View source for Inner Circle railway line

{{Short description|Former railway line in Melbourne, Australia}}
{{Coord|37.77958|S|144.97350|E|display=title}}
{{For|the rail service in London historically known as the Inner Circle|Circle line (London Underground)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name             = Inner Circle
| other_name       = 
| color            = {{rcr|Australian closed line}}
| logo             =  
| logo_width       = 
| logo_alt         = 
| image            =  Inner Circle from Royal Pde.jpg
| image_width      = 
| image_alt        = 
| caption          = A section of the Inner Circle line between [[Royal Parade, Melbourne|Royal Parade]] and The Avenue, [[Parkville, Victoria|Parkville]], 2005.
| type             = Former Melbourne suburban service
| system           = 
| status           = Closed line - Inner Circle Rail Trail (part of the [[Capital City Trail]])
| locale           = [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria, Australia]]
| start            = {{rwsa|Royal Park}}
| end              = {{rwsa|Fitzroy}}, {{rwsa|Merri}}, or {{rwsa|Rushall}}
| continuesfrom    = [[Upfield railway line|Upfield]]
| continuesas      = [[Mernda railway line|Mernda]]
| connectinglines  = [[Mernda railway line|Mernda]], [[Upfield railway line|Upfield]], [[Whittlesea railway line|Whittlesea lines]]
| formerconnections= 
| stations         = {{ubl|3 current stations|3 former stations}}
| routes           = 
| daily_ridership  = 
| ridership2       = 
| planopen         = <!--{{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}}-->
| open             = {{Plainlist|
* Royal Park to Rushall on {{Start date|1888|5|8|df=y}}
* North Fitzroy to Fitzroy on {{Start date|1888|5|8|df=y}}
* North Fitzroy to Merri on {{Start date|1889|10|8|df=y}}
}}
| yearcommenced    = {{Start date|1888|5|8|df=y}}
| yearcompleted    = {{Start date|1889|10|8|df=y}}
| close            = {{Plainlist|
* North Fitzroy to Rushall on {{End date|1965|5|2|df=y}}
* North Fitzroy to Merri on {{End date|1965|6|21|df=y}}
* Royal Park to Fitzroy on {{End date|1981|7|31|df=y}}
}}
| event1label      = Electrified
| event1           = {{Plainlist|
* Royal Park to North Fitzroy on {{Start date|1921|7|5|df=y}}
* North Fitzroy to Merri / Rushall on {{Start date|1921|7|14|df=y}}
}}
| event2label      = De-electrified
| event2           = Royal Park to Merri / Rushall in {{circa|1961}}
| event3label      = 
| event3           = 
| owner            = {{Plainlist|
* [[Victorian Railways|Victorian Railways (VR)]] (1888–1974)
* VR as VicRail (1974–1981)
}}
| operator         = {{Plainlist|
* [[Victorian Railways|Victorian Railways (VR)]] (1888–1974)
* VR as VicRail (1974–1981)
}}
| character        = 
| depot            = 
| stock            = 
| linelength       = {{Plainlist|
* Royal Park to Fitzroy: {{convert|4.238|km|mi|abbr=on}}
* Royal Park to Merri: {{convert|3.824|km|mi|abbr=on}}
* Royal Park to Rushall: {{convert|3.367|km|mi|abbr=on}}
* Total track: {{convert|5.638|km|mi|abbr=on}}
}}
| tracklength      = 
| tracks           = [[Single-track railway|Single track]]
| gauge            = {{Track gauge|1600 mm}}
| old_gauge        = 
| load_gauge       = 
| minradius        = 
| maxincline       = <!--{{Incline|50}}-->
| electrification  = 
| speed            = 
| signalling       = 
| elevation        = 
| website          = 
| map              = {{Inner Circle railway line|inline=yes}}
| map_state        = collapsed
| embedded         = 
}}

[[File:Inner-circle-railway-melbourne.png|thumb|right|A map of the Inner Circle railway line]]
{{multiple image | total_width = 400 | footer = Remnants of the Inner Circle railway tracks, crossing Brunswick Street North in [[Fitzroy North]]. The line is now a shared user path. | image1 = Inner Circle Railway crosses Brunswick Street North.jpg | caption1 = November 2005 | image2 = Inner Circle Line Brunswick Street North March 2023 1.jpg | caption2 = March 2023}}
[[File:Remains of North Fitzroy Station.jpg|thumb|right|Remains of the former North Fitzroy railway station, 2005]]
[[File:North Fitzroy Electric Railway Substation .jpg|thumb|right|The North Fitzroy Substation, built in 1915 to supply power to the Inner Circle line, 2005]]

The '''Inner Circle Line''' was a [[Locomotive#Steam|steam era]] suburban [[Rail transport|railway line]] (later [[Railway electrification system|electrified]]) in [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]]. It served the inner-northern [[suburb]]s of [[Parkville, Victoria|Parkville]], [[Carlton North]], [[Fitzroy North]] and [[Fitzroy, Victoria|Fitzroy]]. At its closure, it ran from [[Royal Park railway station, Melbourne|Royal Park station]] on the [[Upfield railway line|Upfield line]] in the west to a triangular junction with [[Rushall railway station|Rushall]] and [[Merri railway station|Merri]] stations on today's [[Mernda railway line|Mernda line]] in the east. A branch line to [[Fitzroy railway station|Fitzroy]] opened at the same time.

