Cheltenham railway station, Melbourne

Cheltenham
PTV commuter rail station
Northbound view from Platform 3, November 2020
General information
LocationCharman Road,
Cheltenham, Victoria 3192
City of Bayside
City of Kingston
Australia
Coordinates37°58′01″S 145°03′17″E / 37.9670°S 145.0547°E / -37.9670; 145.0547
Owned byVicTrack
Operated byMetro Trains
Line(s)Frankston
Distance22.43 kilometres from
Southern Cross
Platforms3 (1 island, 1 side)
Tracks3
ConnectionsList of bus routes in Melbourne Bus
Construction
Structure typeBelow ground
Parking356
Bicycle facilitiesYes
AccessibleYes—step free access
Other information
StatusOperational, premium station
Station codeCTM
Fare zoneMyki Zone 2
WebsitePublic Transport Victoria
History
Opened19 December 1881; 143 years ago (1881-12-19)
Rebuilt16 August 2020 (LXRP)
ElectrifiedJune 1922 (1500 V DC overhead)
Passengers
2005–20061,051,110[1]
2006–20071,114,774[1] Increase 6.05%
2007–20081,221,956[1] Increase 9.61%
2008–20091,361,905[2] Increase 11.45%
2009–20101,402,813[2] Increase 3%
2010–20111,286,161[2] Decrease 8.31%
2011–20121,129,856[2] Decrease 12.15%
2012–2013Not measured[2]
2013–2014962,774[2] Decrease 14.78%
2014–2015957,892[1] Decrease 0.5%
2015–2016901,822[2] Decrease 5.85%
2016–2017900,032[2] Decrease 0.19%
2017–2018903,698[2] Increase 0.4%
2018–2019823,386[2] Decrease 8.88%
2019–2020454,850[2] Decrease 44.75%
2020–2021233,800[2] Decrease 48.59%
2021–2022319,800[3] