Although the Gippsland line was extended to Orbost in 1916, passenger services along the line extended only as far as Bairnsdale beginning in the 1930s. In 1954 the line beyond Dandenong was electrified as far as Traralgon, with services from this time provided by the L class electric locomotives.
In 1975 suburban services were extended from Dandenong to Pakenham, on what is known as the Pakenham line. By the 1980s, the motive power of trains reverted to diesel locomotives, with electrification cut back to Warragul in 1987, and to Bunyip in 1998. Suburban Comeng trains were used by V/Line to provide services from Melbourne to Warragul in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
In 1993, passenger services from Sale to Bairnsdale were withdrawn, leading to massive protests. They were reinstated in 2004 as part of the Linking Victoria program. The line was upgraded as part of the Regional Fast Rail project in 2005 and the last of the overhead wires were removed, except for a short section to the Melbourne side of Bunyip station.
In March 2013 the service was suspended east of Traralgon because of safety problems with level crossings.[1][2] Rail services resumed in October 2013.[3]
Services to Traralgon operate approximately hourly every day, with a higher frequency during the weekday peak periods. Between Southern Cross and Pakenham, services generally stop at Flinders Street, Richmond, Caulfield, Clayton and Dandenong. One service during the weekday peak also stops at Berwick. At metropolitan stations, trains running towards Traralgon and Bairnsdale only pick up passengers, and trains running towards Southern Cross only set down passengers.
Local services stop at all stations between Pakenham and Traralgon, but services during peak periods run express from Pakenham to Garfield, Garfield to Drouin, and through Warragul and Moe. One morning peak service terminates and originates at Flinders Street instead of Southern Cross. During weekdays off-peak, Traralgon services only stop at Richmond in the afternoon and evening.[4]
From Monday to Saturday there are three daily return services to Bairnsdale. Two return services operate to Bairnsdale and one return service operates to Sale on Sunday.[5] At Bairnsdale, trains connect with road coach services to Orbost, Batemans Bay and Canberra. All Bairnsdale services as of September 2024 are operated by V/Line VLocitydiesel multiple-unit trains, with the last N class locomotive-hauled service operating on 14 September 2024.[6]
Platform sign at Yarragon
A V/Line VLocity arriving at Traralgon
Bairnsdale railway station, the current terminus of the line
Heritage-listed overhead wiring and electrical substation at Bunyip, a remnant of when the line was electrified as far as Traralgon
Regional Bus
Regional Coach
Ferries