Westall railway station
Template:Infobox Melbourne railway station
Westall is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in the suburb of Clayton South, on the Pakenham and Cranbourne railway lines. Westall is unmanned and is in Metcard Zone 2.
Facilities
Westall is located on Rayhur Street and at the western end of the Westall Road overpass, the former providing station access.
The station consists of two side platforms; Platform 1 has a large weatherboard building, while platform 2 has a small steel shelter. A large Metcard ticket vending machine is located at the entrance to platform 1, which is able to dispense most ticketing options available and also accept notes and coins. A small coin-only Metcard ticket vending machine is located at the entrance to platform 2.
Platforms/services
Platform 1:
- Suburban Metro Trains services to Flinders Street
Platform 2:
- Suburban Metro Trains services to Cranbourne
- Suburban Metro Trains services to Pakenham
History
Westall station was opened as a workers only platform on October 16, 1954.[1] It was provided for the adjacent Martin and King railway coachbuilding factory.[1] The station was opened to the public on June 1, 1959 when all trains on the line were altered to stop there.[1]
The station had a stabling yard located at the Down (Dandenong) end, as well as a number of industrial sidings serving nearby factories.[2] In 1997 the Westall train maintenance centre was opened in the former goods yard, as part of the decentralisation of train stabling and maintenance from the former Jolimont Yards.[3] The buildings were approximately 2,850 m² in size, and permit bogie repair and replacement, under carriage and overhead work. The facility cost $15 million, which also included the Bayswater facility.[4]
On July 26, 2006, a fire started in the waiting room of the station building on platform one, causing major damage to half of the station building, ticket machines,[5] seats and a section of the platform. The city bound platform was closed off and passenger services heading towards Melbourne ran express from Springvale to Clayton bypassing Westall until temporary fencing was placed around the building.[6] The damaged part of the building was subsequently demolished and rebuilt.
On May 6, 2008, the Government of Victoria announced as part of the 2008-2009 state budget that Westall station would receive a $151 million upgrade which will include a new third platform along with triplicating 2.6 kilometres of existing double track between Centre Road and Springvale Road. Hong Lim, Member of Clayton, has also said that the new upgrades will include a new pedestrian crossing, CCTV facilities and additional car spaces.[7] In 2009, construction of the upgrades has commenced[8] and is expected to be completed by 2011.
Westall Station Upgrade
Westall Rail Upgrade Project
Timeframe: Start: 2009 End: 2011
Cost: $153 million
What's happening
Major works have started on this project with the first sod turned by Public Transport Minister Martin Pakula (watch the video). The project includes a new station at Westall and extra tracks to pave the way for more peak hour services. See the new designs for the Westall Station upgrade.
Project description
The Westall Rail Upgrade Project involves works within the Dandenong rail corridor to improve service reliability and reduce crowding on this busy line.
Specifically the project involves: construction of a third track between Centre Road and Springvale Road a new station at Westall including a third platform, 80 extra car spaces and improvements to passenger facilities, safety and accessibility pedestrian crossing upgrades between Centre Road and Springvale Road additional overnight storage space for five trains at the Westall stabling depot. Project benefits The Westall Rail Upgrade will ensure more trains can start from Westall Station. By commencing trains empty at this location, passengers who travel from Westall station and stations towards the city will benefit from less crowded trains and therefore a more reliable service. Passengers who travel from outer suburban stations on the Dandenong line will also benefit from reduced crowding and improved service reliability as passengers will be more evenly spread across trains commencing from Pakenham, Cranbourne and Dandenong. Local commuters will benefit from a new station at Westall including improvements to passenger safety, amenity and accessibility.
Gallery
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Platform 2 during station upgrade -
From the Westall overpass, the new pedestrian overpass and new concrete station sign during station upgrade -
New pedestrian overpass at Westall station during station upgrade -
Platform 1 building after fire damage
References
- ^ a b c S.E. Dornan and R.G. Henderson. Electric Railways of Victoria. Australian Electric Traction Society. ISBN 0 909459 06 1.
- ^ Signalling diagram of Westall - 1975
- ^ Department of Infrastructure: Annual Report 1997-1998
- ^ architectus. "Public Transport Corporation Train Maintenance Facility". www.architectus.com.au. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
- ^ Unofficial Metcard site: Metcard Vending Machine 2 (MVM 2)
- ^ Victoria Police: Fire at Westall railway station
- ^ Westall Station Upgrade Design - Hong Lim MP, Member for Clayton
- ^ Dandenong Rail Corridor Stage Two - Department of Transport, Victorian Government