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Southern Cross railway station

Southern Cross railway station (until 2005 known as Spencer Street station) is a major railway station in Docklands, Melbourne. It is on Spencer Street, between Collins and La Trobe streets, at the western edge of the Melbourne central business district. The Docklands Stadium sports arena is 500 metres (1,640 ft 5 in) north-west of the station.

Southern Cross
Inter-city, regional and commuter rail station
Main entrance to the station on the corner of Collins & Spencer streets in December 2007
General information
LocationSpencer Street, Melbourne, Victoria
Australia
Coordinates37°49′06″S 144°57′09″E / 37.8184°S 144.9524°E / -37.8184; 144.9524
Owned byIFM Investors
Operated byCivic Nexus
Line(s)Metropolitan: Regional and inter-city:
Platforms16
Tracks22
Connections
  • Bus
  • Tram
  • Coach
  • SkyBus
Construction
Structure typeGround level with mezzanine
Bicycle facilities12
AccessibleYes—step free access
Other information
StatusPremium station
Station codeSSS
Fare zoneMyki Zone 1
WebsiteSouthern Cross Station Pty Ltd Public Transport Victoria
History
Opened17 January 1859; 164 years ago (1859-01-17)
Rebuilt1960s and 2000s
ElectrifiedPlatforms 8 to 14 only
Previous namesSpencer Street
Passengers
2008–200913.1 million[1]
2009–201014.4 million (Metro)[1] 10.02%
2010–201116.9 million (Metro)[1] 17.57%
2011–201216.8 million (Metro)[1] 0.6%
2012–2013Not measured[1]
2013–201417.1 million (Metro)[1] 1.56%
2014–2015Not measured[2]
2015–201616.6 million (Metro)[2] 2.99%
2016–201717.5 million (Metro)[2] 5.37%
2017–201818.6 million (Metro)[2] 6.54%
2018–201919.5 million (Metro)[3]
2018–20196.3 million (V/Line)[4]
2019–202014.9 million (Metro)[3]
2019–20204.9 million (V/Line)[4]
2020–20214.6 million (Metro)[3]
2020–20212.0 million (V/Line)[4]
Services
Preceding station Metro Trains Following station
Direction of travel on metropolitan lines between stations on the City Loop changes to either Flinders Street or Flagstaff depending on the line and time of day.
Flinders Street
One-way operation
Mernda line Flagstaff
towards Mernda
Hurstbridge line Flagstaff
towards Hurstbridge
Flinders Street
Terminus
Pakenham line Flagstaff
One-way operation
Cranbourne line
Lilydale line Flagstaff
towards Lilydale or Belgrave
Belgrave line
Alamein line
Limited weekday peak services only
Flagstaff
towards Alamein
Glen Waverley line Flagstaff
Upfield line North Melbourne
towards Upfield
Craigieburn line North Melbourne
towards Craigieburn
Flemington Racecourse line North Melbourne
Sunbury line North Melbourne
towards Sunbury
Flinders Street
towards Frankston
Werribee line North Melbourne
towards Werribee
Williamstown line North Melbourne
towards Williamstown
Future services (2025)
Flinders Street
Terminus
Frankston line Flagstaff
towards Frankston
Regional services
Preceding station V/Line Following station
Terminus Albury line Broadmeadows
towards Albury
Seymour line
Weekday peak only
North Melbourne
towards Seymour
Seymour line Broadmeadows
towards Seymour
Shepparton line
1 weekday peak service
North Melbourne
towards Shepparton
Shepparton line Broadmeadows
towards Shepparton
Geelong line Footscray
Warrnambool line Footscray
towards Warrnambool
Ballarat line Footscray
towards Wendouree
Ballarat line Footscray
Ararat line Footscray
towards Ararat
Maryborough line
One daily service
Footscray
One-way operation
Bendigo line Footscray
towards Bendigo, Epsom or Eaglehawk
Swan Hill line Footscray
towards Swan Hill
Echuca line Footscray
towards Echuca
Flinders Street Gippsland line Terminus
Preceding station NSW TrainLink Following station
Terminus NSW TrainLink Southern Line
Melbourne XPT
Broadmeadows
towards Sydney
Preceding station Journey Beyond Following station
North Shore
towards Adelaide
The Overland Terminus
Building details
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeRailway station terminus
Construction started2002 (2002)
Completed2006 (2006)
Cost$700m
Height23 metres (75 ft)
Technical details
Size60,000 square metres (650,000 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Nicholas Grimshaw
Architecture firmGrimshaw Architects
Jackson Architecture
DeveloperCivic Nexus consortium
EngineerWSP Global
Awards and prizesRoyal Institute of British Architects' Lubetkin Prize – most outstanding building outside the European Union

The station is owned, operated and maintained by Civic Nexus, a subsidiary of IFM Investors and operating as Southern Cross Station Pty Ltd,[5] under a 30-year lease to 2036 from the Victorian State Government, as part of a public-private partnership.[6] Southern Cross Station contracts Infranexus for management services. Infranexus is also wholly owned by IFM.[7]

The station is the terminus of the state's regional railway network operated by V/Line, The Overland rail service to Adelaide, and NSW TrainLink XPT services to Sydney. It is also served by metropolitan rail services operated by Metro Trains, and connects with Flinders Street station and the underground City Loop. It is the second busiest railway station in Melbourne's metropolitan network, with 19.5 million metropolitan passenger movements recorded in 2018/19.[3] In 2018/19 the station also recorded an additional 6.3 million regional passengers through the V/Line network.[4]

Southern Cross also has a coach terminal underneath the Spencer Outlet shopping complex. SkyBus services to Melbourne Airport and since 2017 to Avalon Airport[8] operate from there, as well as Firefly Express and Greyhound Australia interstate coach services, a coach ran public bus (684) and V/Line coach services to Mildura, Yarram, Mansfield, and other parts of Victoria not served by rail.

