Closure
The line was closed in 1987, along with the St Kilda railway line and replaced by light rail. The last passenger service ran on 10 October 1987 and the last freight service run to Montague on 16 October, with the official opening of the light rail line being on 18 December 1987.
Melbourne tram route 109 now operates on the converted track. The section from Southbank Junction to Port Melbourne was converted to light rail, requiring the conversion from broad gauge 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) used by the Melbourne rail network to standard gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) tram track as well as reducing the overhead voltage from 1500 V DC to 600 V DC required for the trams. Additionally, low level platforms were built on the sites of the former stations to accommodate the trams which contained steps to street level. Low floor trams have since been introduced to the route.
Read more about this topic: Port Melbourne Railway Line