Rockbank to Ballarat

The Rockbank to Warrenheip (and thence Ballarat and beyond) section is on Victoria’s Serviceton Line, or the Western Line. Despite this line being the most direct between Melbourne and Ballarat, the two cities were originally connected by a line, opened in 1862, that went via Geelong due to early difficulties crossing the terrain between Baccus Marsh and Ballan. It was not until 1889 that this more direct route was opened. The line used to be the main line west to Adelaide, with intrastate services operating out to Ararat, Horsham and Dimboola. Other services bound for branches off this line, including the Mildura line, also worked along this route. V/line passenger services were truncated to Ballarat in 1994, and in 1995 the line beyond Ararat was converted to standard gauge, with the connection to Melbourne routed via Geelong, the Gheringhap to Maroona line, and thence Ararat.

In 2005 the line between Sunshine (including Rockbank) and Ballarat was upgraded with concrete sleepers, heavier rail, new signalling, bridges and some curves eased, as part of the Regional Fast rail project.

The broad gauge line beyond Ballarat to Ararat was abandoned in 1995, however by 2005 this line was rehabilitated for a direct passenger service to be reinstated back to Ararat.

Ballarat and District has its own line section due to weight of photos and sub-locations, and can be found at this link.

Our stations are as they were from the mid eighties to 1990 and are:

(Ardeer)

(Deer Park)