New Deal (railway)
Encyclopedia
The 'New Deal' for Country Passengers was a timetable
introduced on 4 October 1981 in Victoria
, Australia
that revolutionised the provision of country passenger railway services
. 35 little-used passenger stations were closed, rolling stock utilisation improved, and new rolling stock introduced. The timetable and associated service changes resulted in an average patronage growth of 8.7% per year, from 3 million in 1981 to 5.6 million passengers in 1990/91.
had been stuck in a 'time warp', with the Bland Report of 1972 recommending the closure of uneconomic branch lines and replacement of rail passenger services with buses. By the start of the 1980s passenger numbers had fallen to around 3 million per year, due to ageing rolling stock, stagnant timetables, and competition from other forms of transport. The Lonie Report
of 1980 recommended further cuts to the network, the general public responding by calling for the State Government to maintain a viable rail network.
The Rupert Hamer
Liberal
State Government had been in power since 1972, with Robert McClellan Transport Minister since 1978. Alan Reiher became Chairman of the Victorian Railways Board in July 1980. By February 1981 his lobbying had resulted in a $115 million commitment from the State Government to recast country rail passenger services in Victoria, the concepts of which originated within the Planning Branch of the VR.
VicRail pushed hard for the new timetables to be introduced by October 1981 so they would operate throughout the summer before the 1982 Victorian election. The Hamer government lost the election and was replaced by the John Cain
Labor
Government. However, the New Deal proved to have bipartisan political support, and was further expanded by incoming Transport Minister Steve Crabb.
s and rolling stock. The majority of the country timetable had not been revised since the steam era
of the 1950s, with excessive turn around times at termini and excessive stops at little used stations. The research found that 30% to 50% more services could run with a new timetable but with fewer carriages.
The initial elements of the 1981 New Deal included:
Under the Cain Government further improvements were carried out from 1982:
to Albury
, Bairnsdale
, Bendigo
, Dimboola
, Mildura
, Numurkah
, Swan Hill
and Warrnambool
. Road coach services connected from Intercity train to towns no longer serviced by rail. Within the 'Intercity' network an 'Interurban' (commuter rail) was set up with more frequent services to Ballarat
, South Geelong
, Kyneton
, Seymour
and Traralgon
.
The new timetable was put into place on Sunday 4 October 1981. Each Intercity service was accelerated by a large margin, up to 50 minutes in some instances. Unlike the Regional Fast Rail project
of the early 2000s, no track or signalling improvements were carried out in order to speed up the services. Instead 35 little used stations were closed to passenger traffic, sectional running times were revised, higher powered locomotives allocated to services, and stops at railway refreshment rooms removed due to the introduction of on train catering. Turnaround times at termini was also cut though the use of the twin cab B, A and N class locomotives, which did not need to be reversed on a turntable.
Interurban services were not sped up to as great a degree, but more regular departure times were introduced, and the number of services increased. The Ballarat line also saw most services sent via the direct route via Bacchus Marsh
, instead of the long way via the Geelong-Ballarat line and North Shore.
in Rosewater, South Australia
. The first entered service in May 1984, but the project was abandoned in mid 1985 after rising costs due to structural fatigue. The 11th rebuild was delivered in August 1985. The N class were a new-build locomotive, mechanically similar to the A class. The major difference was the addition of head end power
generators, as it was believed this was a more efficient way of supplying power for air-conditioning and lighting than power vans
or individual generator sets under carriages.
Passenger trains operations were revolutionized , with fixed consist working (as in Europe) introduced to eliminate the need to shunt between services. This saw the end of a long-standing Victorian Railways tradition that the guard's van be at the end of the train. An order for 18 N type carriage
s was placed in 1977 for operation on the Geelong and Ballarat lines, but was extended under the New Deal to 54 carriages in 1981 and subsequently to 57 carriages, with the last being delivered in 1984. The carriages were part of a plan to remove 400 unheated and non air-conditioned wooden carriages (up to 70 years old) from service. The H type carriage conversion contract was placed in March 1983 with Clyde Engineering for 43 carriages, later extended to 55 carriages. The new timetable required around 180 carriages, and by 1985 the majority of the fleet was made up of steel bodied cars.