History edit

 
Spencer Street station platforms and goods sheds, circa 1885
 
Lithograph of the busy station complex in 1889 looking west from the Hoddle Grid

Opened as Spencer Street station in 1859,[9] five years after the other major Melbourne rail terminus at Flinders Street, the station was a dead-end terminus, running parallel to Spencer Street,[10][11] composed of a single main platform with a dock platform at the north end.[12] It was not until 1874 that an extra platform was provided.[12]

The two major city stations were not linked until 1879, when a single-track ground-level line was opened. It operated only at night, and only for freight trains. In the 1880s, it was proposed that Spencer Street station be removed in order to facilitate the westward expansion of the city, but the plan was subsequently rejected.

1880s: Passenger services commence edit

The 1880s saw the first of several grand but unrealised plans for the station. The first accepted design, drafted by Albert Charles Cook in 1883, was a fanciful Palladian palazzo design of two and three storeys, with a central portico.[13]

From 1888 to 1894, the layout of the platforms was altered, with new country platforms being built on an angle to Spencer Street itself. The current coach terminal location was the site of a number of new platforms built for suburban services.[10]

In 1891, further plans were made for a significant new station complex, including three-storey office complex and dominant clock tower, reminiscent of the later Sydney Central station,[14] but the 1890s depression put an end to such expensive schemes.

In 1888, work started on the double track Flinders Street Viaduct linking the station to Flinders Street station. The line was initially only used by freight trains, with passenger train operations commencing in 1894.[15] It was at that time that the first through platform was provided at the station, used by suburban trains from Essendon and Williamstown.[12] The viaduct to Flinders Street was expanded to four tracks in 1915[15] and, following the electrification of the suburban lines through the station, today's platforms 11 to 14 were opened in 1924, along with a pedestrian subway providing access to them.[12]

In 1938, it was announced that construction of an improved station entrance and new car park had been approved, designed by architects Messrs Stephenson and Meldrum, costing £2,000.[16] Once again however, no construction took place.

1960s: Modernisation edit

In 1960, work started on a new Spencer Street station, as part of the construction of a new interstate standard gauge line to Sydney, New South Wales.[12] A station building was constructed which largely replaced the 1880s iron sheds, and a new 413-metre (1,355 ft) platform number 1 was built. The passenger subway which had been constructed as part of the 1918 works was extended to include access to country platforms.[12] In connection with the construction of the underground loop, platforms 9 and 10 were rebuilt as part of the suburban section of the station, and a new double-track viaduct was constructed between Spencer Street and Flinders Street station, alongside the original one, bringing to six the number of tracks connecting the two stations. At the same time, the four older tracks were resignalled for bi-directional operation.

In 1962, a separate subway network was constructed to carry mail between the station and what was then the Melbourne General Post Office and main postal sorting office, situated on the other side of Spencer Street.[17]

The mechanically interlocked signal box at the station opened in 1887,[18] and was decommissioned in June 2008. Originally built with 120 levers, it had 191 when it closed, making it the world's largest.[19]

Artist Harold Freedman's 36.6-metre (120 ft 1 in) long and 7.32-metre (24 ft 0 in) high History of Transport mural featured above the main concourse of the Spencer Street station and was unveiled by the premier of Victoria on 30 January 1978. During radical redevelopment (2002–2006) Freedman's mural was removed,[20] but due to bargaining by the CFMEU,[21] it remains on display above shop-fronts in the adjacent retail centre, DFO.[21]

2000s: Redevelopment edit

 
Work on the station in 2004
 
Work on the roof in January 2005
 
Construction work inside the station in late 2005

Southern Cross was redeveloped by the Civic Nexus consortium, following an innovative design by Grimshaw Architects and Jackson Architecture which features an undulating roof.[22] Construction began in October 2002 and was completed in late 2006, with the majority of the transport facilities finished in time for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The central features of the design include a wave-shaped roof, a new entrance and concourse on Collins Street, a new coach interchange, a new food court, a bar/restaurant, separate retail outlets inside the station and a separate shopping complex between Bourke and La Trobe streets.

This new shopping complex originally comprised a Direct Factory Outlet centre, a Virgin Megastore, along with food courts. This opened on 30 November 2006, although not all tenancies were occupied, and stage 2 was opened in March 2007. In 2009 the DFO relocated to a new site at South Wharf, the shopping centre being refitted by owner Austexx and rebranded simply as "Spencer Street fashion station".[23] In 2013 the shopping complex was rebranded as "Spencer Outlet Centre".

In addition to the physical modifications, the station was renamed from Spencer Street to Southern Cross on 13 December 2005.[24]

By July 2004, the project had fallen behind schedule and over budget by $200 million.[25] This was covered extensively in the media. As a result of over-runs and design issues, some elements of the original design, including an additional proposed footbridge connecting Lonsdale Street with Docklands Stadium, were scrapped.[26]

Complaints about access to platforms, empty trains occupying space during the day and lack of government support were raised by Leighton Contractors, the construction firm overseeing the project. This led to concerns that the station might not be ready in time for the Commonwealth Games, and the government arranged with the railway operators to provide more access to the work site.

The station's redevelopment is part of the wider Melbourne Docklands development. The architect responsible for the design is Nicholas Grimshaw. The structural engineering design was performed by WSP Global. The station has been awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects' Lubetkin Prize for most outstanding building outside the European Union.[27] The other buildings nominated were the Des Moines Public Library and the Hearst Tower, New York City.[28]

The redevelopment has meant that passengers take more time to get to the suburban network platforms than before. The pedestrian subway access was removed in favour of street level and elevated concourses. The subway also continued underneath Spencer Street, and its closure means it is necessary for all pedestrians to wait for traffic lights to cross Spencer Street at street level. For all suburban and some country services, passengers using the main entrance on the corner of Collins and Spencer Streets have to ascend two escalators to a shopping concourse and then enter the paid area of the station, before descending again to the metropolitan platforms. There have been some accidents in which people have fallen from this elevated level.[29][30] The 8-metre (26 ft 3 in) ascent and descent is more than necessary to clear the height of trains, and more than the 3-metre (9 ft 10 in) descent and ascent of the previous subway.

