North Melbourne railway station.html



North Melbourne

Station information
Code	NME
Distance from Flinders St	2.9 km
Operator	Connex Melbourne
Lines	Ararat, Albury, Craigieburn, Echuca, Flemington Racecourse, Shepparton, Swan Hill, Sydenham, Upfield, Warrnambool, Werribee, Williamstown
# Platforms	6
# Tracks	6
Status	Premium station
Metlink profile	Link
Melway map	Link
Google map	Link
Metcard Zone	1

North Melbourne is a railway station located on the northern edge of the central business district of Melbourne, Australia. The station is the point through which pass the west and north-west bound Craigieburn, Flemington Racecourse, Sydenham, Werribee, Williamstown and Upfield suburban railway lines, as well as an interchange point with the Victorian regional network. The station is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.

Facilities

Actually situated in West Melbourne, the station's main entrance is to the east at the intersection of Ireland Street and Railway Place. The station also has a western exit leading to the Melbourne Yard rail freight terminal.

The station complex consists of 1970s era brown brick buildings on the former Dynon Road overpass, housing the booking office, kiosk, a former railway parcels office, and amenities. Brick ramps run downward to the platforms, where platforms 2 though 6 have heritage listed verandas and waiting rooms.

History

The first railway through the site of North Melbourne station was today's Williamstown line and the first section of the Echuca Railway (to Sunbury), both opened on January 13, 1859. The first passenger station with two platforms was opened on December 6, 1859, and the present station closer to the city was opened on June 9, 1886.¹

The new station was of free classical architecture, with red brick was used with cream brick banding, along with verandahs and cast iron lace work.¹ 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 masters office was located near the ramp to platform 1, and mens toilets and porters offices were located under the ramps themselves.¹ The bridge over the railway line at the down end was originally a road bridge.

The suburban train stabling yard near the station was opened in December 1973 as part of the City Loop project.² The washing plant and additional sidings in in Melbourne Yard were made operational in May 1995, as part of the Jolimont Yard rationalisation.³

The present station buildings on the concourse were constructed in 1974,¹ and in the 1980s as part of the construction works for the City Loop the ramps to platform 1 and 2 were altered, and the platform extended to the north. The station was upgraded to Premium Station status on July 19, 1996.⁴

On 15 May 2006, it was announced that the station is to be redeveloped as part of a $36 million dollar project.⁵ Works include a new main entrance at the southern end of the station with new escalators, stairs and lifts installed for quicker access to other platforms and to help disabled passengers. Work started in May 2007 and completion is expected in 2010.⁶

In March 2008 the 401 shuttle bus service commenced operations from North Melbourne station to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and University of Melbourne in Carlton and Parkville, enabling commuters to avoid travelling though the city loop.⁷ it is the first bus route in Melbourne that requires pre-purchased Metcards.⁸

Diagram

Schematic diagram of the station

Gallery

Street entry

Main overhead concourse

Platform, verandas and access ramps

Station redevelopment at the city end

References