35 passenger stations were closed on existing lines, or 82 stations when those on closed lines were included.
A number of these services were later re-introduced:
The Cobram and Leongatha services were again closed by the Kennett Government.
railcar
services.
Further the strong foundations laid in the 1981 New Deal led undoubtedly to further massive investment in Country Rail Passenger services in Victoria in the early 2000's which has resulted in the total re-building of Spencer St Station (Melbourne) as Southern Cross Station
. Also the four inter-urban routes to Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Traralgon were upgraded to allow a new generation of "V/Locity" trains to operate at up to 160 km/h. By 2007/08 patronage had grown to 12 million trips, a fourfold increase on the 3 million passengers carried in 1980/81.
Public transport timetable
A public transport timetable is a representation of public transport information to assist a passenger with planning a trip using public transport. A timetable details when vehicle will arrive and depart specified locations and may be organised for by route or for a particular stop...
introduced on 4 October 1981 in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
that revolutionised the provision of country passenger railway services
Rail transport in Victoria
Rail transport in Victoria, Australia, is provided by a number of railway operators who operate over the government-owned railway lines. Victorian lines use broad gauge, with the exception of a number of standard gauge freight and interstate lines, a few experimental narrow gauge lines, and...
. 35 little-used passenger stations were closed, rolling stock utilisation improved, and new rolling stock introduced. The timetable and associated service changes resulted in an average patronage growth of 8.7% per year, from 3 million in 1981 to 5.6 million passengers in 1990/91.
Political background
The Victorian RailwaysVictorian Railways
The Victorian Railways operated railways in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companies failed or defaulted, the Victorian Railways was established to take over their operations...
had been stuck in a 'time warp', with the Bland Report of 1972 recommending the closure of uneconomic branch lines and replacement of rail passenger services with buses. By the start of the 1980s passenger numbers had fallen to around 3 million per year, due to ageing rolling stock, stagnant timetables, and competition from other forms of transport. The Lonie Report
Lonie Report
The Lonie Report, officially titled Victorian Transport Study, was a thoroughgoing study of freight and passenger transport within the state of Victoria, in Australia...
of 1980 recommended further cuts to the network, the general public responding by calling for the State Government to maintain a viable rail network.
The Rupert Hamer
Rupert Hamer
Sir Rupert James Hamer, AC, KCMG, ED , generally known until he was knighted in 1982 as Dick Hamer, Australian Liberal Party politician, was the 39th Premier of Victoria, serving from 1972 to 1981.-Early years:...
Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
State Government had been in power since 1972, with Robert McClellan Transport Minister since 1978. Alan Reiher became Chairman of the Victorian Railways Board in July 1980. By February 1981 his lobbying had resulted in a $115 million commitment from the State Government to recast country rail passenger services in Victoria, the concepts of which originated within the Planning Branch of the VR.
VicRail pushed hard for the new timetables to be introduced by October 1981 so they would operate throughout the summer before the 1982 Victorian election. The Hamer government lost the election and was replaced by the John Cain
John Cain II
John Cain , Australian Labor Party politician, was the 41st Premier of Victoria, holding office from 1982 to 1990.-Biography:...
Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
Government. However, the New Deal proved to have bipartisan political support, and was further expanded by incoming Transport Minister Steve Crabb.
Planning
Before the new timetable could be introduced, stopping patterns and running times were scrutinised to maximise the use of locomotiveLocomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s and rolling stock. The majority of the country timetable had not been revised since the steam era
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
of the 1950s, with excessive turn around times at termini and excessive stops at little used stations. The research found that 30% to 50% more services could run with a new timetable but with fewer carriages.
Elements
- Planned rebuilding 26 B class locomotives with new power plants and traction equipment to (the A classV/Line A classThe A class are a group of bulldog nosed diesel electric locomotive delivered to V/Line between 1982 and 1984. Totalling 11, they are now divided up between passenger operator V/Line and freight operator Pacific National.-History:...
