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Preston railway station, Melbourne

Coordinates: 37°44′19″S 145°00′02″E / 37.7387°S 145.0006°E / -37.7387; 145.0006
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Preston
PTV commuter rail station
The eastern facade of Preston station, August 2024
General information
LocationClinch Avenue,
Preston, Victoria 3072
City of Darebin
Australia
Coordinates37°44′19″S 145°00′02″E / 37.7387°S 145.0006°E / -37.7387; 145.0006
Owned byVicTrack
Operated byMetro Trains
Line(s)Mernda
Distance12.47 kilometres (7.75 mi) from
Southern Cross
Platforms2 (1 island)
Tracks2
ConnectionsList of bus routes in Melbourne Bus
Construction
Structure typeElevated
Parking254[1]
Bicycle facilitiesYes
AccessibleYes—step free access
Other information
StatusOperational, premium station
Station codePRE
Fare zoneMyki Zone 1/2 overlap
WebsitePublic Transport Victoria
History
Opened8 October 1889; 135 years ago (1889-10-08)
Rebuilt1973
5 September 2022 (LXRP)
ElectrifiedJuly 1921 (1500 V DC overhead)
Previous namesPreston-Murray Road (1889-1905)
Murray (1905-1909)
Passengers
2005–2006591,010[2]
2006–2007643,921[2] Increase 8.95%
2007–2008734,065[2] Increase 13.99%
2008–2009847,792[3] Increase 15.49%
2009–2010860,532[3] Increase 1.5%
2010–2011852,173[3] Decrease 0.97%
2011–2012800,022[3] Decrease 6.11%
2012–2013Not measured[3]
2013–2014859,243[3] Increase 7.4%
2014–2015825,977[2] Decrease 3.87%
2015–2016885,788[3] Increase 7.24%
2016–2017881,885[3] Decrease 0.44%
2017–2018901,943[3] Increase 2.27%
2018–2019862,540[3] Decrease 4.36%
2019–2020648,650[3] Decrease 24.79%
2020–2021317,300[3] Decrease 51.08%
2021–2022238,850[4] Decrease 24.72%
2022–2023398,450[5] Increase 66.82%
Services
Preceding station Railways in Melbourne Metro Trains Following station
Bell
towards Flinders Street
 Mernda line Regent
towards Mernda
Track layout
Legend
to Bell
1
2
to Regent

Preston railway station is a commuter railway station located in the north-eastern suburb of Preston in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.[6] The station opened on 8 October 1889, with the former ground level station closed and demolished in May 2022 and the current elevated station provided in September 2022 by the Level Crossing Removal Project.[7] The station was renamed two times, which it initially opened as "Preston-Murray Road" upon its opening in 1889. It was renamed to "Murray" on 1 August 1905, then was given its current name of "Preston" on 1 December 1909.

Preston is an elevated premium station, consisting of a single island platform with two faces connected by a staircase, lifts and a ground level concourse. The station fully complies with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and is accessible as there is a lift connecting to the ground level concourse and the station platforms.[8]

The station is owned by VicTrack, a state government agency and the station is operated by Metro Trains Melbourne. Preston station is currently served by the Mernda line, part of the Melbourne railway network. Additionally, the station is also served by four bus routes, it includes Dysons bus routes 552 and 553 and Ventura bus routes 903 and 527. The station is approximately 10 km (6.2 mi) or around a 26 minute train ride to Flinders Street.[9]

Description

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The station meets the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 as there is a lift connecting from the station platforms to the ground level concourse

Preston railway station is located in the north-eastern suburb of Preston in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The station is owned by VicTrack, a state government agency and the station is operated by Metro Trains Melbourne.[6] The station is 10 km (6.2 mi) or around a 26 minute train ride to Flinders Street.[9] The adjacent stations are Bell station up towards Flinders Street and Regent station down towards Mernda.[9]

The station consists of a single island platform with two edges. As is standard in Melbourne, the platform has an asphalt surface with concrete on the edges. The island platform is approximately 160 m (524 ft 11 in) long, long enough for a 7 car High Capacity Metro Train.[10] The station features a ground level concourse, accessible from the elevated station platform via a lift and stairs.[8]

The station building, concourse and platform largely stayed the same since the station was rebuilt in 2022.[6] The station is listed as fully accessible on the Metro Trains website, as there are lifts and accessible features available at the station.[8]

History

[edit]

Original ground level station (1888-2022)

[edit]
Northbound view from the former ground level Platform 2, February 2007, with the yellow painted line
Northbound view from the former ground level Platform 2, August 2015, with tactile installed along the edge of the platform

