Template:MelbourneRailwayStation1
Southern Cross Station (formerly Spencer Street Station) is a major railway station in Melbourne, Australia, in the state of Victoria.
Located on Spencer Street between Collins and La Trobe Streets at the westernmost boundary of the central business district, it is the hub of the state's regional railway network, serving as a terminus for long-distance V/Line trains. It also serves the twice-daily Countrylink XPT service to Sydney, and The Overland to Adelaide.
Southern Cross is one of the five stations which comprise the City Loop, an underground railway which encircles the CBD. It and Flinders Street are the only stations in the Loop which are above ground.
History
Known in early days as Batman's Hill Station, it was opened in 1859, five years after the opening of Flinders Street Station, the centre of the city's suburban railway network. The stations are connected by two viaducts along the north bank of the Yarra River, one built in 1891 (duplicated in 1915), the other in the 1970s. Passenger trains began using the first viaduct in 1894.
In the 1880s, it was proposed that the station be removed in order to facilitate the westward expansion of the city. The plan was subsequently rejected, although it was discussed at a Royal Commission.
At one stage, a short underground rail line existed to transfer mail between the station and the old mail sorting office across Spencer Street. This line has since ceased operation and the tunnel filled in.
Redevelopment
Southern Cross Station is currently being redeveloped by the Civic Nexus consortium. Construction began in October 2002 and is expected to be completed in mid-2006, with the majority of the transport facilities completed in time for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The central features of the design include a massive wave-shaped roof, a new entrance and concourse on Collins Street, a new bus interchange, a low-rise office building (older designs included a number of high-rise buildings), and a shopping complex between Bourke and La Trobe Streets.
In addition to the station's physical modifications, its name was changed from Spencer Street Station on December 13 2005.[1]
As of July 2004, the project had fallen behind schedule and been covered extensively in the media because of this. Complaints such as access to platforms, empty trains occupying space during the day, and lack of government support have been raised by Leighton Holdings, the construction firm overseeing the project. This led to concerns that the station might not be ready in time for the Commonwealth Games.
The station's redevelopment is part of the wider Docklands development. The architect responsible for the design is Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners
| Station Navigation | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan service | ||||
| "City Loop" | ||||
| Anti - Clockwise | Flinders Street | | | Flagstaff | Clockwise |
| Broadmeadows, Flemington Racecourse, Sydenham, Upfield, Werribee & Williamstown lines | ||||
| Previous Station | Refer to City Loop | | | North Melbourne | Next Station |
| Regional service | ||||
| Ararat line | ||||
| Next Station | North Melbourne | |||
| Bairnsdale line | ||||
| Next Station | Flinders Street | |||
| Albury & Shepparton lines | ||||
| Next Station | Broadmeadows | |||
| Interstate service | ||||
| CountryLink Southern (Melbourne - Sydney) line | ||||
| Next Station | Benalla | |||
| The Overland (Melbourne - Adelaide) line | ||||
| Next Station | North Shore | |||
| Entire metropolitan network | ||||
| Entire regional network | ||||
| Entire CountryLink network | ||||
References
- ^ Murphy, Mathew; The Age (December 14 2005), Time's up at last for railway landmark. Retrieved December 13 2005.