) - Construction of 54 (later 57) air conditioned steel bodied passenger cars, formed into 19 3-car sets (the N type carriageN type carriageThe N type carriages are an intercity passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. They were introduced between 1981 and 1984 as part of the 'New Deal' reforms of country passenger rail services...
s) - Refurbishing late 1930s-late 1950s SS type carriageThe S type carriages are a compartment layout passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. The carriages were constructed by the Victorian Railways in 1937 for use on the Spirit of Progress, with additional carriages built until the 1950s for other trains.Two major types of...
and Z type carriageZ type carriageThe Z type carriages are an air conditioned steel passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. The carriages were constructed by the Victorian Railways from 1957 for use on intrastate services....
s - Elimination of older non-airconditioned and wooden bodied carriage stock including the (EE type carriageThe E type carriages were wooden express passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. Introduced by Victorian Railways Chairman of Commissioners Thomas James Tait and based on Canadian carriage design, the class remained in regular service for 85 years.-Design:Carriages on...
and W type carriageW type carriageThe W type carriages were wooden passenger carriages used on the railways of Victoria, Australia.-Construction:In the early 20th century, the Victorian Railways converted the central part of their network to electric traction. As part of this project, they converted a large number of 'Swing Door'...
s) - A new timetable incorporating faster, and more frequent services
- Changes in work practices onboard trains
- Operation of trains as fixed consists, instead of the previous labour intensive practice of shunting and altering train sizes continually
- Introduction of a new computer reservation system "VICRES"
- Replacement of most branchline railcar services with road coach services
Under the Cain Government further improvements were carried out from 1982:
- Ten N class diesel locomotives were ordered (later extended to 25, instead of converting additional B class locomotives)
- Eight (later 13) T classVictorian Railways T class (diesel)The Victorian Railways T class diesel electric locomotive are a small branch line and shunting unit built by Clyde Engineering . They were the most numerous class of diesel locomotives in the state....
locomotives were rebuilt into the P class incorporating Head End Power (HEP). - Older HarrisHarris (train)The Harris trains were the first steel-bodied Electric Multiple Unit train to operate on the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. They were introduced in 1956 by the Victorian Railways, and last operated in 1988, although a number of the carriages were converted for other...
suburban electric trains were converted into the H type carriageH type carriageThe H type carriages are an interurban passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. Fitted with economy class only high density 2+3 seating, they are exclusively used on short distance interurban services with V/Line.-History:...
s for Interurban services.
Timetable
The passenger network was recast, with 'Intercity' routes from MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
to Albury
Albury, New South Wales
Albury is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia, located on the Hume Highway on the northern side of the Murray River. It is located wholly within the boundaries of the City of Albury Local Government Area...
, Bairnsdale
Bairnsdale, Victoria
Bairnsdale is a small city in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. With a population at the 2006 census of 11,282, it is a major regional centre of eastern Victoria along with Traralgon and Sale....
, Bendigo
Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...
, Dimboola
Dimboola, Victoria
Dimboola is located in Shire of Hindmarsh in the Wimmera region of Western Victoria, Australia, 334 kilometres north-west of Melbourne.Situated on the Wimmera River in the State of Victoria,the town of Dimboola was previously known as 'Nine Creeks'.Following a survey conducted in late 1862 by...
, Mildura
Mildura, Victoria
Mildura is a regional city in northwestern Victoria, Australia and seat of the Rural City of Mildura local government area. It is located in the Sunraysia region, and is on the banks of the Murray River. The current population is estimated at just over 30,000.Mildura is a major agricultural centre...
, Numurkah
Numurkah, Victoria
Numurkah is a town in Victoria, Australia, located on the Goulburn Valley Highway, north of Shepparton, in the Shire of Moira. At the 2006 census, Numurkah had a population of 4,643.- History :...
, Swan Hill
Swan Hill, Victoria
Swan Hill is a city in the northwest of Victoria, Australia. It is located on the Murray Valley Highway, on the south bank of the Murray River, downstream from the junction of the Loddon River. At the 2006 census, Swan Hill had a population of 9,684.-History:...
and Warrnambool
Warrnambool, Victoria
-Cityscape:The original City of Warrnambool was a 4x8 grid, with boundaries of Lava Street , Japan Street , Merri Street and Henna Street . In the nineteenth century, it was intended that Fairy Street – with its proximity to the Warrnambool Railway Station – would be the main street of...
