Melton railway station, Melbourne
{{Short description|Railway station in Melbourne, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2015}}
{{Infobox station
| name = Melton
| type = PTV regional rail station
| style = V/Line
| image = Melton_railway_station.jpg
| caption = Station building on Platform 2, August 2006
| address = Staughton Street,
Melton South, Victoria 3338
| borough = City of Melton
| country = Australia
| coordinates = {{Coord|37.7032|S|144.5725|E |format=dms |display=inline,title |region:AU-VIC_type:railwaystation}}
| map_type = Australia Melbourne
| map_overlay =
| AlternativeMap =
| map_alt =
| map_dot_label =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| map_label_position =
| distance = 37.32 kilometres from
Southern Cross
| line = {{rcb|V/Line|Ballarat|croute}} {{rcb|V/Line|Ararat|croute}} {{rcb|V/Line|Maryborough|croute}}
(Ararat)
| other = {{rint|victoria|met bus}} Bus
| structure = Ground
| platform = 2 side
| depth =
| levels =
| tracks = 2
| parking = 167
| bicycle = Yes
| opened = {{start date and age|1884|04|02|df=y}}
| closed =
| rebuilt =
| electrified =
| accessible = Yes
| code = MEL
| owned = VicTrack
| operator = V/Line
| zone = Myki Zone 2
| status = Operational, staffed
| former =
| passengers =
| pass_year =
| pass_percent =
| pass_system =
| mpassengers = {{Rail pass box|passengers = 557,957[https://philipmallis.com/blog/2022/03/09/railway-station-and-tram-stop-patronage-in-victoria-for-2008-2021/ Railway station and tram stop patronage in Victoria for 2008-2021] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221217132046/https://philipmallis.com/blog/2022/03/09/railway-station-and-tram-stop-patronage-in-victoria-for-2008-2021/ |date=17 December 2022 }} Philip Mallis|pass_year = 2013–2014}}
{{Rail pass box|passengers = 588,252|pass_year = 2014–2015|pass_percent = 5.42}}
{{Rail pass box|passengers = 660,431|pass_year = 2015–2016|pass_percent = 12.27}}
{{Rail pass box|passengers = 726,339|pass_year = 2016–2017|pass_percent = 9.97}}
{{Rail pass box|passengers = Not measured|pass_year = 2017–2018}}
{{Rail pass box|passengers = 827,850|pass_year = 2018–2019|pass_percent = 13.97}}
{{Rail pass box|passengers = 653,450|pass_year = 2019–2020|pass_percent = -21.07}}
{{Rail pass box|passengers = 326,100|pass_year = 2020–2021|pass_percent = -50.09}}
| services = {{Adjacent stations|system1=V/Line
|line1=Ballarat|left1=Cobblebank|right1=Bacchus Marsh
|line2=Melton|left2=Cobblebank|right2=Bacchus Marsh
|line3=Melton|left3=Cobblebank
|line4=Ararat|left4=Cobblebank|right4=Bacchus Marsh
|line5=Maryborough|left5=Cobblebank|right5=Bacchus Marsh|oneway-right5=yes|note-mid5=One daily service
}}
| website = [https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/stop/1121 Public Transport Victoria]
}}
Melton railway station is a regional railway station on the Ararat line, part of the Victorian railway network. It serves the outer-western suburb of Melton South, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It opened on 2 April 1884.
The station is planned to be rebuilt by 2026 as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project.
