To be fully accurate, this is actually the Deniliquin line, however because we are only describing a portion of it, then heading over to Balranald, the Echuca Line will do as a title for now. The line to Echuca was built to a high standard and its arrival into the town in 1864 turned Echuca into a major river port. A private railway running north to Deniliquin was opened by a private company in 1876, and was acquired by the state in 1923. In 1926, a branch from Barnes (on the Deniliquin line) was opened to Balranald.
The line to Echuca still sees daily passenger service, although recently services were patchy at best, with services suspended due to track condition between 2004 and 2006. Passenger services to Balranald and Kyabram (school railmotor service) finished in 1975, and passenger services to from Bendigo to Deniliquin ended in 1979. Passenger services to Echuca ended in 1981 after the trains from Toolamba were withdrawn. Passenger trains started using the line again from the mid ’90s when weekend services to Echuca were re-introduced. The stations along this line are therefore somewhat lacking in attention, as they were captured in 1989, while no passenger trains were operating.
.
Elmore VIC 3558, Australia
Rochester VIC 3561, Australia
Echuca VIC 2731, Australia
Australia
Australia