Local architects have cited some of the Southern Cross station's shortcomings: the building's poor connection to the surrounding streets; its awkward juncture at the pedestrian bridge that links Spencer Street to Docklands Stadium; and the baffling manner in which the grand architectural gesture of Southern Cross Station tapers off into an uninspired homage to the boxy 1980s shopping mall—Spencer Outlet Centre.[31]

2010s: Additional platforms edit

As part of the Regional Rail Link project an extra two platforms (15/16) were constructed and opened in December 2013. These are divided into 15a, 15b, 16a and 16b. They are often used for Gippsland Services, and the lines that use the RRL tracks to Sunshine (Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo lines). These platforms allow trains to avoid the North Melbourne Flyover, which is an inconvenience for trains as it has a maximum speed of 15 km/h (9.3 mph), and has shown to cause abnormal wheel wear on the VLocity fleet, as confirmed by an independent report commissioned by V/Line in 2016 to find out the cause of the problem, which ultimately led to up to a month of cancellations of services.

Water Tower Clock edit

In May 2014, the historic Water Tower Clock was installed in the concourse of the station.[32] The clock had originally been erected in 1882 at Flinders Street station, opposite the end of Elizabeth Street, atop a lattice tower about 60 feet (18 m) high. In 1902 the clock was moved to Princes Bridge station, and in 1910 it was relocated again, to Spencer Street station, where it remained until it was removed as part of the station's redevelopment in the mid-1960s. The clock mechanism was given to Museum Victoria, but the characteristic turret that housed the clock was sold to a scrap metal merchant. It was later rescued by private collectors, and the clock was returned to public ownership, being put on display in 1999 at the Scienceworks Museum, Spotswood. The clock was extensively restored before its return to Southern Cross, but the original mechanism remains in the collection of Museum Victoria.[33][34]

Platforms and services edit

 
Overlooking platforms 8, 7 & 6
 
V/Line platforms
 
The northern ("B") platforms as seen from the Bourke Street footbridge. Platform 3B is in the foreground and Docklands Stadium is in the background

Platforms are numbered from east to west.

Concourses edit

 
The main concourse of Southern Cross station
 
Concourse retail

Concourses are provided at Bourke and Collins Streets. Platform 1 is north of Bourke Street, while Platform 8 South is south of Collins Street. The remainder of platforms are located between Bourke and Collins Streets, with access from both concourses, with regional services from platforms 1–8 and 15–16, and suburban services from platforms 9–14 (platform 8 can also accommodate suburban services if necessary).

Platforms edit

 
Platform 15–16 Northern Concourse
 
Platforms 9 and 10 during rush hour

Platforms 2 to 7, as well as platforms 15 and 16 are numbered as two sections: section A from the Collins Street concourse to the Bourke Street Footbridge, and section B beyond the Bourke Street Footbridge. These sections were previously known as the "Central" (2C to 8C) and "North" (2N to 8N) platforms, respectively. Platform 8 has these two sections and also a "South" section (8S) underneath Collins Street used commonly for Seymour services.

Platforms 1 and 2 are fitted with dual gauge track, permitting both standard gauge interstate trains and V/Line broad gauge trains. The remainder of the platforms are solely broad gauge. A motorail dock is located at the northern end of the platform, with standard gauge access only.

 
VLocity and Sprinter DMUs await their departure from Melbourne's Southern Cross

Standard gauge edit

Platforms 1 & 2:

Broad gauge edit

Platforms 1–7:

Platform 8:

Broad gauge V/Line services departing Platforms 1–7 also depart from Platform 8
  •  Flemington Racecourse line  express services to Showgrounds and/or Flemington Racecourse (special event days only)

Platform 9:
Destinations via City Loop – Clifton Hill Group:

Platform 10:
Destinations via City Loop – Burnley Group:

Platform 11:
Destinations via North Melbourne – Northern Group:

Platform 12:
Destinations via Flinders Street – Caulfield Group:

Platform 13:
Destinations via Flinders Street:

Platform 14:
Destinations via North Melbourne:

Platforms 15 & 16:

Broad gauge V/Line services departing Platforms 1–8 also depart from Platforms 15 & 16.

Transport links edit

Metropolitan edit

 
Spencer Street tram stop in February 2014

Kinetic Melbourne operate three routes via Southern Cross station:

McKenzie's Tourist Services operates one route to and from Southern Cross station:

Yarra Trams operate nine services via Southern Cross station:

From Collins Street:

From Harbour Esplanade:

From Bourke Street:

Regional edit

The following coach services are operated to and from Southern Cross station by private companies on behalf of V/Line:[48]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Weekday pre-peak and post-peak only
  2. ^ Special events only

