Middle Gorge railway station
{{Short description|Railway station in Melbourne, Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox station
| name = Middle Gorge
| other_name =
| image = Middle Gorge Northbound View.jpg
| style = Melbourne
| type = PTV commuter rail station
| caption = North-east bound view from Platform 2 looking at station buildings, November 2022
| address = Williamsons Road,
South Morang, Victoria 3752
| borough = City of Whittlesea
| country = Australia
| coordinates = {{coord|-37.6443|145.0919|format=dms|type:railwaystation_region:AU-VIC|display=inline,title}}
| owned = VicTrack
| operator = Metro Trains
| connections = {{rint|victoria|met bus|link=List of bus routes in Melbourne}} Bus
| line = {{rcb|Melbourne|Mernda|croute}}
| distance = 28.34 kilometres from
Southern Cross
| platforms = 2 side
| tracks = 2
| bicycle = Yes
| accessible = Yes—step free access
| parking = 550
| zone = Myki Zone 2
| code = MMR
| status = Operational, unstaffed
| former = Marymede (provisionally)
| opened = {{start date and age|2018|08|26|df=y}}
| electrified = July 2018 (1500 V DC overhead)
| passengers =
| pass_year =
| pass_percent =
| pass_system =
| mpassengers = {{Rail pass box|passengers = 192,700[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 = 2018–2019}}
{{Rail pass box|passengers = 184,700|pass_year = 2019–2020|pass_percent = -4.15}}
{{Rail pass box|passengers = 103,900|pass_year = 2020–2021|pass_percent = -43.75}}
{{Rail pass box|passengers = 115,350[https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/annual-metropolitan-train-station-patronage-station-entries Annual metropolitan train station patronage (station entries)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306190204/https://discover.data.vic.gov.au//dataset/annual-metropolitan-train-station-patronage-station-entries |date=6 March 2023 }} Data Vic|pass_year = 2021–2022|pass_percent = 11.02}}
{{Rail pass box|passengers = 188,600[https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/annual-metropolitan-train-station-patronage-station-entries/resource/cb8e940c-ea68-4a3d-803c-d8d7164c2d2d Annual metropolitan train station entries 2022-23] Data Vic|pass_year = 2022–2023|pass_percent = 63.50}}
| services = {{Adjacent stations|system=Melbourne|line=Mernda|left=South Morang|right=Hawkstowe}}
| map_locator =
| website = [https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/stop/1226 Public Transport Victoria]
| route_map = {{Routemap
|inline=1
|legend=track
|map=
STR!~MFADEg\STR!~MFADEg~~ ~~ ~~to {{stl|Melbourne|South Morang}}
STRg\STRf
PSTR(R)!~*1__align=l\PSTR(L)!~*2__align=r
PSTR(R)\PSTR(L)
STRg\STRf
CSTRa@g(r)\CSTRa@g(l)
TUNNEL1l\TUNNEL1r
CSTRe@f(r)\CSTRe@f(l)
STR!~MFADEf\STR!~MFADEf~~ ~~ ~~to {{stl|Melbourne|Hawkstowe}}
}}
| map_state = expanded
}}
Middle Gorge railway station is a commuter railway station on the Mernda line, part of the Melbourne railway network. It serves the north-eastern Melbourne suburb of South Morang in Victoria, Australia. Middle Gorge is a ground level unstaffed station, featuring two side platforms. It opened on 26 August 2018.{{cite web|url=https://vicsig.net/infrastructure/location/Middle_Gorge|title=Middle Gorge|website=vicsig.net|access-date=4 February 2023|archive-date=27 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727115639/https://vicsig.net/infrastructure/location/Middle_Gorge|url-status=live}}[https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/getting-around/network-changes/meet-mernda-your-new-line/ Meet Mernda, your new line.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801124935/https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/getting-around/network-changes/meet-mernda-your-new-line/ |date=1 August 2018 }} Public Transport Victoria{{Cite web|url=http://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/79570/Marymede-Station-Precinct.pdf|title=Marymede Station Precinct|access-date=14 April 2017|archive-date=28 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228015201/http://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/79570/Marymede-Station-Precinct.pdf|url-status=live}}
It is the only station between South Morang and Mernda that is not elevated, and the only station between Thomastown and Mernda that does not have an island platform.
History
=South Morang railway station (former)=
The original South Morang was a former steam-era railway station on the Whittlesea line, which operated until the closure of the line beyond Lalor on 28 November 1959, following the electrification of the line to Lalor.{{cite web|url=https://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/mernda|title=Mernda Line|website=vicsig.net|access-date=5 May 2023|archive-date=4 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504235948/https://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/mernda|url-status=live}} The line to Epping was electrified and re-opened on 30 November 1964, and the remaining section of track, from Epping to Whittlesea, was dismantled in the 1970s, although the former right-of-way remained intact. All that remained of the original South Morang station was the platform mound.
A new South Morang station opened on 22 April 2012, as the terminus of an extension of the Epping line. The new station was two kilometres closer to Epping than the former station, arguably in Mill Park or Epping.
=Middle Gorge=
Middle Gorge opened near the approximate site of the original South Morang station on 26 August 2018, when the line was extended from South Morang to Mernda, as part of the Mernda Rail project.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/getting-around/network-changes/meet-mernda-your-new-line/|title=Meet Mernda, your new line|website=www.ptv.vic.gov.au|language=English|access-date=2018-08-01|archive-date=1 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801124935/https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/getting-around/network-changes/meet-mernda-your-new-line/|url-status=live}} It was first announced as one of two new stations for the project, which was an extension of the South Morang line along the former Whittlesea line right-of-way. Hawkstowe was added to the project after community pressure.{{Cite web|url=http://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/79569/Hawkstowe-Station-Precinct.pdf|title=Hawkstowe Station Precinct|access-date=14 April 2017|archive-date=28 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228015208/http://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/79569/Hawkstowe-Station-Precinct.pdf|url-status=live}}
The station was originally to be named Marymede, after the nearby Marymede Catholic College. However, this went against Victorian place-naming conventions, as it was named after a school. This caused public outrage for many reasons, mainly because its namesake Middle Gorge Park is located over 2 km from the station site. A letter sent from residents to the Victorian Government states that there was no consultation in the naming process, and that it does not accurately represent the station's location. Residents believe the station should be called "South Morang", whilst the current South Morang station be renamed to "Plenty Valley", in order to better reflect their locations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/middle-gorge-railway-station-you-shall-not-pass-20180415-p4z9re.html|title=Middle Gorge railway station - You shall not pass|last=Carey|first=Adam|date=2018-04-15|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=2018-06-02|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140202/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/middle-gorge-railway-station-you-shall-not-pass-20180415-p4z9re.html|url-status=live}}
Platforms and services
Middle Gorge has two side platforms. It is serviced by Metro Trains' Mernda line services.{{cite PTV route|Mernda|mode=train}}
Platform 1:
- {{RouteBox|Mernda line|Mernda line|#{{rcr|Melbourne|Mernda}}|white}} all stations and limited express services to Flinders Street
Platform 2:
- {{RouteBox|Mernda line|Mernda line|#{{rcr|Melbourne|Mernda}}|white}} all stations services to Mernda
Transport links
Dysons operates one bus route via Middle Gorge station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:
- {{color box|d7171f|383|white}}: Mill Park Lakes Palisades Estate – University Hill{{cite PTV route|383}}
Gallery
Middle Gorge Station (4).jpg|Building and entrance to Platform 2, May 2019
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Official website|name=Middle Gorge railway station}}
{{Public Transport Victoria railway stations|Mernda=y|state=collapsed}}
Category:Railway stations in Australia opened in 1889