Westall railway station

Westall
Station statistics
Coordinates	37°56′18″S 145°08′18″E / 37.9382°S 145.1383°E / -37.9382; 145.1383Coordinates: 37°56′18″S 145°08′18″E / 37.9382°S 145.1383°E / -37.9382; 145.1383
Platforms	3
Tracks	3
Other information
Station code	WTL
Owned by	VicTrack
Myki zone	2
Station status	Premium station
Melway map	Link
Website	Link, includes timetables
Services
Preceding station   Metro Trains   Following station Clayton toward Flinders Street Pakenham line Springvale toward Pakenham Cranbourne line Springvale toward Cranbourne
Location
Link

Westall is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in the suburb of Clayton South, on the Pakenham and Cranbourne railway lines. Westall is a premium station and is in Public Transport Victoria Zone 2.

Facilities

Westall is located on Rayhur Street and at the western end of the Westall Road overpass, the former providing station access.

The station consists of a side platform (Platform 1) and an island platform (Platforms 2 & 3). it features an air-conditioned, enclosed waiting area, and a pedestrian overpass. the outdoor waiting areas feature glass shelters.

Platforms, services & connecting bus services

Platform 1:

• Pakenham line - all stations and limited express services to Flinders Street
• Cranbourne line - all stations and limited express services to Flinders Street

Platform 2:

• Pakenham line - all stations and limited express services to Flinders Street
• Cranbourne line - all stations and limited express services to Flinders Street
• Pakenham line – all stations and limited express services to Pakenham
• Cranbourne line – all stations and limited express services to Cranbourne

Platform 3:

• Pakenham line – all stations and limited express services to Pakenham
• Cranbourne line – all stations and limited express services to Cranbourne

Bus services:

• 824 - Moorabbin (via Clayton Station)
• 824 - Keysborough (via Clarke Rd)

History

Westall station was opened as a workers only platform on 16 October 1954.^[1] It was provided for the adjacent Martin and King railway coachbuilding factory.^[1] The station was opened to the public on 1 June 1959 when all trains on the line began stopping there.^[1]

The station had a stabling yard located at the Down (Dandenong) end, as well as a number of industrial sidings serving nearby factories.^[2] In 1997 the Westall train maintenance centre was opened in the former goods yard, as part of the decentralisation of train stabling and maintenance from the former Jolimont Yards.^[3] The buildings were approximately 2,850 m² in size, and permit bogie repair and replacement, under carriage and overhead work. The facility cost $15 million, which also included the Bayswater facility.^[4]

On 26 July 2006 a fire started in the waiting room of the station building on platform one, causing major damage to half of the station building, ticket machines,^[5] seats and a section of the platform. The city bound platform was closed off and passenger services heading towards Melbourne ran express from Springvale to Clayton bypassing Westall until temporary fencing was placed around the building.^[6] The damaged part of the building was subsequently demolished and rebuilt.

On 6 May 2008, the Government of Victoria announced as part of the 2008-2009 state budget that Westall station would receive a $151 million upgrade which would include a new third platform along with triplicating 2.6 kilometres of existing double track between Centre Road and Springvale Road. Hong Lim, Member of Clayton, has also said that the new upgrades will include a new pedestrian crossing, CCTV facilities and additional car spaces.^[7] In 2009, construction of the upgrades has commenced^[8] and is expected to be completed by 2011.

Access to the station compromised

The new development has diminished easy access to the station by bicycle by failing to meet the Department of Transport's guidelines^[9][10] in regard to cycle access. Before the development cyclists and pedestrians could cross the rail line using at grade crossings. They are to be removed. The only way to cross the rail line in the immediate area will be by the use of lifts. The station has good potential to be connected into the Public Bicycle Network but this has not been implemented, even though "It's part of the Plan".^[11]

References

External links

Media related to Westall railway station, Melbourne at Wikimedia Commons