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Train Station Patronage FY2008-2014" (XLS). Public Transport Victoria. 14 May 2015. from the original on 30 March 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016. (access from . Archived from the original on 3 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.)
  2. ^ a b c d "Station Patronage Data 2013–2018". Philip Mallis. Transport for Victoria. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d Victorian Department of Transport, Data Vic (2022). "Annual metropolitan train station patronage (station entries)".
  4. ^ a b c d Victorian Department of Transport, Data Vic (2022). "Annual regional train station patronage (station entries)".
  5. ^ "Southern Cross Station". Southern Cross Station Pty Ltd. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Southern Cross Station". IFM Investors. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  7. ^ "About Southern Cross Station" (PDF). Southern Cross Station. p. 8. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  8. ^ Geelong-Avalon Airport shuttle bus service replaced by SkyBus Geelong Advertiser 9 July 2017
  9. ^ Infrastructure – Southern Cross Vicsig
  10. ^ a b Vance Findlay (August 2003). "More on Batman's Hill Station". Newsrail: 238–240.
  11. ^ "MELBOURNE AND WILLIAMSTOWN RAILWAY". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 3, 924. Victoria, Australia. 8 January 1859. p. 5. Retrieved 2 March 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Sid Brown (November 2002). "Batman's Hill to Southern Cross – via Spencer Street". Newsrail: 335–347.
  13. ^ Accepted Designs for the New Railway Stations, Melbourne. State Library of Victoria
  14. ^ Official Design for New Station at Spencer Street
  15. ^ a b Department of Infrastructure: Early history of Southern Cross Station Archived 4 June 2009 at the Library of Congress Web Archives
  16. ^ "Spencer Street Improved Station £2,000 Plan Adopted". The Argus. 5 February 1938. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  17. ^ "Spencer Street Subway". Walking Melbourne. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  18. ^ Edmonds, Mike (20 July 2007). "Signal box concerns". Herald Sun. News. Retrieved 7 June 2008.
  19. ^ "The World's Largest Signalbox" The Railway Magazine issue 1341 January 2013 page 33
  20. ^ "Fight to save historic mural", Australasian Business Intelligence, COMTEX News Network, Inc, 14 January 2004, ISSN 1320-6680
  21. ^ a b Perin, Victoria (6 May 2017). "Harold Freedman: Artist for the People". Memo Review. 2017 (18).
  22. ^ The roof transporting us to tomorrow The Age, 25 March 2005]
  23. ^ Marc Pallisco (3 October 2009). "DFO South Wharf, Melbourne to Open October 15". realestatesource.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  24. ^ Time's up at last for railway landmark The Age, 14 December 2005
  25. ^ Auditor-General’s Report on the Annual Financial Report of the State of Victoria, 2005–06 2 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  26. ^ All change at Spencer St The Age, 9 July 2005]
  27. ^ . 22 June 2007. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
  28. ^ "Revamped Melbourne station wins international award". ABC News Online. 23 June 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
  29. ^ "Man critical after horror fall from escalator at Southern Cross". The Age. Melbourne. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  30. ^ "Woman badly hurt in station fall". The Age. Melbourne. 25 June 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  31. ^ "Station's curves prove real head-turner". The Age. Melbourne. 14 July 2007.
  32. ^ "Melbourne's 130-year-old Water Tower Clock back at Southern Cross station". Melbourne Leader. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  33. ^ "Old clock's time to shine". Museum Victoria. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  34. ^ "Water Tower clock installed at Southern Cross Station" Railway Digest July 2014 page 23
  35. ^ "232 Altona North - City (Queen Victoria Market)". Public Transport Victoria.
  36. ^ "235 City - Fishermans Bend via Williamstown Road". Public Transport Victoria.
  37. ^ "237 City - Fishermans Bend via Lorimer Street". Public Transport Victoria.
  38. ^ "684 Eildon - Melbourne via Lilydale Station". Public Transport Victoria.
  39. ^ "11 West Preston - Victoria Harbour Docklands". Public Transport Victoria.
  40. ^ "48 North Balwyn - Victoria Harbour Docklands". Public Transport Victoria.
  41. ^ "109 Box Hill - Port Melbourne". Public Transport Victoria.
  42. ^ "12 Victoria Gardens - St Kilda". Public Transport Victoria.
  43. ^ "35 City Circle (Free Tourist Tram)". Public Transport Victoria.
  44. ^ "70 Waterfront City Docklands - Wattle Park". Public Transport Victoria.
  45. ^ "75 Etihad Stadium Docklands - Vermont South". Public Transport Victoria.
  46. ^ "86 Bundoora RMIT - Waterfront City Docklands". Public Transport Victoria.
  47. ^ "96 East Brunswick - St Kilda Beach". Public Transport Victoria.
  48. ^ "Timetable list". V/Line – Regional public transport for Victoria. Retrieved 18 March 2018.

External links edit

  • Southern Cross Station
  • Southern Cross Station project at the Library of Congress Web Archives (archived 30 May 2009)
  • Railpage Southern Cross Platform allocation discussions
  • Southern Cross Station subway re-opening discussions
  • Diagram of the track layout at Southern Cross station
  • Construction images: 2003 – 2004 and 2005 – 2008
  • Melway map at street-directory.com.au

