Although the Gippsland line was extended toOrbost in 1916, passenger services along the line extended only as far asBairnsdale beginning in the 1930s. In 1954 the line beyondDandenong waselectrified as far asTraralgon, with services from this time provided by theL class electric locomotives.
In 1975 suburban services were extended from Dandenong toPakenham, on what is known as thePakenham line. By the 1980s, themotive power of trains reverted todiesel locomotives, with electrification cut back toWarragul in 1987, and toBunyip in 1998. SuburbanComeng trains were used byV/Line to provide services from Melbourne to Warragul in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
In 1993, passenger services from Sale to Bairnsdale were withdrawn, leading to massive protests. They were reinstated in 2004 as part of theLinking Victoria program. The line was upgraded as part of theRegional Fast Rail project in 2005 and the last of theoverhead wires were removed, except for a short section to the Melbourne side of Bunyip station.
In March 2013 the service was suspended east ofTraralgon because of safety problems with level crossings.[1][2] Rail services resumed in October 2013.[3]
Services to Traralgon operate approximately hourly every day, with a higher frequency during the weekday peak periods. BetweenSouthern Cross andPakenham, services generally stop atFlinders Street,Richmond,Caulfield,Clayton andDandenong. One service during the weekday peak(running towards Melbourne in the morning peak, and Traralgon in the afternoon peak), also stops atBerwick. At metropolitan stations (excluding Pakenham), trains running towards Traralgon and Bairnsdale only pick up passengers, and trains running towards Southern Cross only set down passengers.
Local services stop at all stations between Pakenham and Traralgon, but services during peak periods run express from Pakenham toGarfield, Garfield toDrouin, andWarragul toMoe. One morning peak service terminates and originates at Flinders Street instead of Southern Cross.[4]
There are three daily return services to Bairnsdale.[5] At Bairnsdale, trains connect with road coach services toOrbost,Batemans Bay andCanberra. All Bairnsdale services as of September 2024 are operated byV/Line VLocitydiesel multiple-unit trains, with the lastN class locomotive-hauled service operating on 14 September 2024.[6]
Regional Bus
Regional Coach
Ferries
