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The cover story for our June edition notes the sad passing of the Association of Railway Enthusiasts, which after sixty years of operations has decided to wind up. However, rather than fading away, the ARE has gone out in style with two final tours, including a steam-hauled journey to Seymour that features on our front cover, in a stunning photograph taken by Daniel Sciberras. We spoke to ARE President Alan Williams about the ARE, its many highlights, and the reasons behind the decision to close.

Our major feature article this month concerns the Inner Circle Line, and specifically the arrangements around the line’s electrification. Author Ian Cook notes the history of the electrification project, the impressive substation at North Fitzroy, and the many remnants of infrastructure that remain, decades after the line was lifted.

We also have another feature on the former Kew Line from authors Michael Guiney and Mark Cauchi. They present the story of the level crossing at Hildebrandt Crescent that was abandoned before the railway was even opened, but not before a gatekeeper’s house had been constructed. 135 years later, the railway line is long gone, but the gatekeeper’s house still exists!

Our News column looks at the international design awards recently won by the rebuilt Glenroy Station, the decision by ONRSR to charge a driver involved in a 2021 near miss at Seymour, the building of a network arch-type rail bridge at Kilmany (a first for Victoria) as well as NTT’s loss of the myki contract, and early reports on the impact of V/Line’s new capped fare structure.

Our other regular sections are there:

• Calendar anniversaries
• General works
• Operations and sightings
• Tramways
• PTV service quality
• Where is it?
• Taildisc