. Road coach services connected from Intercity train to towns no longer serviced by rail. Within the 'Intercity' network an 'Interurban' (commuter rail) was set up with more frequent services to Ballarat
Ballarat, Victoria
Ballarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth...
, South Geelong
South Geelong, Victoria
South Geelong, also referred to as Geelong South, is a residential and industrial southern suburb of Geelong, Victoria, Australia. The suburb is adjacent to the Geelong central business district, with the Barwon River forming the suburb's southern border...
, Kyneton
Kyneton, Victoria
Kyneton is a town on the Calder Highway in the Macedon Ranges of Victoria, Australia. The Calder Freeway bypasses Kyneton to the north and east. The town was named after the English village of Kineton, Warwickshire. The town has three main streets: Mollison Street, Piper Street and High Street...
, Seymour
Seymour, Victoria
Seymour is a township in the Shire of Mitchell in the state of Victoria, Australia and is located north of Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Seymour had a population of 6,063...
and Traralgon
Traralgon, Victoria
Traralgon is a regional city located in the Latrobe Valley in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. Traralgon is a city within the City of Latrobe....
.
The new timetable was put into place on Sunday 4 October 1981. Each Intercity service was accelerated by a large margin, up to 50 minutes in some instances. Unlike the Regional Fast Rail project
Regional Fast Rail project
The Regional Fast Rail project was a rail transport project of the State Government of Victoria, Australia undertaken between 2000 and 2006 aimed at improving the passenger services on the Victorian regional railway network , specifically to reduce travel times, enhance service frequency and...
of the early 2000s, no track or signalling improvements were carried out in order to speed up the services. Instead 35 little used stations were closed to passenger traffic, sectional running times were revised, higher powered locomotives allocated to services, and stops at railway refreshment rooms removed due to the introduction of on train catering. Turnaround times at termini was also cut though the use of the twin cab B, A and N class locomotives, which did not need to be reversed on a turntable.
Interurban services were not sped up to as great a degree, but more regular departure times were introduced, and the number of services increased. The Ballarat line also saw most services sent via the direct route via Bacchus Marsh
Bacchus Marsh, Victoria
Bacchus Marsh is an urban centre and suburban locality in Victoria, Australia located approximately west of Melbourne and west of Melton. The population of the urban area is estimated at over 17,000 people, while the central locality is home to 5,566 people...
, instead of the long way via the Geelong-Ballarat line and North Shore.
Rolling stock
The A class rebuild contract was let in January 1983 to Clyde EngineeringClyde Engineering
Clyde Engineering was the name of part of the business now known as Downer EDI Rail. Clyde Engineering were involved in the construction of railway locomotives and rolling stock, as well as larger scale engineering projects on behalf of the governments of Australia...
in Rosewater, South Australia
Rosewater, South Australia
Rosewater is one of the western suburbs of Adelaide and is located 10 km north-west of Adelaide's central business district . Although mainly residential, there are many shops along Grand Junction Road and the retired "Rosewater Loop" railway line runs through the suburb...
. The first entered service in May 1984, but the project was abandoned in mid 1985 after rising costs due to structural fatigue. The 11th rebuild was delivered in August 1985. The N class were a new-build locomotive, mechanically similar to the A class. The major difference was the addition of head end power
Head end power
Head end power or electric train supply is a rail transport term for the electrical power distribution system on a passenger train. The power source, usually a locomotive at the front or “head” of a train or a generator car, generates all the electricity used for lighting, electrical and other...
generators, as it was believed this was a more efficient way of supplying power for air-conditioning and lighting than power vans
Victorian Railways power vans
The Victorian Railways of Australia and successors have utilised a number of different types of railway carriages and wagons for the supply of head end power to passenger trains on the Victorian railway network....
or individual generator sets under carriages.
Passenger trains operations were revolutionized , with fixed consist working (as in Europe) introduced to eliminate the need to shunt between services. This saw the end of a long-standing Victorian Railways tradition that the guard's van be at the end of the train. An order for 18 N type carriage
N type carriage
The N type carriages are an intercity passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. They were introduced between 1981 and 1984 as part of the 'New Deal' reforms of country passenger rail services...
s was placed in 1977 for operation on the Geelong and Ballarat lines, but was extended under the New Deal to 54 carriages in 1981 and subsequently to 57 carriages, with the last being delivered in 1984. The carriages were part of a plan to remove 400 unheated and non air-conditioned wooden carriages (up to 70 years old) from service. The H type carriage conversion contract was placed in March 1983 with Clyde Engineering for 43 carriages, later extended to 55 carriages. The new timetable required around 180 carriages, and by 1985 the majority of the fleet was made up of steel bodied cars.
