Wandong railway station

Wandong is a railway station on the North East railway in the town of Wandong, Victoria, Australia. It is only two kilometres from Heathcote Junction station, an oddity on the Victorian country railway network.

Platforms and services

The station has two side platforms each with a small shelter. The station is primarily served by V/Line trains on the Seymour and Shepparton lines, with no long distance trains to Albury stopping at the station.^[1]

Platform 1:

• Seymour and Shepparton lines - intercity services to Southern Cross

Platform 2:

• Seymour and Shepparton lines - intercity services to Kilmore East, Seymour and Shepparton

History

The station opened in 1876 as a siding named Morphett's, the railway having opened in 1872 as part of the North East railway to Wodonga.^[2] Soon after a short platform was provided alongside the road crossing and named Wandong. In 1896 the crossing gatehouse was converted into station building and signal box, and in 1899 a timber bridge replaced the level crossing. Sidings for timber loading were also provided, and a narrow gauge tramway brought saw timber from nearby sawmills. A permanent station building was provided in 1900, along with interlocking for the signals and a lever frame.^[3] The present road bridge dates to 1961,^[2] while all signals were removed in 1978, and the bus shelters on the platforms were provided in 1990.^[3]

Wandong station was damaged in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires with two bridges, 1200 railway sleepers and part of platform requiring repairs.^[4] In August 2009 a new footbridge was opened at the Melbourne end of the station, halfway towards Heathcote Junction station. The bridge cost $4.2 million,^[5] an increase over the $1.5 million the project was costed at when announced by the State Government in 2006.^[6] Painted bright blue, the bridge has been criticised for dominating the surrounding landscape.^[7][8]

References