The City Loop (properly called the Melbourne Underground Rail Loop or MURL) is a railway - mostly underground, but partly surface-level and partly elevated - that encloses the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It contains five stations, three of which are underground. The stations include the city's two largest (and the two above-ground): Flinders Street and Southern Cross (formerly Spencer Street) stations; as well as Flagstaff, Melbourne Central (formerly Museum), and Parliament stations. Melbournes Yarra River is a popular area for walking, jogging, cycling, rowing and for relaxing on the banks with a picnic Melbourne (pronounced either or [1]) is the second most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 3. ... The Frankston railway line is a suburban railway in Melbourne, Australia. ... The Pakenham railway line is a suburban railway in Melbourne, Australia. ... The Sandringham railway line is a suburban railway in Melbourne, Australia. ... The Cranbourne railway line is a suburban railway in Melbourne, Australia. ... The Upfield railway line is a suburban electric railway in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. ... The Werribee railway line is a suburban railway in Melbourne, Australia. ... The Broadmeadows railway line is a suburban railway in Melbourne, Australia. ... The Sydenham railway line is a suburban railway in Melbourne, Australia. ... The Williamstown railway line is a suburban railway in Melbourne, Australia. ... The Flemington Racecourse railway line is a suburban railway in Melbourne, Australia. ... The Lilydale railway line is a suburban railway in Melbourne, Australia. ... The Glen Waverley railway line is a suburban railway in Melbourne, Australia. ... The Belgrave railway line is a broad gauge electric suburban railway in Melbourne, Australia. ... For other uses of the name Alamein, see Alamein. ... The Hurstbridge railway line is a suburban railway in Melbourne, Australia. ... The Epping railway line is a suburban railway in Melbourne, Australia. ... The Stony Point line is a greater-metropolitan railway line in Melbourne, Australia. ... The Melton line is a greater-metropolitan subsection of the Ballarat line in Victoria, Australia. ... The Sunbury railway line is a greater-metropolitan subsection of the Bendigo line in Victoria, Australia. ... The Cragieburn railway line is a greater-metropolitan subsection of the Albury-Wodonga and Shepparton lines in Victoria, Australia. ... A ferry operating on the Yarra River // Public transport Melbourne is served with a robust public transportation network. ... Metlink is the marketing name of the public transport network of Melbourne, Australia. ... Metcard is the ticket used to access public transport in Melbourne, Australia (under the moniker Metlink). It is a universal ticket which allows commuters to ride on the citys trains, trams, and buses. ... myki Logo and Plain Card mykiâ„¢ (pronounced my key) is the brand name of the smartcard ticketing system to be introduced in 2007 on public transport in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... Melbourne, capital city of the State of Victoria, Australia, has a long history of railway development. ... The city of Melbourne, the second-largest city in Australia, is home to the third largest tram network in the world, consisting of 245 kilometres of track, 500 trams, and 1770 tram stops. ... Melbourne, capital city of the State of Victoria, Australia, features an extensive bus network. ... This is a list of the 200 currently operating suburban railway stations (216 including greater metropolitan stations) in Melbourne, Australia. ... This is a list of tram routes operated by Yarra Trams in the city of Melbourne, Australia. ... This is a list of the numerous bus routes in Melbourne, Australia. ... V/Line is the name of the regional train and coach service in Victoria, Australia. ... Connex Melbournes Logo Connex Melbourne is wholly-owned by Connex Australia[1], a subsidiary of the International Connex Group. ... Yarra Trams is a tram operating company in Melbourne, Australia. ... Metro is: a general term, synonymous with rapid transit, subway or underground, for an urban underground rail public transit system (see list of rapid transit systems); any of several specific public transport systems, including: Bi-State Development Agency in Missouri and Illinois, d/b/a Metro since 2003 Buffalo Metro... Schematic plan of Hoddles allotments for the village of Melbourne, March,1837 Each block was further subdivided into 20 allotments each 76 perches in area Map of central Melbourne Melbournes CBD. The Hoddle Grid is the layout of the streets in the central business district of Melbourne, Australia. ... Melbournes Yarra River is a popular area for walking, jogging, cycling, rowing and for relaxing on the banks with a picnic Melbourne (pronounced either or [1]) is the second most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 3. ... Emblems: Pink heath (floral)Weedy Seadragon (Aquatic) helmeted honeyeater (bird) Leadbeaters possum (faunal) Motto: Peace and Prosperity Slogan or Nickname: Garden State, The Place To Be, On The Move Other Australian states and territories Capital Melbourne Government Const. ... Passengers bustle around the typical grand edifice of Londons Broad Street station in 1865. ... Flinders Street Station (frequently just called Flinders Street; the context indicates whether the station or the street is being specified) is the central railway station of the suburban rail network of Melbourne, Australia. ... The new exterior of Southern Cross Station, seen from Spencer Street Southern Cross Station (formerly Spencer Street Station) is a major railway station in Melbourne, Australia, in the state of Victoria. ... Flagstaff station Flagstaff is an underground railway station in the suburban train network of Melbourne, Australia. ... Comeng train at Melbourne Central Melbourne Central is an underground railway station in the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Australia. ... Entrance to Parliament station Parliament is an underground railway station in the suburban train network of Melbourne, Australia. ...

