Marino Rocks railway station
Marino Rocks | |||||||||||
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| General information | |||||||||||
| Location | The Cove Road Marino | ||||||||||
| Line(s) | Seaford Line | ||||||||||
| Distance | 18.9 km from Adelaide | ||||||||||
| Platforms | 2 | ||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||
| Parking | Yes | ||||||||||
| Bicycle facilities | No | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opened | 1915 | ||||||||||
| Rebuilt | 1970s | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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Marino Rocks railway station is located on the Seaford line.[1] Situated in the southern Adelaide suburb of Marino, it's 18.9 kilometres from Adelaide station and leads directly into Nimboya Road Reserve and park. In addition to serving the hillside Marino community, the station provides the rest of Adelaide with public transport access to a host of outdoor attractions and cycle routes within Marino's local reserves, conservation park and coastline. These are supported and promoted by DPTI and Marion Council visitor information signage on each platform. It has been described by the SA Environment Minister as "the prettiest station in South Australia."
Rail Care Community Volunteers
The station is cared for by dozens of local volunteers in Marino Rocks, as part of the South Australian Government's Rail Care Program.
Regular working bees are held at Marino Rocks station bringing together the whole Marino community of all ages, with great support from the Government of South Australia, Marion Council and local MPs.
In July 2019, artwork by Adelaide artist Blake Lovas was completed at the station as part of the stations Rail Care community volunteer program. Further artworks were created by Seacliff Primary school children in March 2021 following a school presentation on the Marino Rocks Rail Care program and to help promote the school value of "Community".
A visit by the Community Engagement Officer of Keolis Downer took place in February 2021, as part of their operation of the rail franchise in Adelaide. This tour showcased the work by Rail Care Volunteers including the completed artwork, landscaping, station improvements, access and wayfinding signage.
2019 and 2020 Upgrades
In October and November 2019 the Seaford bound platform at Marino Rocks station underwent significant, extensive landscaping initiated by the DPTI.
Work was carried out by ecoDynamics over several weeks, removing old trees and bushes, earthworks, irrigation, planting and landscaping.
This increased visibility, safety and security of the station from the adjacent streets, as well as vastly improving its appearance.
Further improvements were made over the course of 2020 to the city-bound platform with new planting and irrigation, along with new seating installed in November 2020 along various points of the platform, to allow school children and commuters to space out during the morning peak.
The station is now described as “the prettiest station in South Australia” by the Environment Minister during a visit with the Transport Minister.
Neighbouring attractions
This station is used by visitors to the Marino Conservation Park and Lighthouse with sea and city views, Marino Rocks beach, the refurbished playground and sporting facilities at Bandon Reserve, the famous cliff top Marino to Hallett Cove Boardwalk and the extended Adelaide Coast Park coastal walk between Marino Rocks and Seacliff.
The station is well used by cyclists, with the Coast to Vines Rail Trail starting at the station then following the former Willunga railway alignment south to McLaren Vale wine region. The Marino Rocks Greenway also starts at Marino Rocks station and provides a cycling route near the inward-bound railway line into the heart of Adelaide.
To further support the numerous visitors who get off at Marino Rocks station, DPTI and Marion Council signage was installed on each platform in November 2019, featuring station history, map of attractions, photos and local community artwork.
When visitors are exploring the area, official Adelaide Metro signage can be found with directions back to Marino Rocks train station e.g. from the Conservation Park, Coast to Vines trail and Marino Rocks beach etc.
Station access
The Seaford-bound platform sits directly adjacent to Newland Avenue, with multiple access points for Marino residents to enter from either Newland Avenue, Coolinga Road, Jervois Terrace and Nimboya Road Reserve.
The Adelaide-bound platform sits adjacent to the busy Cove Road, with multiple access points to enter from The Cove Road, Newland Avenue, Jervois Terrace and a short subway located in Nimboya Road Reserve.
Station artwork
In December 2019 the Marino community worked with Splashout Art Studios in Marino Rocks, to create the first ever station art gallery. Artwork featured local attractions and was hung to be highly visible to commuters on the train.
Marino Rocks station art gallery has since grown to over 20 pieces of artwork created by local artists, children and their families. The latest batch of artwork was hung in March 2021 by the school children of Seacliff Primary School.
In November 2019 the Marino community organised and funded the stobie poles at the Newland Avenue entrance of Marino Rocks train station to be painted by artist Blake Lovas.
This work was designed to complement the station artwork and landscaping.
Car Parking
The station benefits from a medium-sized car park with 14 spaces and 1 disabled bay easily accessed via The Cove Road. Irrigation to support the community plants around the car park was installed in August 2019.
Station campaigns
In May 2018 the station was the focus for an unprecedented 1500-strong community petition by Marino residents to gain more peak services, following their cuts in an April 2018 timetable change.
Following widespread coverage in the media and lobbying by schools with pupils who use Marino Rocks station, one peak morning service was reinstated.
History
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The station is one of the most historic on the line and was initially opened as part of the Willunga railway extension to the Brighton line in 1915, allowing people from inner-Adelaide to visit the surrounding clifftop coastline and beach.[2]
The station was rebuilt in 1970 and received a minor upgrade in February 2011 when the line was closed for six months to allow for upgrade works between Oaklands and Noarlunga.[3]
On 2 January 2013, the station was closed again with the whole Seaford line, to allow for its electrification and extension, with trains being replaced by bus services. Rail services resumed at Marino Rocks on 1 December 2013 with electric trains entering service at the station for the first time.
Services by platform
| Platform | Destination |
|---|---|
| style="background:#Template:Adelaide color" |1 | Seaford |
| style="background:#Template:Adelaide color" |2 | Adelaide |
References
- ^ Seaford & Tonsley timetable Adelaide Metro 20 July 2014
- ^ "Willunga Railway Service". No. 15 January 1915. The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ Schedule Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure [verification needed]
External links
Media related to Marino Rocks railway station at Wikimedia Commons- Flickr gallery
