Parliament railway station

Parliament
Station statistics
Coordinates	37°48′41″S 144°58′23″E / 37.81139°S 144.97306°E / -37.81139; 144.97306Coordinates: 37°48′41″S 144°58′23″E / 37.81139°S 144.97306°E / -37.81139; 144.97306
Line(s)	All lines
Platforms	4
Tracks	4
Other information
Station code	PAR
Owned by	VicTrack
Myki zone	1
Station status	Premium Station
Melway map	Link
Website	Link, includes timetables
Location
Link

Parliament is an underground railway station in the metro network of Melbourne, Australia. It is one of five stations (and one of three underground) on the City Loop, which encircles the central business district. It is the 4th busiest station in Melbourne's metropolitan network, with 10.7 million passenger movements recorded in 2011-12. ^[1]

The station services Melbourne's government district, and is underneath the Parliament House of Victoria and the intersection of busy Bourke Street with Spring Street, at the eastern end of the CBD. Passengers can interchange with tram routes 86, 95 and 96 along Bourke Street; 48, 109, and 112 on Collins Street; and the free City Circle Tram.

History

The station platforms were constructed using mining methods. Each platform is an individual tunnel, and are linked to the other platform in the same level by a number of cross tunnels. This choice in design left the remaining pillar of rock between the tunnels too weak to support the required loads, so it was replaced with concrete. A pilot tunnel was made, enabling the walls to be constructed ahead of the main excavation.^[2]

The booking hall to the south was constructed 'upside down', with the support columns dug with augers from ground level, then filled with concrete. The roof was then constructed over these piles from ground level during a series of staged road closures, and once this was completed the excavation of the booking hall could be carried out underneath, while road traffic continued overhead. During construction the Parliament House fence had to be removed, stored then re-erected.^[2]

The station opened on 22 January 1983.^[3] At the time of opening the station had the longest escalators in the southern hemisphere.^[2]

The station has a passenger flow of 26,000 commuters during rush hour. It serves 350,000 people each week.

Facilities

Parliament station has three underground levels. It has a concourse level and four platforms on the two levels underneath. Each platform serves a separate group of rail lines that leave the Loop and radiate out into the city's suburbs.

Parliament has two separate concourses. They each have a ticket office, toilets and ticket operated gates. The northern is located at the junction of Spring, Lonsdale and Nicholson Streets, and has three escalators and a lift going down to the platforms, as well has a lift and steps leading to street level. The southern concourse is near the Spring and Collins Street intersection, and has four escalators descending to the platforms. There are three exits to ground level via steps: one to MacArthur Street, the other two exits on Spring Street, facing Bourke Street and near Collins Street.

Platforms, services, connecting & trams services

Platform 1 - Clifton Group

• South Morang line – all stations and limited stops services to South Morang
• Hurstbridge line – all stations and limited stops services to Hurstbrighe
• City Loop – all stations and limited stops services to Flinders Street

Platform 2 - Caulfield Group

• Pakenham line – all stations and limited stops services to Pakenham
• Cranbourne line – all stations and limited stops services to Cranbourne
• Frankston line – all stations and limited stops services to Frankston
• Stony Point line - all stations and limited stops services to Stony Point
• Sandringham line - all stations and limited stops services to Sandringham
• City Loop – all stations and limited stops services to Flinders Street

Platform 3 - Northern Group

• Craigieburn line – all stations and limited stops services to Craigieburn
• Upfield line – all stations and limited stops services to Upfield
• Sunbury line – all stations and limited stops services to Sunbury
• Werribee line – all stations and limited stops services to Werribee
• Flemington Racecourse line - all stations and limited stops services to Flemington Racecourse
• City Loop – all stations and limited stops services to Flinders Street

Platform 4 - Burnley Group

• Lilydale line – all stations and limited stops services to Lilydale
• Belgrave line - all stations and limited stops services to Belgrave
• Glen Waverley line – all stations and limited stops services to Glen Waverley
• Alamein line – all stations and limited stops services to Alamein
• City Loop – all stations and limited stops services to Flinders Street

Gallery

• 

  The stair entrance, on the corner of Spring and Bourke Streets

• 

  Commuters during peak hour

References