Riversdale railway station, Melbourne

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RiversdaleRiversdale
Station information
Code RIV
Distance from
Flinders St
11.7 km (7.3 mi)
Lines Alamein
# Platforms 2
# Tracks 2
Status Unmanned station
Metlink profile Link
Google map Link
Metcard Zone 1

Riversdale is a railway station on the Alamein line in Melbourne, Australia. It is located between Riversdale Road, Prospect Hill Road, Wandin Road and Spencer Road in the suburb of Camberwell. It is located 11.7 kilometres (7.3 mi) from Flinders Street Station and is in Metcard Zone 1.

[edit] Facilities

The station consists of two platforms located either side of the railway tracks. While it is no longer manned for transport purposes, the original office area is now opened as a tea room during the morning peak, six days a week. Apart from Burwood station, Riversdale is the only station on the Alamein line to have electronic next train signage. It also has car parking spaces, though few other facilities, due to its unmanned status.

The station is close to other means of transport, with a tram stop of route 70 on Riversdale Road, and a bus stop nearby in Prospect Hill Road. It is also only 400 m away from Willison station. The Camberwell High School and Riversdale Park are also close by.

Some trains also terminate at Riversdale after morning and evening peaks and return to Camberwell for stabling. The morning services are run purely for operational reasons, do not appear in timetables and Connex is not penalised if they run late or not at all.

[edit] History

Riversdale first opened on 30 May 1890, along with the first section of the Outer Circle line. It drew its name from the adjacent Riversdale Road. Though it was closed for a year in 1897-98 when the Outer Circle line closed, it was reopened soon after, due to a public outcry. In 1900, an accident occurred near Riversdale, when a train ran into a Chinese funeral procession, fortunately resulting in no injuries.[1] The station also features unusual manually operated boom gates, with arms that are divided into two sections, so as not to collide with overhead tram wires.

[edit] References

  1. ^ David Beardsell and Bruce Herbert (1979). The Outer Circle: A history of the Oakleigh to Fairfield Park Railway. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division), page 68. ISBN 0 85849 024 2.