Melbourne's 16 radial suburban railway lines feed into the Loop at its northwestern and southeastern corners. The underground section of the Loop follows La Trobe and Spring Streets along the northern and eastern edges of the CBD's street grid. Housing subdivision near Union, Kentucky, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio. ... La Trobe Street (also LaTrobe) is a major street in the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... Spring Street is a major street in the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Photography was banned in the Loop in 2004, much to the disappointment of railway enthusiasts. Photography is the process of making pictures by means of the action of light. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Problems and solutions

Prior to the construction of the Loop, Flinders Street and Southern Cross (then Spencer Street) stations were connected only by a viaduct beside the Yarra River. Flinders Street, the suburban terminus, had become seriously congested by the 1970s, with a turnover of only 10 trains per platform per hour (roughly 1,700 trains a day); not enough to satisfy the city's growing needs. The problem lay in the fact that many trains had to change direction at the station to head back in the direction from which they had come, thus taking up valuable track space and time. A log bridge in the French Alps near Vallorcine. ... Melbourne as seen from south-east side along the Yarra River, home of many rowers and active crew teams The Yarra River is a river in southern Victoria (Australia); it is the river on which the city of Melbourne was founded. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... A typical North American steam train In rail transport, a train consists of rail vehicles that move along guides to transport freight or passengers from one place to another. ... A railway platform is a section of pathway, alongside rail tracks at a train station, metro station or tram stop, at which passengers may board or alight from trains or trams. ...

Several plans had been proposed over the preceding decades to alleviate the bottleneck, but none were to see the light of day, except for the concept of a circular railway allowing trains to continue past Flinders Street, turn around and return to the suburbs. The City Loop was accepted as the solution to the platform capacity dilemma, allowing up to 24 trains per platform per hour at Flinders Street in both directions (around 4,100 trains a day). The Loop would also bring train commuters directly into the northern and eastern sections of the central business district, delivering workers closer to their offices, students closer to RMIT University, and bringing government officials directly to the Parliament buildings. Although the city's tram network already covered the CBD extensively, trams are not as efficient as trains when bringing large numbers of commuters into the city. A bottleneck is literally the neck of a glass or pottery bottle. ... See Commute for other meanings. ... Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. ... OFFICE WORK IS SHITE!! NEVER WORK IN ONE! end of. ... Students attending a lecture at the Helsinki University of Technology The word student is etymologically derived through Middle English from the Latin second-type conjugation verb stŭdērĕ, meaning to direct ones zeal at; hence a student is one who directs zeal at a subject. ... The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (now officially known only as RMIT University), is a university in Melbourne, Australia. ... Parliament House, Melbourne Parliament House, Melbourne, has been the seat of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia, since 1855, except for the years 1901 to 1928, when it was occupied by the Parliament of Australia. ... This is a list of tram routes operated by Yarra Trams in the city of Melbourne, Australia. ... A CLRV Streetcar in the City of Toronto. ...

Construction

The Melbourne Underground Rail Loop Authority (MURLA) was created in February 1971 to oversee the construction and operation of the Loop, and the Melbourne Underground Rail Loop Act (1970) paved the way for the project to begin. Tunneling works commenced with the turning of the first sod in June 1971. 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... A disused railway tunnel now converted to pedestrian and bicycle use, near Houyet, Belgium A tunnel is an underground passage. ...

The Loop comprises four single-track tunnels on two levels. As well as these tunnels, an extra two elevated tracks were provided between Flinders Street and Spencer Street stations, on a new viaduct beside the old. Of the three stations, Museum was built using the "cut and cover" method, while Flagstaff and Parliament were excavated using mining methods. During the excavation of Museum station, La Trobe Street and its tram tracks were temporarily relocated to the south onto the site of what is now the Melbourne Central shopping centre. A disused railway tunnel now converted to pedestrian and bicycle use, near Houyet, Belgium A tunnel is an underground passage. ... Melbourne Central is a large shopping, office, and public transport hub in the city of Melbourne, Australia. ...