southern, cross, railway, station, southern, cross, station, redirects, here, railway, station, western, australia, western, australia, until, 2005, known, spencer, street, station, major, railway, station, docklands, melbourne, spencer, street, between, colli. Southern Cross Station redirects here For the railway station in Western Australia see Southern Cross railway station Western Australia Southern Cross railway station until 2005 known as Spencer Street station is a major railway station in Docklands Melbourne It is on Spencer Street between Collins and La Trobe streets at the western edge of the Melbourne central business district The Docklands Stadium sports arena is 500 metres 1 640 ft 5 in north west of the station Southern CrossInter city regional and commuter rail stationMain entrance to the station on the corner of Collins amp Spencer streets in December 2007General informationLocationSpencer Street Melbourne VictoriaAustraliaCoordinates37 49 06 S 144 57 09 E 37 8184 S 144 9524 E 37 8184 144 9524Owned byIFM InvestorsOperated byCivic NexusLine s Metropolitan Hurstbridge Mernda Pakenham Cranbourne Lilydale Belgrave Alamein a Glen Waverley Craigieburn Upfield Sunbury Flemington Racecourse b Frankston Werribee Williamstown Regional and inter city Seymour Shepparton Tocumwal Ballarat Ararat Maryborough Geelong Warrnambool Serviceton Bendigo Echuca Swan Hill Deniliquin Gippsland Gippsland Albury Southern North East The Overland Western SG Platforms16Tracks22ConnectionsBus Tram Coach SkyBusConstructionStructure typeGround level with mezzanineBicycle facilities12AccessibleYes step free accessOther informationStatusPremium stationStation codeSSSFare zoneMyki Zone 1WebsiteSouthern Cross Station Pty Ltd Public Transport VictoriaHistoryOpened17 January 1859 164 years ago 1859 01 17 Rebuilt1960s and 2000sElectrifiedPlatforms 8 to 14 onlyPrevious namesSpencer StreetPassengers2008 200913 1 million 1 2009 201014 4 million Metro 1 10 02 2010 201116 9 million Metro 1 17 57 2011 201216 8 million Metro 1 0 6 2012 2013Not measured 1 2013 201417 1 million Metro 1 1 56 2014 2015Not measured 2 2015 201616 6 million Metro 2 2 99 2016 201717 5 million Metro 2 5 37 2017 201818 6 million Metro 2 6 54 2018 201919 5 million Metro 3 2018 20196 3 million V Line 4 2019 202014 9 million Metro 3 2019 20204 9 million V Line 4 2020 20214 6 million Metro 3 2020 20212 0 million V Line 4 ServicesPreceding station Metro Trains Following stationDirection of travel on metropolitan lines between stations on the City Loop changes to either Flinders Street or Flagstaff depending on the line and time of day Flinders StreetOne way operation Mernda line Flagstafftowards MerndaHurstbridge line Flagstafftowards HurstbridgeFlinders StreetTerminus Pakenham line FlagstaffOne way operationCranbourne lineLilydale line Flagstafftowards Lilydale or BelgraveBelgrave lineAlamein lineLimited weekday peak services only Flagstafftowards AlameinGlen Waverley line Flagstafftowards Glen WaverleyUpfield line North Melbournetowards UpfieldCraigieburn line North Melbournetowards CraigieburnFlemington Racecourse line North Melbournetowards Showgrounds or Flemington RacecourseSunbury line North Melbournetowards SunburyFlinders Streettowards Frankston Werribee line North Melbournetowards WerribeeWilliamstown line North Melbournetowards WilliamstownFuture services 2025 Flinders StreetTerminus Frankston line Flagstafftowards FrankstonRegional servicesPreceding station V Line Following stationTerminus Albury line Broadmeadowstowards AlburySeymour lineWeekday peak only North Melbournetowards SeymourSeymour line Broadmeadowstowards SeymourShepparton line1 weekday peak service North Melbournetowards SheppartonShepparton line Broadmeadowstowards SheppartonGeelong line Footscraytowards Wyndham Vale Geelong or Waurn PondsWarrnambool line Footscraytowards WarrnamboolBallarat line Footscraytowards WendoureeBallarat line Melton line Footscraytowards Melton or Bacchus MarshArarat line Footscraytowards AraratMaryborough lineOne daily service FootscrayOne way operationBendigo line Footscraytowards Bendigo Epsom or EaglehawkSwan Hill line Footscraytowards Swan HillEchuca line Footscraytowards EchucaFlinders Streettowards Traralgon or Bairnsdale Gippsland line TerminusPreceding station NSW TrainLink Following stationTerminus NSW TrainLink Southern LineMelbourne XPT Broadmeadowstowards SydneyPreceding station Journey Beyond Following stationNorth Shoretowards Adelaide The Overland TerminusBuilding detailsGeneral informationStatusCompletedTypeRailway station terminusConstruction started2002 2002 Completed2006 2006 Cost 700mHeight23 metres 75 ft Technical detailsSize60 000 square metres 650 000 sq ft Design and constructionArchitect s Nicholas GrimshawArchitecture firmGrimshaw ArchitectsJackson ArchitectureDeveloperCivic Nexus consortiumEngineerWSP GlobalAwards and prizesRoyal Institute of British Architects Lubetkin Prize most outstanding building outside the European UnionThe station is owned operated and maintained by Civic Nexus a subsidiary of IFM Investors and operating as Southern Cross Station Pty Ltd 5 under a 30 year lease to 2036 from the Victorian State Government as part of a public private partnership 6 Southern Cross Station contracts Infranexus for management services Infranexus is also wholly owned by IFM 7 The station is the terminus of the state s regional railway network operated by V Line The Overland rail service to Adelaide and NSW TrainLink XPT services to Sydney It is also served by metropolitan rail services operated by Metro Trains and connects with Flinders Street station and the underground City Loop It is the second busiest railway station in Melbourne s metropolitan network with 19 5 million metropolitan passenger movements recorded in 2018 19 3 In 2018 19 the station also recorded an additional 6 3 million regional passengers through the V Line network 4 Southern Cross also has a coach terminal underneath the Spencer Outlet shopping complex SkyBus services to Melbourne Airport and since 2017 to Avalon Airport 8 operate from there as well as Firefly Express and Greyhound Australia interstate coach services a coach ran public bus 684 and V Line coach services to Mildura Yarram Mansfield and other parts of Victoria not served by rail Contents 1 History 1 1 1880s Passenger services commence 1 2 1960s Modernisation 1 3 2000s Redevelopment 1 4 2010s Additional platforms 1 5 Water Tower Clock 2 Platforms and services 2 1 Concourses 2 2 Platforms 2 2 1 Standard gauge 2 2 2 Broad gauge 3 Transport links 3 1 Metropolitan 3 2 Regional 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksHistory edit nbsp Spencer Street station platforms and goods sheds circa 1885 nbsp Lithograph of the busy station complex in 1889 