North Melbourne railway station

North Melbourne

Station front in November 2009
Location Railway Place, North Melbourne
Coordinates 37°48′23″S 144°56′28″E / 37.8063°S 144.9411°E / -37.8063; 144.9411Coordinates: 37°48′23″S 144°56′28″E / 37.8063°S 144.9411°E / -37.8063; 144.9411
Owned by VicTrack
Operated by Metro
Line(s) Craigieburn
Flemington Racecourse
Sunbury
Upfield
Werribee
Williamstown
Distance 1.68 kilometres from Southern Cross
Platforms 6 (2 side, 2 island)
Tracks 6
Connections Bus
Construction
Structure type Ground
Disabled access Yes
Other information
Status Premium station
Station code NME
Fare zone Myki zone 1
Website Public Transport Victoria
History
Opened 6 October 1859
Electrified Yes
Services
Preceding station   Metro Trains   Following station
toward City Loop
Craigieburn line
toward Craigieburn
Flemington Racecourse
Sunbury line
toward Sunbury
Werribee line
toward Werribee
Williamstown line
toward Williamstown
Upfield line
toward Upfield
Preceding station   V/Line   Following station
Seymour line
toward Seymour or Shepparton

North Melbourne railway station is located on the northern edge of the central business district of Melbourne, Australia. The station is a major interchange point with the Craigieburn, Flemington Racecourse, Sunbury, Upfield, Werribee and Williamstown lines all servicing the station. It opened on 6 October 1859.[1][2] It is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.[3]

Station overview

Facilities

Schematic diagram of the station

Located in West Melbourne, the main station entrance is at the south end of the platforms at the intersection of Adderley and Dryburgh Streets. This building contains the main booking office, public toilets and a kiosk, with platform access via escalators and lifts. From the north end brick ramps links the platforms, and platforms 2 through 6 have heritage listed verandas and brick waiting rooms.

At the north end of the station are 1970s era brown brick buildings built over the former Dynon Road overpass, which contains public toilets and a former railway parcels office. Until November 2009 this building also housed the main exit to Ireland Street and Railway Place, along with the booking office and kiosk, until they were moved to the current concourse at the south end. The north end also has exit leading west to the Melbourne Yard rail freight terminal, which is not open to public access.[4]

History

Construction work on the new southern concourse in February 2008
View from Platform 6 in May 2007

The first railway through the site of North Melbourne station was today's Williamstown line and the first section of the Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company line (to Sunbury), both opened on 13 January 1859. The first passenger station with two platforms was opened on 6 December 1859, and the present six platform station was opened on 9 June 1886.[5]

The new station was of free classical architecture, with red brick was used with cream brick banding, along with verandas and cast iron lace work.[3] As built in 1886 North Melbourne had six platforms, with four platform buildings containing ladies toilets and a ladies waiting room. The main booking office, waiting room, and station master's office was located near the ramp to platform 1, and men's toilets and porters' offices were located under the ramps themselves.[3]

The suburban train stabling yard near the station was opened in December 1973 as part of the City Loop project.[6] The footbridge that links the sidings with the Macaulay maintenance centre also opened around this time.[7] The washing plant and additional sidings in Melbourne Yard were made operational in May 1995, as part of the Jolimont Yard rationalisation.[8]

The station buildings on the northern concourse were constructed in 1974,[3] and in the 1980s as part of the construction works for the City Loop the ramps to Platforms 1 and 2 were altered, and the platform extended north.

It was upgraded to a Premium station on 19 July 1996.[9]

In May 2006, it was announced that the station is to be redeveloped as part of a $36 million project.[10] Work included a new main entrance at the southern end of the station with escalators, stairs and lifts installed for quicker access to other platforms and to help disabled passengers. Work started in May 2007 and was completed on 16 November 2009.[11][12] To aid construction and avoid disruption to train passengers a crash deck was erected over the tracks, to permit trains to continue running normally underneath while building work continued overhead.[2]

In March 2008 Sita Buslines' route 401 commenced operating from North Melbourne station to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and University of Melbourne in Carlton and Parkville, enabling commuters to avoid travelling via the City Loop.[13][14]

In December 2013, V/Line Geelong and Warrnambool services ceased calling at the station following the opening of the Regional Rail Link between Southern Cross and South Kensington.[15] Ballarat, Ararat, Bendigo, Swan Hill and Echuca line services ceased calling at North Melbourne on 11 July 2014.[16]

Platforms & services

North Melbourne has six platforms.

Platform 1:

Platform 2:

Platform 3:

Platform 4:

Platform 5:

Platform 6:

Transport links

Sita Buslines operates one route to and from North Melbourne station:

References

  1. ↑ North Melbourne Vicsig
  2. 1 2 North Melbourne Station Rail Geelong
  3. 1 2 3 4 "North Melbourne Railway Station Complex (listing VICH1582)". Australia Heritage Places Inventory. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  4. ↑ Connex Melbourne (16 Oct 2009). "News: North Melbourne Station – Closure of footbridge". www.connexmelbourne.com.au. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
  5. ↑ Turton, Keith W (1973). Six And A Half Inches From Destiny. The first hundred years of the Melbourne-Wodonga Railway 1873-1973. Australian Railway Historical Society. p. 86. ISBN 0-85849-012-9.
  6. ↑ SE Dornan & RG Henderson (1979). Electric Railways of Victoria. Australian Electric Traction Society. p. 93. ISBN 0-909459-06-1.
  7. ↑ "Way & Works". Newsrail (Australian Railway Historical Society). February 1974. p. 43.
  8. ↑ Daryl Dedman (October 1998). "Farewell to Melbourne Yard". Newsrail. www.series567railvideo.com.au. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  9. ↑ "Upgrading Eltham to a Premium Station". Newsrail (Australian Railway Heritage Society). October 1997. p. 310.
  10. ↑ "Station to get $36m revamp - Herald Sun". www.news.com.au. 15 May 2006. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  11. ↑ "Public transport - Metropolitan railway station projects". www.doi.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  12. ↑ Concrete Concepts Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia
  13. ↑ "Media Release: New Shuttle Service Provides Vital Link for Commuters". www.dpc.vic.gov.au. 3 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  14. ↑ North Melbourne Shuttle Service a Hit with Commuters Minister for Public Transport 13 March 2008
  15. ↑ Changes to Geelong line services from Sunday 22 December 2013 Public Transport Victoria
  16. ↑ Major Regional Rail Link signalling works planned for June and July Premier of Victoria 13 June 2014
  17. ↑ Route 401 North Melbourne - Melbourne University timetable Public Transport Victoria

External links

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