Thanks for all your replys,not been to Lilyday for a little while.

The reason I asked the question was I thought there was not sufficent height from the overbridge to drop down to
the present Lilydale station and it(the station) would have to be moved further down the line towards Healesville.
In my opinion the re-instatement of the line to Coldstream/Healesville would be as a tourist railway only.

When did the over head wires reach Lilydale and was the reason for not keeping the rail line to Coldstream/Healesville
operational due to the expense of the over head wires or the tunnel as well or both?

According to Vicsig, the section from Croydon to Lilydale was electrified in November 1925.  The main reason for the closure beyond Lilydale was the enormous cost of maintaining the line across the Yarra Valley flood plain (multiple ancient wooden trestle bridges), combined with the terrible speed-restricted track and the small number of passengers using the often-delayed service.  It was just not worth spending the money when there were other priorities, and the replacement bus service was not only cheaper but also much more convenient to use, because it could have multiple bus stops in the towns (two in Yarra Glen, for example), whereas the railway stations were generally located away from the town centres.  For Healesville residents it was better than that, because some buses ran direct Healesville to Lilydale on a different route, bypassing Yarra Glen altogether and providing a much faster service.  

The overhead wires never went beyond Lilydale.  The section to Coldstream remained open for a time after the passenger service ended in 1980, because of an ongoing freight service, but closed permanently soon after.

A major obstacle to any re-opening beyond Coldstream would be once again the Yarra Valley flood plain.  Most of the ancient wooden trestles were destroyed in the 2009 fires, and would have to be replaced with something much more substantial, or alternatively a new route would have to be found.  Again, the relatively small number of potential passengers (it's not a population growth area) cannot justify.  The bus service is more than adequate (although the frequency could be better ....)

Are there any examples, in Victoria or elsewhere, of where a rail trail has had its former rail service re-instated?  If so, how was it done?

Lakeside to Cockatoo (maybe all the way to Gembrook) was a walking trail before It was rebuilt as a tourist railway.

There seems to be of alternative multi user trail, built between Lakeside and Cockatoo

From my, limited, knowledge the Warby trail is still all crown land with a portion in Lilydale leased to the Mt Lilydale Mercy College. This is the only part that is not available as part of the trail, IIRC, largely due to the college basically refusing to give the land back. There is some point to their argument that a school shouldn't have a public access go through the middle of their playing fields but they don't own the land they're using.

Neil

The Warberton Police station was built on the Up end of the former Warberton Station Yard, The yard has signifyingly been landscaped since It was an operating railway yard.

From my, limited, knowledge the Warby trail is still all crown land with a portion in Lilydale leased to the Mt Lilydale Mercy College. This is the only part that is not available as part of the trail, IIRC, largely due to the college basically refusing to give the land back. There is some point to their argument that a school shouldn't have a public access go through the middle of their playing fields but they don't own the land they're using.

Neil

The Warberton Police station was built on the Up end of the former Warberton Station Yard, The yard has signifyingly been landscaped since It was an operating railway yard.

Amazingly the rails are still in place next to the police station at the old railway crossing.

What was on the old Whittlesea line reservation before the line was rebuilt to South Morang and Merdna. That's probably the only major example of a line that has been completely removed being put back on the old route.

What was on the old Whittlesea line reservation before the line was rebuilt to South Morang and Merdna. That's probably the only major example of a line that has been completely removed being put back on the old route.

Just past the old Copper Street level crossing (next to the old Epping Railway Station) the reservation was mostly just abandon land with plenty of weeds and a playground for trail motorbike riders.

I remember visiting up to the Darebin Creek bridge (that had been long gone)

What was on the old Whittlesea line reservation before the line was rebuilt to South Morang and Merdna. That's probably the only major example of a line that has been completely removed being put back on the old route.

Just past the old Copper Street level crossing (next to the old Epping Railway Station) the reservation was mostly just abandon land with plenty of weeds and a playground for trail motorbike riders.

I remember visiting up to the Darebin Creek bridge (that had been long gone)

The ballast is still there most of the way back to Whittlesea to this day.........................

What was on the old Whittlesea line reservation before the line was rebuilt to South Morang and Merdna. That's probably the only major example of a line that has been completely removed being put back on the old route.

That wasn't a rail trail though

My question was just whether a rail trail would stop it being possible - to which Emerald-Gembrook seems the best example.

What was on the old Whittlesea line reservation before the line was rebuilt to South Morang and Merdna. That's probably the only major example of a line that has been completely removed being put back on the old route.

The line to Cranbourne, and possible extension beyond, would be the same?  In the future, Upfield to Somerton is also likely.

What was on the old Whittlesea line reservation before the line was rebuilt to South Morang and Merdna. That's probably the only major example of a line that has been completely removed being put back on the old route.

That wasn't a rail trail though

My question was just whether a rail trail would stop it being possible - to which Emerald-Gembrook seems the best example.

I would say no, as the the Epping - Mernda Suburban Railway Incorporates at shared pathway mostly alongside (that Is of a much higher standard than your typical rail trail pathway Is built to)