looking west from the Hoddle GridOpened as Spencer Street station in 1859 9 five years after the other major Melbourne rail terminus at Flinders Street the station was a dead end terminus running parallel to Spencer Street 10 11 composed of a single main platform with a dock platform at the north end 12 It was not until 1874 that an extra platform was provided 12 The two major city stations were not linked until 1879 when a single track ground level line was opened It operated only at night and only for freight trains In the 1880s it was proposed that Spencer Street station be removed in order to facilitate the westward expansion of the city but the plan was subsequently rejected 1880s Passenger services commence edit The 1880s saw the first of several grand but unrealised plans for the station The first accepted design drafted by Albert Charles Cook in 1883 was a fanciful Palladian palazzo design of two and three storeys with a central portico 13 From 1888 to 1894 the layout of the platforms was altered with new country platforms being built on an angle to Spencer Street itself The current coach terminal location was the site of a number of new platforms built for suburban services 10 In 1891 further plans were made for a significant new station complex including three storey office complex and dominant clock tower reminiscent of the later Sydney Central station 14 but the 1890s depression put an end to such expensive schemes In 1888 work started on the double track Flinders Street Viaduct linking the station to Flinders Street station The line was initially only used by freight trains with passenger train operations commencing in 1894 15 It was at that time that the first through platform was provided at the station used by suburban trains from Essendon and Williamstown 12 The viaduct to Flinders Street was expanded to four tracks in 1915 15 and following the electrification of the suburban lines through the station today s platforms 11 to 14 were opened in 1924 along with a pedestrian subway providing access to them 12 In 1938 it was announced that construction of an improved station entrance and new car park had been approved designed by architects Messrs Stephenson and Meldrum costing 2 000 16 Once again however no construction took place 1960s Modernisation edit In 1960 work started on a new Spencer Street station as part of the construction of a new interstate standard gauge line to Sydney New South Wales 12 A station building was constructed which largely replaced the 1880s iron sheds and a new 413 metre 1 355 ft platform number 1 was built The passenger subway which had been constructed as part of the 1918 works was extended to include access to country platforms 12 In connection with the construction of the underground loop platforms 9 and 10 were rebuilt as part of the suburban section of the station and a new double track viaduct was constructed between Spencer Street and Flinders Street station alongside the original one bringing to six the number of tracks connecting the two stations At the same time the four older tracks were resignalled for bi directional operation In 1962 a separate subway network was constructed to carry mail between the station and what was then the Melbourne General Post Office and main postal sorting office situated on the other side of Spencer Street 17 The mechanically interlocked signal box at the station opened in 1887 18 and was decommissioned in June 2008 Originally built with 120 levers it had 191 when it closed making it the world s largest 19 Artist Harold Freedman s 36 6 metre 120 ft 1 in long and 7 32 metre 24 ft 0 in high History of Transport mural featured above the main concourse of the Spencer Street station and was unveiled by the premier of Victoria on 30 January 1978 During radical redevelopment 2002 2006 Freedman s mural was removed 20 but due to bargaining by the CFMEU 21 it remains on display above shop fronts in the adjacent retail centre DFO 21 2000s Redevelopment edit nbsp Work on the station in 2004 nbsp Work on the roof in January 2005 nbsp Construction work inside the station in late 2005Southern Cross was redeveloped by the Civic Nexus consortium following an innovative design by Grimshaw Architects and Jackson Architecture which features an undulating roof 22 Construction began in October 2002 and was completed in late 2006 with the majority of the transport facilities finished in time for the 2006 Commonwealth Games The central features of the design include a wave shaped roof a new entrance and concourse on Collins Street a new coach interchange a new food court a bar restaurant separate retail outlets inside the station and a separate shopping complex between Bourke and La Trobe streets This new shopping complex originally comprised a Direct Factory Outlet centre a Virgin Megastore along with food courts This opened on 30 November 2006 although not all tenancies were occupied and stage 2 was opened in March 2007 In 2009 the DFO relocated to a new site at South Wharf the shopping centre being refitted by owner Austexx and rebranded simply as Spencer Street fashion station 23 In 2013 the shopping complex was rebranded as Spencer Outlet Centre In addition to the physical modifications the station was renamed from Spencer Street to Southern Cross on 13 December 2005 24 By July 2004 the project had fallen behind schedule and over budget by 200 million 25 This was covered extensively in the media As a result of over runs and design issues some elements of the original design including an additional proposed footbridge connecting Lonsdale Street with Docklands Stadium were scrapped 26 Complaints about access to platforms empty trains occupying space during the day and lack of government support were raised by Leighton Contractors the construction firm overseeing the project This led to concerns that the station might not be ready in time for the Commonwealth Games and the government arranged with the railway operators to provide more access to the work site The station s redevelopment is part of the wider Melbourne Docklands development The architect responsible for the design is Nicholas Grimshaw The structural engineering design was performed by WSP Global The station has been awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects Lubetkin Prize for most outstanding building outside the European Union 27 The other buildings nominated were the Des Moines Public Library and the Hearst Tower New York City 28 The redevelopment has meant that passengers take more time to get to the suburban network platforms than before The pedestrian subway access was removed in favour of street level and elevated concourses The subway also continued underneath Spencer Street and its closure means it is