Service withdrawals
1981 also saw a number of passenger services withdrawn, including:- Lilydale - Healesville: 1 March
- Ballarat - Donald: March
- Toolamba - Echuca: 2 March
- Numurkah - Cobram: 27 April
- Baxter - Mornington: 20 May
- Melbourne - Leongatha - Yarram: 6 June
- Frankston - Stony Point: June 1981
- Ararat - Portland: 12 September
35 passenger stations were closed on existing lines, or 82 stations when those on closed lines were included.
A number of these services were later re-introduced:
- The Numurkah service was extended to the earlier terminus of CobramCobram, VictoriaCobram is a town in Australia. Cobram is located on the Murray River which forms the border between Victoria and New South Wales. Cobram along with the nearby towns of Numurkah and Yarrawonga is part of Shire of Moira. Its twin town of Barooga is located on the north side of the Murray River....
from August 1983. - Leongatha line service was re-introduced in December 1984.
- Stony Point line service was re-introduced in September 1984.
The Cobram and Leongatha services were again closed by the Kennett Government.
Refreshment Room closures
A number of railway refreshment rooms were also closed, due to the introduction of on-train catering.- Colac - Warrnambool line: 24 April 1983
- Ballarat - Dimboola line: 18 December 1981
- Ararat - Dimboola line: 4 October 1981
- HorshamHorsham railway station, VictoriaHorsham is a railway station located in the town of Horsham, Victoria, Australia. The station is located between Railway Avenue and Mill Street and is next to Urquhart Street.-History:...
- Dimboola line: 30 October 1982 - Seymour - Albury-Wodonga line: 4 October 1981
- Warragul - Bairnsdale line: 4 October 1981
Outcomes
Although the total cost of the New Deal eventually topped $100 million, the new services were far cheaper to operate and were far more attractive. By April 1983, VicRail General Manager R. J Gallacher claimed that country passenger traffic had increased by around 20% in the eighteen months since the New Deal had begun. By 1989 the strong growth in Interurban travel had led V/Line and the Government to look at further rolling stock, deliberations that would ultimately result in the introduction of the 130 kilometre per hour SprinterSprinter (Victorian train)
The Sprinter is a high speed diesel railcar train manufactured by Goninan for use on interurban and semi-regional rail services in Victoria, Australia...
railcar
Railcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
services.
Further the strong foundations laid in the 1981 New Deal led undoubtedly to further massive investment in Country Rail Passenger services in Victoria in the early 2000's which has resulted in the total re-building of Spencer St Station (Melbourne) as Southern Cross Station
Southern Cross Station
Southern Cross is a major railway station and transport hub in Melbourne Docklands, Victoria, Australia. It is located on Spencer Street between Collins and La Trobe Streets at the western edge of the central business district...
. Also the four inter-urban routes to Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Traralgon were upgraded to allow a new generation of "V/Locity" trains to operate at up to 160 km/h. By 2007/08 patronage had grown to 12 million trips, a fourfold increase on the 3 million passengers carried in 1980/81.
See also
- Rail transport in VictoriaRail transport in VictoriaRail transport in Victoria, Australia, is provided by a number of railway operators who operate over the government-owned railway lines. Victorian lines use broad gauge, with the exception of a number of standard gauge freight and interstate lines, a few experimental narrow gauge lines, and...
- Operation PhoenixOperation Phoenix (railway)Operation Phoenix was a post World War II rehabilitation program carried out by the Victorian Railways in Australia. The program commenced in 1950 and was originally planned to take 10 years and cost £80 million pounds...
- Regional Fast Rail projectRegional Fast Rail projectThe Regional Fast Rail project was a rail transport project of the State Government of Victoria, Australia undertaken between 2000 and 2006 aimed at improving the passenger services on the Victorian regional railway network , specifically to reduce travel times, enhance service frequency and...