Koo Wee Rup railway station

Koo Wee Rup
Line(s)	South Gippsland
Platforms	1
Tracks	1 (3 till 1994)
Other information
Status	Closed
History
Opened	11 November 1890
Closed	24 July 1993 (Passenger)

Koo Wee Rup was a railway station on the South Gippsland line in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. The station operated until the closure of the line between Cranbourne Station and Leongatha Station in July 1993. The station remains partly intact with the platform and goods shed (now privately owned) intact, however the track one kilometre on each side of the station platform has been dismantled, and replaced by a concrete pathway for bicycles and recreational use. Koo Wee Rup was also the junction of the branch line to Strzelecki line.

The establishment of the pathway has effectively removed any likelihood that the railway will be rehabilitated. It can also be seen as being the start of a rail trail on the railway reserve, stretching back to Cranbourne, which will block future rail transport options for people in Cranbourne East, Clyde, and surrounding areas.

Between 1999 and 2008 there was constant speculation that the railway line from Cranbourne to Leongatha would re-open, as promised by the then Victorian State Government, under a project named 'Bringing Trains Back to Victorians'. Electrification of the railway beyond Cranbourne to Cranbourne East, Clyde and even as far as Koo Wee Rup had been advocated to serve the rapidly growing suburban fringe of south-east Melbourne.

However, in May 2008, a scoping study carried out on behalf of the government found the costs of returning services high, at $72 million. Therefore, plans to reopen the line were halted, and the government pledged to spend $14.2 million on improved V/Line coach services in the South Gippsland region instead. As well, it was later announced that the railway reservation would be used for a rail trail between Cranbourne East and Nyora.

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Wikipedia