The total length of tunnels in the Loop comes to 12 km, 10 km of circular tunnels and 2 km of box tunnels. Each of the four tunnels has an average length of 3.74 km. A further kilometre of track connects those underground with those on the surface. Some 900,000 m³ of earth was removed and 300,000 m³ of concrete poured to form the stations and line the tunnel walls. 30,000 tons of steel reinforcement were used, with another 10,000 tonnes used temporarily during construction. km redirects here. ... Concrete is a construction material that consists, in its most common form, of Portland cement, construction aggregate (generally gravel and sand) and water. ... The word ton or tonne is derived from the Old English tunne, and ultimately from the Old French tonne, and referred originally to a large cask with a capacity of 252 wine gallons, which holds approximately 2100 pounds of water. ... The old Steel cable of a colliery winding tower Steel is sometimes described as a sea of electrons. ...

Opening

The system was opened gradually between 1981 and 1985. Museum station opened first, on January 25, 1981, along with the Burnley and Caulfield tunnels. The City Circle tunnel opened with special services on December 6, 1981, although Clifton Hill Group services did not start using the loop until October 31, 1982. Parliament station was opened on January 22, 1983, the Northern tunnel on January 7, 1985 or January 14, 1985 (with limited services) and Flagstaff station on May 27, 1985. Queen Elizabeth II toured Museum station during her 1981 tour of Australia. Two short documentary films, Loop and Action Loop, were commissioned by the MURLA to advertise the new railway to Melburnians, as well as abroad. (These videos can be downloaded from the Department of Infrastructure). A third film was planned, but never shot. 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 25 is the 25th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 6 is the 340th day (341st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 31 is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 61 days remaining. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 22 is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 7 is the seventh day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 14 is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 27 is the 147th day (148th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 218 days remaining. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of 16 sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Future expansion

The Victorian Government has intimated that the Loop could be expanded with the addition of a further two tunnels on a third level. Even though the Loop (and particular tunnels especially) is slowly approaching its own capacity, any extension would not occur for at least 20 to 30 years at current service levels. Other, even more nebulous plans have been suggested that would see a new linear underground railway running through the city centre from north to south, following the line of Swanston Street. Neither plan is being considered at present, however, as government funding for public transport improvements, including those that it advocates, is rarely forthcoming. Swanston Street, looking north from the corner of Bourke Street Swanston Street is a major thoroughfare in the centre of Melbourne, Australia. ...

Suggestions have been made to include Melbourne University, with adjacent Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Women's Hospital and nearby Royal Children's Hospital as part of the City Loop. This proposal was originally considered at the time of City Loop construction, but was ruled out for cost reasons. With the increase in passenger numbers since then though, the trams currently servicing this area suffer severe overcrowding at peak times and the call for a Loop expansion has been raised again [1].

Services and direction of travel

Schematic of the City Loop

All suburban trains terminate at Flinders Street, some having travelled through the Loop first, some travelling directly to Flinders Street then through the Loop, and a small number that still reverse at Flinders Street (as many trains did before the Loop was built). Image File history File links City_Loop. ... Image File history File links City_Loop. ...

There was also a special City Circle service which circled continuously around the Loop to provide cross-CBD travel; this service has now been discontinued with trams providing the alternative. As a result, if you wish to travel from say Parliament to Flinders Street by train at certain times of day, you cannot do so without changing trains at a third station even though they are adjacent.

The direction of travel changes in each tunnel according to the time of day and day of week, as shown in the table below. Each suburban line belongs to one of four groups, each group running through one tunnel. The direction change occurs between approximately 12:30 and 1:00 PM, during which time no trains run through the Loop. The 12-hour clock is a timekeeping convention in which the 24 hours of the day are divided into two periods called ante meridiem (a. ...

• Note: It is likely that in the future the Clifton Hill Loop will run clockwise all day to avoid the flat junction at Jolimont and permit increased service frequency.

This is a list of the 200 currently operating suburban railway stations (216 including greater metropolitan stations) in Melbourne, Australia. ... This is a list of the 200 currently operating suburban railway stations (216 including greater metropolitan stations) in Melbourne, Australia. ... This is a list of the 200 currently operating suburban railway stations (216 including greater metropolitan stations) in Melbourne, Australia. ... This is a list of the 200 currently operating suburban railway stations (216 including greater metropolitan stations) in Melbourne, Australia. ... Jolimont is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ...

External links and maps

• Metlink - official website of Melbourne's public transport
• Official Melbourne train network map
• Publicity leaflets circa 1970 (the source of much of this article)
• Zen and the City Loop (a more detailed explanation of the five train direction configurations)
• Department of Infrastructure City Loop history webpage
• Victorian Department of Infrastructure- Public Transport subcategory