 | |
 VicTrack assets atRoxburgh Park:V/Line-operatedSprinter train onMetro Trains Melbourne-leasedCraigieburn line to the left, andAustralian Rail Track Corporation-leasedNorth East line to the right, 2007 | |
| Corporation overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 July 1997 |
| Preceding corporation | |
| Type | Statutory corporation |
| Jurisdiction | Victoria |
| Headquarters | Docklands |
| Employees | 387(June 2018) |
| Ministers responsible |
|
| Corporation executive |
|
| Parent department | Department of Transport and Planning |
| Key documents |
|
| Website | www.victrack.com.au |
| Agency ID | PROVVA 4616 |
VicTrack, the trading name of theVictorian Rail Track Corporation, is a business enterprise of theVictorian Government which owns all railway and tram lines, associated rail lands, track corridors and other infrastructure in the state ofVictoria,Australia,[1] with the exception of thePuffing Billy Railway, which is owned and run by the Puffing Billy Railway Board.[2]
VicTrack leases railway and tram land used for public transport toPublic Transport Victoria which then sub-leases the assets and infrastructure to rail and tram operators, currentlyAustralian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC),Metro Trains Melbourne,V/Line andYarra Trams.[3] VicTrack retains responsibility for the freight lines around theDynon Intermodal Freight Terminal,South Dynon Locomotive Depot and inNorth Melbourne.[4]
VicTrack also carries out a range of commercial activities on railway land, including:
TheTransport Integration Act 2010 provides that VicTrack's primary object is "to act as the custodial owner of the State's transport-related land, infrastructure and assets" consistent with the vision statement in the Act, and objectives which emphasise transport integration and sustainability. The Act also states that VicTrack's activities should be primarily directed at supporting the transport system and other purposes which support Government policy.[5]
Victorian Rail Track was established on 1 July 1997, under theRail Corporations Act 1996,[6] to hold, manage and maintain railway land and infrastructure in Victoria for theVictorian Government.
In 1999, the standard gauge tracks from Melbourne toServiceton (near the South Australian border) and toAlbury (on the New South Wales border) were leased for five years to the newly formedAustralian Rail Track Corporation.[7] This was later extended for another 10 years and in May 2008, for another 45 years.[8][9]
As part of the extension, the rundown and underutilised broad gauge line fromSeymour to Albury that paralleled the Melbourne to Sydney line, was converted to standard gauge.[10] Included was construction of a five kilometreWodonga Rail Bypass to eliminate 11 level crossings.[11]
In May 1999, a 45-year lease on the regional network was sold toFreight Victoria. The lease was included in the sale of the business toPacific National in August 2004, before being bought back by the State Government in 2007.[12][13]
In July 2008, the line fromMaroona toPortland was leased to the ARTC for 50 years with $15 million to be invested in the line.[14][15][16] The line was handed over in March 2009.[17]
In August 1999, the office ofDirector of Public Transport was created in the Department of Transport to manage, coordinate and regulatepublic transport in Victoria. The responsibilities of the Director included the entering into and management of franchising contracts with train, tram and bus companies to provide public transport services inMelbourne and Victoria. To further these goals, the Director leased the metropolitan and intrastate train and tram infrastructure and assets from VicTrack through the Metropolitan Infrastructure Head Lease, and would sub-lease various assets to the various franchisees through Infrastructure Leases. On 2 April 2012, these functions of the Director were transferred to the newly createdPublic Transport Victoria, as were the leases.
The Victorian Rail Track Corporation (VicTrack) was re-established with a new corporate charter from 1 July 2010 by theTransport Integration Act 2010.[5][18] The 2010 Act also changed the name of theRail Corporations Act 1996 to theRail Management Act 1996.[19]
VicTrack is the custodian of all rail infrastructure and assets in Victoria. VicTrack leases the metropolitan and intrastate train and tram infrastructure and assets toPublic Transport Victoria (PTV), which then sub-leases the infrastructure and assets to the metropolitan train and tram operators andV/Line. PTV manages the rights and obligations contained in the sub-leases on behalf of the State.
Metro Trains Melbourne operatesMelbourne's railway network of 998 km (620 mi) of track[20] and is responsible for 222 railway stations.[21] V/Line operates to 91 railway stations[22] and is track manager of the Victorian intrastate rail network outside of the ARTC and Metro Trains Melbourne sub-leases.[23]Yarra Trams operates the 250 km (160 mi)Melbourne tram network.[24] ARTC sub-leases from PTV the interstate standard gauge railway tracks fromMelbourne toServiceton and Melbourne toAlbury.[25]