==History==
The Inner Circle was opened on 8 May 1888<ref name="vicsig">[http://vicsig.net/index.php?page=infrastructure&line=inner%20circle Vicsig: Inner Circle railway line]</ref> with three stations: [[North Carlton railway station|North Carlton]] and [[North Fitzroy railway station|North Fitzroy]] on the main line, and [[Fitzroy railway station|Fitzroy]] at the end of a short branch line leading south through the [[Edinburgh Gardens]] from a junction near North Fitzroy station.

===As the main line===
When the Inner Circle line opened, services originated from [[Southern Cross railway station|Spencer Street station]] at the western end of the [[Melbourne central business district]]. Trains bound for the then terminus at [[Heidelberg railway station|Heidelberg station]] (now on the [[Hurstbridge railway line|Hurstbridge line]]) would run to North Fitzroy station, then continue south to [[Victoria Park railway station, Melbourne|Victoria Park station]] (then known as Collingwood, and now on the Hurstbridge and Mernda lines). [[Locomotive]]s would then have to change ends and the trains return to [[Clifton Hill railway station|Clifton Hill station]], where they diverged east on to the line to Heidelberg.

In December 1889, after the opening of the [[Whittlesea railway line|Whittlesea line]], trains ran from Spencer Street to Whittlesea via the Inner Circle. Other services on the same route only travelled as far as [[Preston railway station, Melbourne|Preston station]].

A passenger service was originally provided from Spencer Street to Fitzroy station, on the branch line. By October 1889, that had been relegated to a short shuttle service from North Fitzroy station, and the passenger service closed altogether in May 1892.

For a short period between March and May 1891, the Inner and [[Outer Circle railway line|Outer Circle]] routes formed the only link between the eastern and western halves of the Victorian Railways system. Prior to that, the link was via a street-level tramway along the edge of the CBD between Flinders and Spencer Streets, which was generally only used at night. Between December 1888 and May 1891, when the new [[Flinders Street Viaduct]], connecting Flinders Street and Spencer Street stations, was in its final stages of construction, the Outer and Inner Circle lines was used to allow [[freight]] trains to bypass the construction site.

===Replaced by direct line===
In 1901, a new, direct line to Clifton Hill was opened from [[Princes Bridge railway station|Princes Bridge station]], at the southern edge of the CBD, through the inner-eastern suburb of [[Abbotsford, Victoria|Abbotsford]]. That allowed Heidelberg-bound trains to run more directly to their destination, removing the need for the reversing manoeuvre at Victoria Park. The Preston suburban service also ran via the new, direct line. However, Whittlesea trains continued to use the more indirect route via the Inner Circle, albeit only to and from Spencer Street station.

With the loss of the main line services on the Inner Circle after 1901, a series of "roundabout" services were trialled. By 1906, a regular steam-hauled service was established from Princes Bridge to North Fitzroy station via Clifton Hill and, by 1919, it was running every hour off-peak.<ref name="elect" >{{cite book |last1=Dornan |first1=S.E. |last2=Henderson  |first2=R.G. |title=The Electric Railways of Victoria |date=1979 |publisher=Australian Electric Traction Association |location=Sydney |isbn=0909459061}}</ref>

[[railway electrification system|Electrification]] of the line between Royal Park and Clifton Hill stations was commissioned on 31 July 1921,<ref name="elect" /> but the Fitzroy branch was not electrified. Following electrification, passenger services were extended to North Carlton running at 15 minute headways, but from 18 September 1921 they were changed to every 20 minutes.<ref name="elect" /> Two trains on weekdays, and a larger number at weekends were extended to Royal Park station to serve patrons of the [[Melbourne Zoo]].<ref name="elect" />

The possibility of a revitalisation of the Inner Circle was canvassed in 1940, when the [[Ashworth Improvement Plan]] recommended a subway tunnel with five stations be built under the Melbourne CBD, from [[Flinders Street railway station|Flinders Street]] to the Inner Circle, with a proposed future subway from the first station to [[North Melbourne railway station|North Melbourne]].