History
= 19th century =
Melton Station opened when the railway line from Braybrook Junction (Sunshine) was extended to the town. Like the town itself, the station was named after Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, England.{{cite web |url=https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/melton |title=Melton |publisher=Victorian Places |accessdate=25 February 2023 |archive-date=25 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225102139/https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/melton |url-status=live}}{{cite news|first=Jamie |last=First |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/the-az-story-of-melbournes-suburbs/news-story/6f7611b7df20e55ad02f5e9615885e21 |title=The A-Z story of Melbourne's suburbs |work=Herald Sun |date=7 January 2014 |accessdate=25 February 2023 |archive-date=26 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226135637/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/the-az-story-of-melbournes-suburbs/news-story/6f7611b7df20e55ad02f5e9615885e21 |url-status=live}}
In 1886, the line was extended westward to Parwan and, being on a single track section, the station was the site of a crossing loop from that time. By 1889, the station had an interlocked signal box, single passenger platform, and a three-track yard. There was a goods shed opposite the passenger platform.{{cite web |url=http://www.vrhistory.com/Locations/A023-Melton.pdf |title=Victorian Station Histories - Melton |publisher=www.vrhistory.com |accessdate=2008-05-26 |archive-date=16 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516065135/http://www.vrhistory.com/Locations/A023-Melton.pdf |url-status=live}}
= 20th century =
In 1962, flashing light signals were provided at the Exford Road level crossing, located nearby in the up direction from the station.{{cite web |title=Melton |url=http://www.vicsig.net/infrastructure/location/Melton |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108042106/https://vicsig.net/infrastructure/location/Melton |archive-date=8 November 2021 |access-date=25 February 2023 |website=vicsig.net}} In 1987, the yard was rationalised, being reduced to a main line and crossing loop. Boom barriers were provided at the level crossing in 1990, and a second platform was added in 1991.{{cite magazine |date=October 1991 |title=Works |magazine=Newsrail |publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division) |page=338}} In 1998, the station building was refurbished.
= 21st century =
In 2005, as part of the Regional Fast Rail project, control of the signals was transferred to the Ballarat signal box.{{cite web |url=http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=infrastructure&interlocking=Melton |title=Melton - Interlocking Information |website=vicsig.net |access-date=25 February 2023 |archive-date=29 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829111321/http://vicsig.net/index.php?page=infrastructure&interlocking=Melton |url-status=live}} The station retains the lever frame for historical purposes.
As part of the Regional Rail Revival project, 18 km of track was duplicated between the Deer Park West junction and Melton.{{cite web |url=https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/518-million-ballarat-line-upgrade-released-to-market/ |title=$518 Million Ballarat Line Upgrade Released To Market |author=Minister for Public Transport |publisher=Premier of Victoria website |date=1 March 2017 |accessdate=2 February 2019 |archive-date=19 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419080031/https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/518-million-ballarat-line-upgrade-released-to-market/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://regionalrailrevival.vic.gov.au/ballarat |title=Ballarat Line Upgrade |publisher=Rail Projects Victoria |date=2 February 2019 |accessdate=2 February 2019 |archive-date=30 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130070028/http://regionalrailrevival.vic.gov.au/ballarat |url-status=live }} The duplication was completed in late 2019, coinciding with the opening of the newly-built Cobblebank Station.{{cite web |title=Cobblebank Station opening community event |url=https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/news/regional-rail-revival/cobblebank-station-opening-community-event |accessdate=7 November 2021 |website=Victoria's Big Build |date=24 June 2021 |archive-date=8 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108033005/https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/news/regional-rail-revival/cobblebank-station-opening-community-event |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Celebrating Cobblebank Station opening |url=https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/news/regional-rail-revival/celebrating-cobblebank-station-opening|accessdate=7 November 2021 |website=Victoria's Big Build |date=24 June 2021 |archive-date=8 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108061112/https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/news/regional-rail-revival/celebrating-cobblebank-station-opening |url-status=live}}
= Future =
