Southern Cross Station

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Southern Cross
Station information

Code	SSS
Distance from Flinders St	1.2 km
Line	All lines V/Line Trains terminate here
Number of platforms	15
Number of tracks	22
Station status	Premium Station
Station facilities, connecting transport and timetables	Link
Melway map of station	Link
Google map of station	Link
Zone location	1

The new exterior of Southern Cross station, seen from Spencer Street

a V Line A70 in Melbourne Spencer Street Station in 1996

This article is about the railway station in Melbourne formerly called Spencer Street. For the railway station in Western Australia, see Southern Cross, Western Australia.

Southern Cross (formerly Spencer Street) is a major railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. On Spencer Street between Collins and La Trobe Streets at the western edge 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, which operates three times per week. It has a bus terminal, which includes a 24-hour "Skybus" service to Melbourne airport.

Southern Cross is one of five stations on the City Loop, a mostly underground railway that encircles the CBD. Southern Cross and Flinders Street are the only stations in the Loop that are above ground.

Telstra Dome, a sporting arena, is 500 metres north-west of the station.

Southern Cross is the terminus for some Sandringham line services.

1 History
2 Platforms
3 Redevelopment
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

Known in early days as Batman's Hill station, it was opened in 1859, five years after Flinders Street station, the centre of the city's suburban railway network.

Originally not connected, the two stations were linked in 1879 by a single-track ground-level line that operated only at night, and only for goods trains. This was replaced in 1891 by a double-track viaduct, although it was not until 1894 that passenger trains started using the connection. This viaduct was expanded to four tracks in 1915.

In connection with the construction of the underground loop, a new double-track viaduct was constructed next to the original one, bringing to six the number of tracks connecting the two stations. At the same time, the older four tracks were resignalled for bi-directional operation.

In the 1880s, it was proposed that Spencer Street 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 narrow-gauge line existed to transfer mail between the station and the old mail sorting office across Spencer Street. This line has since been closed and the tunnel filled in.

[edit] Platforms

Southern Cross' platforms are numbered from east to west, with Platform 1 north being the furthest east.

Platforms 1 north, 2-8 and 8 south: Regional and interstate services

Platform 9: Epping and Hurstbridge

Platform 10: Belgrave, Glen Waverley and Lilydale

change at Camberwell for the Alamein line

Platform 11: Broadmeadows, Sydenham, Upfield and Werribee

change at Newport for the Williamstown line

Platform 12: Cranbourne, Frankston and Pakenhamand some Sandringham services. Change at Flinders Street for the Sandringham line

Platforms 13 & 14: Bairnsdale line regional services and peak-period suburban services.

Platforms 15 & 16 have been partially constructed as a provision for future expansion.

[edit] Redevelopment

Southern Cross is currently being redeveloped by the Civic Nexus consortium. Construction began in October 2002 and in late 2006 almost complete, with the majority of the transport facilities having been completed 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 bus interchange, a new food court, a bar/restaurant and a number of separate retail outlets inside the station and a separate shopping complex between Bourke and La Trobe Streets.

This new shopping complex comprises a Direct Factory Outlet where many brands are brought together, along with food courts. This opened on the last day of November 2006, although not all tenancies were occupied, and stage 2 is planned to be open in March 2007.

In addition to the station's physical modifications, its name was changed from Spencer Street on December 13, 2005.^[1]

By July 2004 the project had fallen behind schedule and overbudget by $200million. [1].This was covered extensively in the media. Complaints about access to platforms, empty trains occupying space during the day and lack of government support were 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, 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 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, Albury, Echuca, Shepparton, Swan Hill & Warrnambool lines
	Next Station		North Melbourne
Bairnsdale line
	Next Station		Flinders Street
Interstate service
CountryLink Southern
Sydney-Melbourne XPT
	Next Station		Benalla
The Overland (Melbourne - Adelaide)
	Next Station		North Shore
Entire metropolitan network
Entire regional network
Entire CountryLink network

[edit] References

^ Murphy, Mathew; The Age (December 14, 2005), Time's up at last for railway landmark. Retrieved December 13, 2005.

[edit] External links

v • d • e Melbourne landmarks
Buildings	Arts Centre Spire · Crown Casino · Federation Square · Flinders Street Station · Luna Park · Melbourne Central · Melbourne Cricket Ground · Parliament House · Queen Victoria Market · Rialto Towers · Royal Exhibition Building · Shrine of Remembrance · Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Precincts	Chinatown · Melbourne Docklands · Southbank · St Kilda
Nature and Parks	Birrarung Marr · Carlton Gardens · Fitzroy Gardens · Royal Botanic Gardens
Cultural Institutions	Melbourne Zoo · Melbourne Museum · National Gallery of Victoria · State Library of Victoria · Victorian Arts Centre
Transportation	Flinders Street Station · Melbourne Airport · Southern Cross Station