Southland railway station

Southland

An artist's impression of the station
Location Bay Road, Cheltenham
Coordinates 37°34′22″S 145°01′31″E / 37.5728°S 145.0254°ECoordinates: 37°34′22″S 145°01′31″E / 37.5728°S 145.0254°E
Owned by VicTrack
Operated by Metro
Line(s) Frankston
Distance 21.30 kilometres from Southern Cross
Platforms 2
Tracks 2
Construction
Disabled access Yes
Other information
Status Construction to commence in 2015
Website www.ptv.vic.gov.au
Electrified Yes
Services
Preceding station   Metro Trains   Following station
Highett
Frankston line
Cheltenham
toward Frankston

Southland is a planned railway station on the Frankston line in the Melbourne suburb of Cheltenham. It is scheduled to open in 2017.

History

1880s and 1890s

The first proposal for a railway station between Highett and Cheltenham stations on the Frankston railway line at Bay Road, occurred in the early 1880s, during the completion of the Frankston Line. Plans progressed throughout the 1880s, until they discontinued in 1892, by the City of Moorabbin, which at the time had other issues demanding attention.[1]

1990s and 2000s

The proposal arose again a century later in 1990. This was in conjunction with the redevelopment of Westfield Southland shopping centre, which was expanded across the Nepean Highway to land adjacent to the Frankston railway line. The Public Transport Corporation wrote a letter to the City of Moorabbin, responding to suggestions that Cheltenham station be relocated; stating that the project would be infeasible. The Public Transport Users Association predicted that the redevelopment of Westfield Southland would create traffic congestion, unless a new railway station is built. Although plans had been discussed, the proposal was once again moot.[1]

In 2004, the State Government commenced feasibility works on the possibility of a future station at Southland. A study into the building of a station at the shopping centre was a key 2002 election commitment.[2] In 2009, the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry listed a Southland railway station project as "urgent" and in need of a 2012–2014 completion, to support the population increase in Melbourne over the next 30 years, that would require established suburbs to have improved transport.[3]

2010s

Victorian State Election commitments

Almost 130 years since the original proposal, planning for the Southland railway station resurfaced in November 2010, during the Victorian state election.[4] Both the government and opposition pledged to construct the railway station during the next term.[5]

Post election

As of 2012, there was no time-frame set out for the railway station project. In the 2011 budget, $700,000 was allocated for planning.[6] The Department of Transport hosted an online survey on the proposed station entitled "Southland Station Survey"; its benefits and where it will be situated.[7]

Westfield Southland shopping centre complex on the Nepean Highway

The City of Kingston and the City of Bayside will partner council during the development, alongside the Westfield Group. The State Government has consulted both councils, and will move onto designing the station with input from the local community.[8][9] A key development in the Southland Principal Activity Centre, it's been predicted that the station will be used by 1,400 people daily.

Hiatus, renewal and construction

The railway station was put on hold in 2012, however a spokesman for the State Government claimed that planning for the station was still underway, "which includes identifying the exact location of the station, station layout and access requirements, arrangements for connecting bus services and connections with local roads". According to The Age, the station would not be built during the government's first term.[10]

The City of Bayside will establish a project control group in support of the station and aimed at influencing the development. The City of Kingston, the Department of Planning and Community Development, the Department of Transport, VicRoads and Places Victoria will also join Bayside in establishing the group.[11]

An artist's impression of the first platform of Southland station

Public Transport Victoria's 20-year Network Development Plan released in March 2013 to accommodate Melbourne's transport needs, stated a railway station at Southland would be built within the next five years.[12]

Funding for the station was allocated in the 2013/14 Victorian State Budget.[13] In April 2014 the government announced construction would commence in 2015, with the station to open in 2016.[14][15]

In March 2015, the new Labor Government released plans for the project, with construction to commence in the second half of 2015. Consultation with the community would begin in March and be closed by May, with construction on the station completed by 2017. The station will feature:[16]

  • A pedestrian underpass
  • Two platforms
  • Seating and shelters
  • Toilet facilities
  • CCTV monitoring
  • Protective Services Officer (PSO) facilities

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 J Whitehead, Graham. "Railway Station at Bay Road". Kingston Historical Website. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  2. ↑ "Southland Train Station Feasibility Work Continues". 9 December 2004. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  3. ↑ Ballantyne, Adrian (23 November 2009). "Renewed calls for train station at Cheltenham's Southland". Mordialloc Chelsea Leader. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  4. ↑ Andrews, Jon (18 November 2010). "Both parties promise Southland train station". Moorabbin Leader. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  5. ↑ Lucas, Clay (19 November 2010). "Clash on Southland station cost". The Age. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  6. ↑ Bennett, Jessica (14 May 2011). "Southland station building can wait". Bayside Leader. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  7. ↑ Lucas, Clay (16 November 2011). "Highett survey prompts fears". Bayside Leader. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  8. ↑ Thom, Greg (22 November 2011). "Baillieu Government accuses Labor MP of lying". Herald Sun. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  9. ↑ "Council to explore future Southland Structure Plan". City of Kingston. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  10. ↑ Carey, Adam (29 July 2012). "Southland station election promise goes off the rails". The Age. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  11. ↑ Laura Banks and Bridget Fitzgerald L. Banks (27 August 2012). "Bayside council drives Southland train campaign". Melbourne Weekly Bayside. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  12. ↑ Andrews, Jon (28 March 2013). "Airport link 15 years off in $30b public transport plan". The Age. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  13. ↑ Adoranti, Kylie (7 May 2013). "Level crossing removal funded in infrastructure-heavy Victorian Budget". Herald Sun: Moonee Valley Leader. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  14. ↑ Early works to start on Frankston line's Southland station Premier of Victoria 23 April 2014
  15. ↑ Deal reached to build new station at Southland Shopping Centre ABC News 23 April 2014
  16. ↑ Sommerville, Troels (11 March 2015). "Southland train station plans released ahead of consultation sessions". Herald Sun. Retrieved 12 March 2015.

External links