Preston station opened on 8 October 1889, when the Inner Circle line was extended from North Fitzroy to Reservoir, Preston station, like the suburb itself, was named after Preston in Sussex, England.[11][12] The name was chosen by Edward Wood, who was originally from Sussex and, in 1850, opened a general store at the corner of the current day intersection of High and Wood Streets.[11]

In 1967, boom barriers replaced hand gates at the former Cramer Street and Murray Road level crossings, which were located in the up and down directions respectively.[13] In 1973, the former ground level station buildings were provided, replacing the original 1889 structures.[14] In 1998, Preston was upgraded to a premium station.[15]

Level Crossing Removal Project

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The landscaping and forecourt area and station facade rebuilt by the Level Crossing Removal Project, August 2024
The elevated railway leading up to Preston station rebuilt by the LXRP, July 2023

On 30 November 2018, the Level Crossing Removal Project announced that the Murray Road and Cramer Street level crossings would be removed by grade separation,[16][17][18] with the rail line to be elevated over both roads.[19] On 4 October 2020, designs for the rebuilt station were released,[20] with major construction starting in February 2021.[21]

On 17 May 2022, Cramer Street and Murray Road level crossings and equipment were eliminated and on the same night, the ground level station were closed and demolished.[22][23] On 30 May 2022, the first part of the new elevated railway opened with only a single track while the second track was under construction. This was temporary until 5 September 2022 when the rebuilt station opened.[7]

Platforms and services

[edit]
An X'Trapolis train on a Flinders Street-bound service arrives at Platform 1, September 2022 (top), Platform 2 looking southbound (bottom)

Preston has a single island platform with two faces. The station is currently served by the Mernda line, part of the metropolitan railway network.[9] The Mernda line runs from Mernda station, north-east of Melbourne, joining with the Hurstbridge line at Clifton Hill station before travelling through Flinders Street station and back through the City Loop.[9]

Platform 1:

Platform 2:

[edit]

Dysons operates two bus routes via Preston station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

Bus connections:

  •  552 : North East Reservoir – Northcote Plaza[24]
  •  553 : Preston – West Preston[25]

Kinetic Melbourne operates one SmartBus route via Preston station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

Ventura Bus Lines operates one route via Preston station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "New Preston Station fact sheet". Victoria's Big Build. 15 June 2022. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Estimated Annual Patronage by Network Segment Financial Year 2005-2006 to 2018-19 Archived 17 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine Department of Transport
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Railway station and tram stop patronage in Victoria for 2008-2021 Archived 17 December 2022 at the Wayback Machine Philip Mallis
  4. ^ Annual metropolitan train station patronage (station entries) Archived 6 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine Data Vic
  5. ^ Annual metropolitan train station entries 2022-23 Data Vic
  6. ^ a b c "Preston Station". Metro Trains Melbourne. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Modern stations at Preston just weeks away". Victoria's Big Build. 5 August 2022. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  8. ^ a b c "Access Guide". Metro Trains Melbourne. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Mernda line". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  10. ^ "How long is a railway station platform?". Daniel Bowen. 20 January 2019. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Preston". Victorian Places. Archived from the original on 17 March 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  12. ^ First, Jamie (7 January 2014). "The A-Z story of Melbourne's suburbs". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  13. ^ John Sinnatt (January 1990). "Level Crossing Protection". Somersault. Signalling Record Society Victoria. pp. 9–17.
  14. ^ "Way and Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. February 1973. p. 34.
  15. ^ "Upgrading Eltham to a Premium Station". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. October 1997. pp. 303–315.
  16. ^ "More level crossing removals on the way". Victoria's Big Build. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Murray Road, Preston". Victoria's Big Build. Archived from the original on 23 March 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  18. ^ "Cramer Street, Preston Level Crossing Removal Project". levelcrossings.vic.gov.au. Level Crossing Removal Project. Archived from the original on 23 January 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  19. ^ "Eight crossings set to go in the north". Victoria's Big Build. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  20. ^ "First look at new Bell and Preston stations". Victoria's Big Build. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  21. ^ "Full steam ahead at Preston". Victoria's Big Build. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  22. ^ "Getting the new Preston rail bridge ready for trains". Victoria's Big Build. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  23. ^ "Preston boom gate free". Victoria's Big Build. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  24. ^ "552 North East Reservoir - Northcote Plaza via High Street (SMARTBUS service)". Public Transport Victoria. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  25. ^ "553 Preston - West Preston via Reservoir (SMARTBUS service)". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  26. ^ "903 Altona - Mordialloc (Kinetic Service)". Public Transport Victoria. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  27. ^ "527 Gowrie - Northland via Murray Road (Kinetic service)". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
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