What is now known as the Alamein line was opened as the Outer Circle Railway between 1890 and 1891. The segment still in use today was opened on 24 March 1890. By the 1900s, only the Deepdene to Ashburton section of the original line was operational. Electrification of the Melbourne network also commenced at this time, with the Victorian Railways Commissioners deciding to include the Camberwell to Ashburton section of the Outer Circle in the project, the last steam train running on 29 October 1924 and electric trains commencing 3 days later.