History
On 27 February 1986, the Webb Dock line was opened by Minister for Transport Tom Roper. It was built as a freight line to service the Webb Dock Intermodal container, container port in Melbourne, with provision for the line to be converted to dual gauge. This attracted some controversy, as the line used 5 ft 3 in gauge railways, 1,600 mm broad gauge, which was criticised by Australian National Line, ANL, claiming that it was costing the shipping industry millions of dollars per year (ANL contributed to the building of the line, and used dual gauge within its area of the dock). The line commenced near Southern Cross railway station, Spencer Street station, passing through what is now Docklands Stadium, before crossing the Yarra River via a bridge and then running west, parallel to Lorimer Street. It turned south at Todd Road, before turning west, parallel to Wharf Road, and beneath the West Gate Bridge, to Webb Dock. After being opened, the line spent months with few (if any) trains using it, reportedly due to a clerk's dispute and shunters strike. By July 1986, trains were running on a regular schedule most nights. It was last used in 1992 and formally closed on 14 June 1996 as part of the construction of the Docklands Stadium. The bridge over the Yarra River was converted to a footbridge. Much of the line west of the Bolte Bridge remains in situ. Earlier plans for the line included running it via the Port Melbourne, Victoria, Port Melbourne beachfront. However, after opposition from local residents, the plans were dropped. ThReferences
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