necessary for all pedestrians to wait for traffic lights to cross Spencer Street at street level For all suburban and some country services passengers using the main entrance on the corner of Collins and Spencer Streets have to ascend two escalators to a shopping concourse and then enter the paid area of the station before descending again to the metropolitan platforms There have been some accidents in which people have fallen from this elevated level 29 30 The 8 metre 26 ft 3 in ascent and descent is more than necessary to clear the height of trains and more than the 3 metre 9 ft 10 in descent and ascent of the previous subway Local architects have cited some of the Southern Cross station s shortcomings the building s poor connection to the surrounding streets its awkward juncture at the pedestrian bridge that links Spencer Street to Docklands Stadium and the baffling manner in which the grand architectural gesture of Southern Cross Station tapers off into an uninspired homage to the boxy 1980s shopping mall Spencer Outlet Centre 31 2010s Additional platforms edit As part of the Regional Rail Link project an extra two platforms 15 16 were constructed and opened in December 2013 These are divided into 15a 15b 16a and 16b They are often used for Gippsland Services and the lines that use the RRL tracks to Sunshine Geelong Ballarat and Bendigo lines These platforms allow trains to avoid the North Melbourne Flyover which is an inconvenience for trains as it has a maximum speed of 15 km h 9 3 mph and has shown to cause abnormal wheel wear on the VLocity fleet as confirmed by an independent report commissioned by V Line in 2016 to find out the cause of the problem which ultimately led to up to a month of cancellations of services Water Tower Clock edit In May 2014 the historic Water Tower Clock was installed in the concourse of the station 32 The clock had originally been erected in 1882 at Flinders Street station opposite the end of Elizabeth Street atop a lattice tower about 60 feet 18 m high In 1902 the clock was moved to Princes Bridge station and in 1910 it was relocated again to Spencer Street station where it remained until it was removed as part of the station s redevelopment in the mid 1960s The clock mechanism was given to Museum Victoria but the characteristic turret that housed the clock was sold to a scrap metal merchant It was later rescued by private collectors and the clock was returned to public ownership being put on display in 1999 at the Scienceworks Museum Spotswood The clock was extensively restored before its return to Southern Cross but the original mechanism remains in the collection of Museum Victoria 33 34 Platforms and services editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed May 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message nbsp Overlooking platforms 8 7 amp 6 nbsp V Line platforms nbsp The northern B platforms as seen from the Bourke Street footbridge Platform 3B is in the foreground and Docklands Stadium is in the backgroundPlatforms are numbered from east to west Concourses edit nbsp The main concourse of Southern Cross station nbsp Concourse retailConcourses are provided at Bourke and Collins Streets Platform 1 is north of Bourke Street while Platform 8 South is south of Collins Street The remainder of platforms are located between Bourke and Collins Streets with access from both concourses with regional services from platforms 1 8 and 15 16 and suburban services from platforms 9 14 platform 8 can also accommodate suburban services if necessary Platforms edit nbsp Platform 15 16 Northern Concourse nbsp Platforms 9 and 10 during rush hourPlatforms 2 to 7 as well as platforms 15 and 16 are numbered as two sections section A from the Collins Street concourse to the Bourke Street Footbridge and section B beyond the Bourke Street Footbridge These sections were previously known as the Central 2C to 8C and North 2N to 8N platforms respectively Platform 8 has these two sections and also a South section 8S underneath Collins Street used commonly for Seymour services Platforms 1 and 2 are fitted with dual gauge track permitting both standard gauge interstate trains and V Line broad gauge trains The remainder of the platforms are solely broad gauge A motorail dock is located at the northern end of the platform with standard gauge access only nbsp VLocity and Sprinter DMUs await their departure from Melbourne s Southern CrossStandard gauge edit Platforms 1 amp 2 Albury line V Line services to Albury 3 per day NSW TrainLink Southern NSW TrainLink XPT services to Sydney 2 per day The Overland Journey Beyond services to Adelaide 2 per week Broad gauge edit Platforms 1 7 Ballarat line V Line services to Melton Bacchus Marsh and Wendouree Ararat line V Line services to Ararat Maryborough line one daily V Line terminating service from Maryborough Bendigo line V Line services to Bendigo Epsom and Eaglehawk Echuca line V Line services to Echuca Swan Hill line V Line services to Swan Hill Geelong line V Line services to Wyndham Vale Geelong amp Waurn Ponds Warrnambool line V Line services to Warrnambool Seymour line V Line services to Seymour Shepparton line V Line services to SheppartonPlatform 8 Broad gauge V Line services departing Platforms 1 7 also depart from Platform 8 Flemington Racecourse line express services to Showgrounds and or Flemington Racecourse special event days only Platform 9 Destinations via City Loop Clifton Hill Group Hurstbridge line all stations and limited stop services to Hurstbridge Mernda line all stations and limited stop services to MerndaPlatform 10 Destinations via City Loop Burnley Group Lilydale line all stations and limited stop services to Lilydale Belgrave line all stations and limited stop services to Belgrave Glen Waverley line all stations and limited stop services to Glen Waverley Alamein line weekday all stations and limited stop services to AlameinPlatform 11 Destinations via North Melbourne Northern Group Craigieburn line all stations and limited stop services to Craigieburn Upfield line all stations and limited stop services to Upfield Sunbury line all stations and limited stop services to Watergardens amp SunburyPlatform 12 Destinations via Flinders Street Caulfield Group Pakenham line express services to Pakenham Cranbourne line express services to CranbournePlatform 13 Destinations via Flinders Street Werribee line services to Flinders Street trains run through to the Frankston line Williamstown line services to Flinders Street trains run through to the Frankston line Flemington Racecourse line services to Flinders Street special event days only Platform 14 Destinations via North Melbourne Werribee line all stations and limited stop services to Laverton amp Werribee Williamstown