the yard.
As part of the Regional Rail Revival project, a second platform will be constructed at the station, and will include upgraded accessibility improvements.[7] The crossing loop, located in the up direction of the station, will also be extended as part of the project, using the old disused track.[7]
