Diamond Creek railway station

Diamond Creek railway station is located on the Hurstbridge line in Victoria, Australia. It serves the north-eastern Melbourne suburb of Diamond Creek, and opened on 25 June 1912.^[5]

Diamond Creek
PTV commuter rail station
Northbound view from Platform 2, prior to minor upgrades at that platform, August 2014
General information
Location	Hurstbridge Road, Diamond Creek, Victoria 3089 Shire of Nillumbik Australia
Coordinates	37°40′24″S 145°09′31″E / 37.6733°S 145.1585°E / -37.6733; 145.1585
Owned by	VicTrack
Operated by	Metro Trains
Line(s)	Hurstbridge
Distance	32.63 kilometres from Southern Cross
Platforms	2 side
Tracks	2
Connections	Bus
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Parking	79
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Accessible	Yes—step free access
Other information
Status	Operational, unstaffed
Station code	DCK
Fare zone	Myki Zone 2
Website	Public Transport Victoria
History
Opened	25 June 1912; 111 years ago (1912-06-25)
Rebuilt	1994 April 2023 (Platform 2)
Electrified	August 1926 (1500 V DC overhead)
Passengers
2005–2006	186,740^[1]
2006–2007	197,744^[1]  5.89%
2007–2008	232,461^[1]  17.55%
2008–2009	237,000^[2]  1.95%
2009–2010	234,000^[2]  1.26%
2010–2011	251,000^[2]  7.26%
2011–2012	219,000^[2]  12.75%
2012–2013	Not measured^[2]
2013–2014	173,000^[2]  21%
2014–2015	174,166^[1]  0.67%
2015–2016	189,916^[3]  9.04%
2016–2017	185,721^[3]  2.21%
2017–2018	167,606^[3]  9.75%
2018–2019	177,250^[4]  5.75%
2019–2020	151,700^[4]  14.41%
2020–2021	72,850^[4]  52%
2021–2022	83,600^[4]  14.75%
Services
Preceding station Metro Trains Following station Eltham towards Flinders Street Hurstbridge line Wattle Glen towards Hurstbridge
Track layout Legend to Eltham Allendale Road Diamond Creek Diamond Creek Main Hurstbridge Road 2 1 Occupation Crossing Occupation Crossing to Wattle Glen

History

Diamond Creek station opened on 25 June 1912, when the railway line from Eltham was extended to Hurstbridge.^[5] Like the suburb itself, the station was named after the nearby Diamond Creek, which was given that name as it was believed that the water at the bottom of the creek bed was bright, due to the crystalline minerals of various shapes.^[6][7][8]

In 1957, the station was closed to goods traffic^[5] and, in 1959, flashing light signals were provided at the Hurstbridge Road level crossing, located nearby in the up direction of the station.^[5]

In 1979, the station building on Platform 1 was damaged by fire.^[9] In 1988, boom barriers were provided at the Hurstbridge Road level crossing.^[10]

On 22 March 1991, just after 19:00, a Hurstbridge-bound train collided with a stationary Flinders Street-bound train at the station, resulting in three people injured and three carriages derailing.^[11][12][13] Parts of the platform were also damaged in the collision.^[12][13]

A passing loop had been provided at the station for many years, believed to have been originally used as a goods siding. In 1994, a second platform was constructed on the passing loop.^[5] Before that, one train had to set back after using the platform, then enter the loop to allow another train to pass. Both platforms are bi-directional, however, with the introduction of electronic signalling in 2008, Platform 2 could only be used by Hurstbridge-bound trains. In 2013, Platform 2 received a signal pointing city-bound, allowing both platforms to become bi-directional again.

Diamond Creek was one of the last stations in Melbourne controlled by the staff and ticket safeworking system, including the use of semaphore signals. The station was a break between two sections of the safeworking system: Eltham to Diamond Creek, and Diamond Creek to Hurstbridge. As a result, Metro Trains' staff were required to operate the safeworking system, including operating the points for the crossing loop. In 2008, the signals and the points were upgraded to be controlled electronically and, in early 2013, the safe working system was converted to Automatic & Track Control (ATC).^[14]

On 15 May 2019, the Level Crossing Removal Project announced that planning for the duplication of 1.5 km (0.93 mi) of track between Diamond Creek and Wattle Glen was underway,^[15] with construction commencing in early 2022.^[16] As part of the duplication works, Platform 2 also received an upgrade.^[16] Works were completed in 2023.

Prior to the duplication north of the station in 2023, both platforms were bi-directional. After the duplication was completed, citybound trains must depart from the upgraded platform 2 (which was built in 1994) while Hurstbridge-bound trains must depart from the larger original platform 1. This platform numbering arrangement is uncommon across stations with two platforms with citybound trains typically using platform 1 and outbound typically using platform 2.

Platforms and services

Diamond Creek has two side platforms. It is served by Hurstbridge line trains.^[17]

Platform 1:

•  Hurstbridge line  all stations services to Hurstbridge

Platform 2:

•  Hurstbridge line  all stations and limited express services to Flinders Street

Transport links

Dysons operates one route to and from Diamond Creek station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

•  381 : to Mernda station^[18]

Panorama Coaches operates two routes via Diamond Creek station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

•  343 : Hurstbridge station – Greensborough station^[19]
•  580 : Diamond Creek – Eltham station^[20]

References

1. Estimated Annual Patronage by Network Segment Financial Year 2005-2006 to 2018-19 Department of Transport
2. . Public Transport Victoria. 14 May 2015. Archived from the original (XLS) on 30 March 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016. (access from [1] 3 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine)
3. Station patronage in Victoria for 2013-2018 Philip Mallis
4. Annual metropolitan train station patronage (station entries) Data Vic
5. "Diamond Creek". vicsig.net. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
6. Saxton, John George (1907). Victoria Place-Names and Their Origin. Clifton Hill, Australia: Saxton and Buckie, Printers and Publishers. p. 21.
7. "Diamond Creek". Victorian Places. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
8. First, Jamie (7 January 2014). "The A-Z story of Melbourne's suburbs". Herald Sun. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
9. "Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. August 1979. p. 174.
10. "Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. June 1988. p. 186.
11. "Three hurt in rail mishap". The Age. 23 March 1991. p. 3.
12. "Trains hit". Herald Sun. 23 March 1991. p. 1.
13. "Three injured as trains hit at station". Herald Sun. 23 March 1991. p. 4.
14. Hurstbridge Line VICSIG. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
15. . Level Crossing Removal Project. 13 December 2022. Archived from the original on 12 April 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
16. "Works notice – Hurstbridge Line Duplication, upcoming works in Diamond Creek and Wattle Glen". Level Crossing Removal Project. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
17. "Hurstbridge Line". Public Transport Victoria.
18. "381 Mernda Station to Diamond Creek Station". Public Transport Victoria.
19. "343 Hurstbridge - Greensborough via Diamond Creek Station". Public Transport Victoria.
20. "580 Diamond Creek - Eltham Station via Ryans Rd". Public Transport Victoria.

External links

• Melway map at street-directory.com.au