line all stations services to Williamstown Flemington Racecourse line express services to Showgrounds and or Flemington Racecourse special event days only Platforms 15 amp 16 Broad gauge V Line services departing Platforms 1 8 also depart from Platforms 15 amp 16 Gippsland line V Line services to Traralgon amp BairnsdaleTransport links editMetropolitan edit nbsp Spencer Street tram stop in February 2014Kinetic Melbourne operate three routes via Southern Cross station 232 Queen Victoria Market Altona North 35 235 Queen Victoria Market Fishermans Bend 36 237 Queen Victoria Market Fishermans Bend 37 McKenzie s Tourist Services operates one route to and from Southern Cross station 684 to Eildon via Lilydale 38 Yarra Trams operate nine services via Southern Cross station From Collins Street nbsp West Preston Victoria Harbour 39 nbsp Balwyn North Victoria Harbour 40 nbsp Box Hill Port Melbourne 41 nbsp Victoria Gardens St Kilda 42 From Harbour Esplanade nbsp City Circle 43 nbsp Docklands Wattle Park 44 nbsp Docklands Stadium Vermont South 45 From Bourke Street nbsp RMIT Bundoora campus Waterfront City Docklands 46 nbsp East Brunswick St Kilda Beach 47 Regional edit The following coach services are operated to and from Southern Cross station by private companies on behalf of V Line 48 Mildura via Ballarat Maryborough and Donald Mount Gambier via Ballarat Hamilton and Casterton Barham via Heathcote Barmah via Heathcote and Shepparton Deniliquin via Heathcote Rochester Echuca and Moama Mansfield via Lilydale and Yarra Glen services extend to Mount Buller during snow season Cowes via Dandenong and Koo Wee Rup Inverloch via Dandenong and Koo Wee Rup Yarram via Dandenong Koo Wee Rup and LeongathaNotes edit Weekday pre peak and post peak only Special events onlyReferences edit a b c d e f Train Station Patronage FY2008 2014 XLS Public Transport Victoria 14 May 2015 Archived from the original on 30 March 2016 Retrieved 1 November 2016 access from Research and statistics Public Transport Victoria Archived from the original on 3 November 2016 Retrieved 1 November 2016 a b c d Station Patronage Data 2013 2018 Philip Mallis Transport for Victoria 13 February 2019 Retrieved 4 November 2019 a b c d Victorian Department of Transport Data Vic 2022 Annual metropolitan train station patronage station entries a b c d Victorian Department of Transport Data Vic 2022 Annual regional train station patronage station entries Southern Cross Station Southern Cross Station Pty Ltd Retrieved 17 June 2021 Southern Cross Station IFM Investors Retrieved 17 June 2021 About Southern Cross Station PDF Southern Cross Station p 8 Retrieved 17 June 2021 Geelong Avalon Airport shuttle bus service replaced by SkyBus Geelong Advertiser 9 July 2017 Infrastructure Southern Cross Vicsig a b Vance Findlay August 2003 More on Batman s Hill Station Newsrail 238 240 MELBOURNE AND WILLIAMSTOWN RAILWAY The Argus Melbourne No 3 924 Victoria Australia 8 January 1859 p 5 Retrieved 2 March 2017 via National Library of Australia a b c d e f Sid Brown November 2002 Batman s Hill to Southern Cross via Spencer Street Newsrail 335 347 Accepted Designs for the New Railway Stations Melbourne State Library of Victoria Official Design for New Station at Spencer Street a b Department of Infrastructure Early history of Southern Cross Station Archived 4 June 2009 at the Library of Congress Web Archives Spencer Street Improved Station 2 000 Plan Adopted The Argus 5 February 1938 Retrieved 31 May 2013 Spencer Street Subway Walking Melbourne Retrieved 9 November 2012 Edmonds Mike 20 July 2007 Signal box concerns Herald Sun News Retrieved 7 June 2008 The World s Largest Signalbox The Railway Magazine issue 1341 January 2013 page 33 Fight to save historic mural Australasian Business Intelligence COMTEX News Network Inc 14 January 2004 ISSN 1320 6680 a b Perin Victoria 6 May 2017 Harold Freedman Artist for the People Memo Review 2017 18 The roof transporting us to tomorrow The Age 25 March 2005 Marc Pallisco 3 October 2009 DFO South Wharf Melbourne to Open October 15 realestatesource com au Retrieved 10 May 2010 Time s up at last for railway landmark The Age 14 December 2005 Auditor General s Report on the Annual Financial Report of the State of Victoria 2005 06 Archived 2 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine All change at Spencer St The Age 9 July 2005 Southern Cross Station in Melbourne Wins Prestigious International Architecture Award 22 June 2007 Archived from the original on 8 June 2011 Retrieved 23 December 2009 Revamped Melbourne station wins international award ABC News Online 23 June 2007 Retrieved 23 June 2007 Man critical after horror fall from escalator at Southern Cross The Age Melbourne 14 July 2010 Retrieved 12 April 2011 Woman badly hurt in station fall The Age Melbourne 25 June 2010 Retrieved 12 April 2011 Station s curves prove real head turner The Age Melbourne 14 July 2007 Melbourne s 130 year old Water Tower Clock back at Southern Cross station Melbourne Leader 15 May 2014 Retrieved 2 March 2015 Old clock s time to shine Museum Victoria Retrieved 2 March 2015 Water Tower clock installed at Southern Cross Station Railway Digest July 2014 page 23 232 Altona North City Queen Victoria Market Public Transport Victoria 235 City Fishermans Bend via Williamstown Road Public Transport Victoria 237 City Fishermans Bend via Lorimer Street Public Transport Victoria 684 Eildon Melbourne via Lilydale Station Public Transport Victoria 11 West Preston Victoria Harbour Docklands Public Transport Victoria 48 North Balwyn Victoria Harbour Docklands Public Transport Victoria 109 Box Hill Port Melbourne Public Transport Victoria 12 Victoria Gardens St Kilda Public Transport Victoria 35 City Circle Free Tourist Tram Public Transport Victoria 70 Waterfront City Docklands Wattle Park Public Transport Victoria 75 Etihad Stadium Docklands Vermont South Public Transport Victoria 86 Bundoora RMIT Waterfront City Docklands Public Transport Victoria 96 East Brunswick St Kilda Beach Public Transport Victoria Timetable list V Line Regional public transport for Victoria Retrieved 18 March 2018 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Southern Cross Station Southern Cross Station Southern Cross Station project at the Library of Congress Web Archives archived 30 May 2009 Railpage Southern Cross Platform allocation discussions Southern Cross Station subway re opening discussions Diagram of the track layout at Southern Cross station Construction images 2003 2004 and 2005 2008 Melway map at street directory com au Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Southern Cross railway station amp oldid 1190289386, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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