On 6 October 2022, the Andrews Government announced that four level crossings will be removed in Melton and Truganina by the Level Crossing Removal Project. As part of these removals, Melton Station will be rebuilt by 2026.{{Cite web |last=Build |first=Victoria's Big |date=2022-10-06 |title=Making Melton level crossing-free |url=https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/news/level-crossing-removal-project/making-melton-level-crossing-free |access-date=6 October 2022 |website=Victoria’s Big Build |language=en |archive-date=6 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006013408/https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/news/level-crossing-removal-project/making-melton-level-crossing-free |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=7 June 2023 |url=https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/news/level-crossing-removal-project/fast-tracking-level-crossing-removals |title=Fast-tracking level crossing removals |access-date=18 May 2024 |website=Victoria's Big Build |language=en}}
Throughout 2024, concept designs for the new Melton Station were released.{{Cite web |date=23 March 2024 |url=https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/news/level-crossing-removal-project/new-melton-station-designs-as-part-of-massive-upgrades |title=New Melton Station designs as part of massive upgrades |access-date=18 May 2024 |website=Victoria's Big Build |language=en}} The rebuilt station will include four platforms; Platforms 2 and 3 as an island platform with two faces, and Platforms 1 and 4 as side platforms.{{Cite web |date=2 October 2024 |url=https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/news/level-crossing-removal-project/final-designs-for-melton-level-crossing-removals |title=Final designs for Melton level crossing removals |access-date=2 October 2024 |website=Victoria's Big Build |language=en}} The platforms will be long enough to accommodate 9-carriage V/Line VLocity DMUs in the future, set to be introduced to the line by 2028.{{Cite web |last=Build |first=Victoria’s Big |date=2023-06-26 |title=Fast tracking level crossing removals in Melton |url=https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/library/level-crossing-removal-project/geelong-ballarat/melton/fact-sheets/fast-tracking-level-crossing-removals-in-melton |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=Victoria’s Big Build |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Melton level crossing removals |url=https://engage.vic.gov.au/lxrp-melton |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=Engage Victoria |language=en}}
Electrification and quadruplication of the Ararat line up to Melton was announced by the Andrews Government as part of the Western Rail Plan. In 2023, it was reported that quadruplication of the line had been cut, and there is no current plan to electrify the line.{{Cite news |date=2023-08-05 |title=Confusion and plummeting confidence in rail promises for regional Victoria |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-05/country-rail-upgrades-ballarat-regions-victoria/102682980 |access-date=2024-10-22 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}
Platforms and services
Melton has two side platforms and is served by V/Line Ballarat and Ararat line trains.[https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/1728 Ballarat - Melbourne timetable] Public Transport Victoria[https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/1837 Ararat - Melbourne] Public Transport Victoria
Platform 1:
- {{RouteBox|Ballarat line|Ballarat V/Line rail service|#{{rcr|V/Line}}|white}} services to Southern Cross
- {{RouteBox|Ararat line|Ballarat V/Line rail service|#{{rcr|V/Line}}|white}} services to Southern Cross
- {{RouteBox|Maryborough line|Mildura railway line|#{{rcr|V/Line}}|white}} one daily service to Southern Cross
Platform 2:
- {{RouteBox|Ballarat line|Ballarat V/Line rail service|#{{rcr|V/Line}}|white}} services to Bacchus Marsh and Wendouree
- {{RouteBox|Ararat line|Ballarat V/Line rail service|#{{rcr|V/Line}}|white}} services to Ararat
Transport links
Transit Systems Victoria operates seven bus routes to and from Melton station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:
- {{color box|196311|452|white}}: to Eynesbury[https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/16115/eynesbury-melton-station/]
- {{color box|ed0277|453|white}}: to Melton{{cite PTV route|453}}
- {{color box|9c9726|454|white}}: to Cobblebank station[https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/13685/454-melton-station-to-cobblebank-station 454 Melton Station to Cobblebank Station] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324145402/https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/13685/454-melton-station-to-cobblebank-station |date=24 March 2022 }} Public Transport Victoria
- {{color box|015aaa|455|white}}: to Micasa Rise/Roslyn Park (Harkness){{cite PTV route|455}}
- {{color box|d7171f|457|white}}: to Melton{{cite PTV route|457}}
- {{color box|00a54f|458|white}}: to Kurunjang{{cite PTV route|458}}
- {{color box|00acdd|459|white}}: to Arnolds Creek (Melton West){{cite PTV route|459}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.vicrailstations.com/Serviceton/Melton/Melton.html Victorian Railway Stations gallery]
- [http://www.street-directory.com.au/sd3/map.php?x=144.57260032126814&y=-37.703353452542814&l=13&mt=4 Melway map] at street-directory.com.au
{{Public Transport Victoria railway stations|Western=y|state=collapsed}}