Flemington Racecourse railway line
| Flemington Racecourse | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||
| Type | Melbourne suburban service | ||
| System | Metro Trains Melbourne | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 7.8 km (4.8 mi) | ||
| Number of tracks | Double track | ||
|
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The Flemington Racecourse railway line is a suburban electric railway line in Melbourne, Australia. The line has two stations, Showgrounds and Flemington Racecourse, both in Public Transport Victoria ticketing Zone 1.
The Flemington Racecourse line is a short branch off the Craigieburn line that serves the Melbourne Showgrounds and Flemington Racecourse. The line is fairly level and has only minor earthworks. It has one level crossing and one rail-over-road bridge.
The line has no regular services, as it only opens for special events: racedays at the racecourse such as the Melbourne Cup or Oaks Day, and large events at the Showgrounds such as the Royal Melbourne Show itself in September, or the Big Day Out in January. It is otherwise used to store trains between peak hours.
At times, services are quite intense, with trains running as frequently as every four minutes. Services are usually operated to either the Showgrounds or the Racecourse, though both stations are served on the rare occasion that there are major events at both places. Trains generally run express through Kensington and Newmarket stations.
The Flemington Racecourse branch from Newmarket was opened by the Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company in February 1861, but closed three years later, in July 1864. The line was taken over by the Victorian Railways and reopened in November 1867.
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