Traffic on the Inner Circle was discouraged by its circuitous route and by competition from the more direct [[Trams in Melbourne|trams]] to the city.<ref name="elect" /> Off-peak services were cut to every 30 minutes from 29 May 1944 but, from 4 December 1944, 20-minute headways were restored on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The passenger service was cancelled on 3 July 1948, and North Carlton and North Fitzroy stations were closed to passengers.<ref name="elect" />

===Freight only===
After 1948, the Inner Circle line was used exclusively for [[freight]] trains serving sidings along the line and the goods yard at the end of the Fitzroy branch. The overhead wiring for electric trains was dismantled in 1961. Only the main feeder cables needed for Epping (now Mernda) line trains, and for shunting at the Royal Park end, were retained.<ref name="elect" /> Significant changes occurred in 1965, when the line was singled and both legs of the triangle at the eastern end of the line were closed.<ref name="vicsig" /> That left just a single track from Royal Park to Fitzroy for goods services. The line was officially closed on 31 July 1981.<ref name="vicsig" />

==Today==
The rails were removed after the final closure, except for some short sections at former [[level crossing]]s which can still be seen. From Rushall to Royal Park stations the rail reserve has become a linear park which provides part of the [[Capital City Trail]] for cyclists, connecting the [[Merri Creek Trail]] to the [[Moonee Ponds Creek Trail]] in the network of shared use [[Cycling in Melbourne|bicycle paths]]. Some [[Railway signalling|signals]] and parts of level crossing gates also survive, with remaining overhead stanchions still carrying railway electric current between the [[Upfield railway line|Upfield]] and Mernda railway lines.

Of the three former station buildings, only North Carlton still stands, having been converted into a community centre.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cauchi |first1=Stephen |title=Phantom Trails |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/phantom-trails/2005/12/28/1135732640972.html |access-date=2016-12-19 |work=[[The Age]] |date=29 December 2005}}</ref> North Fitzroy station is now a slight rise in the walking and cycling path east of Nicholson Street. The path was realigned in 2002 to traverse the length of the former platform. The site of Fitzroy station has been redeveloped into a [[medium-density housing]] estate.

[[Image:Map of Inner Circle Rail Trail Stevage.png|thumb|600px|center|Map of the Inner Circle Rail Trail]]
{{clear|left}}

== Station histories ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Station
!Opened<ref name="Anderson">{{Anderson-All Stations}}</ref>
!Closed<ref name="Anderson"/>
!Age
! scope=col class=unsortable | Notes<ref name="Anderson"/>
|-
| {{rwsa|Royal Park}} || {{TAC2|9 September 1884}} || 
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{rwsa|North Carlton}} || {{TAC2|8 May 1888|||15 November 1948}} || 
* Formerly Langridge Street
|-
| {{TAC2|15 November 1948|||29 November 1977}} || 
* Freight only
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{rwsa|North Fitzroy}} || {{TAC2|8 May 1888|||15 November 1948}} || 
* Formerly Nicholson Street
|-
| {{TAC2|15 November 1948|||11 July 1981}} || 
* Freight only
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{rwsa|Fitzroy}} || {{TAC2|8 May 1888|||9 May 1892}} || 
|-
| {{TAC2|9 May 1892|||11 January 1981}} || 
* Freight only
|-
| {{rwsa|Rushall}} || {{TAC2|1 January 1927}} || 
|-
| {{rwsa|Merri}} || {{TAC2|8 October 1889}} || 
* Formerly Northcote
|}

==See also==
*[[Outer Circle railway line]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Inner Circle railway line}}
* [https://fitzroyhistorysociety.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/FitzroyRailwayWalk.pdf/ Fitzroy Railway Walk (Fitzroy Historical Society)]
* [[City of Yarra]]: [https://web.archive.org/web/20090713155915/http://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/Leisure/Parks/Linear%20Park%20Reserve.asp Inner Circle Railway Linear Park]
* [[Victorian Railways]] signalling diagram: [http://www.victorianrailways.net/signaling/completedia/nfitmerridia.html North Fitzroy to Merri in 1932]
* [[Victorian Railways]] signalling diagram: [http://www.victorianrailways.net/signaling/completedia/macnf1913.html Macaulay to North Fitzroy in 1913]
* [[Victorian Railways]] signalling diagram: [http://www.victorianrailways.net/signaling/completedia/maccardia.html Macaulay to North Carlton in 1932]
* 1920 Morgan's Street Directory Map: [http://www.ozzmosis.com/pics/msd/42.jpg Inner circle station locations]
*{{OSM relation|1973379}}

{{Victorian Railway Lines|branch}}
{{rail trails of Victoria}}

[[Category:Closed Melbourne railway lines]]
[[Category:5 ft 3 in gauge railways in Australia]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1888]]
[[Category:Railway lines closed in 1981]]
[[Category:1888 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:1981 disestablishments in Australia]]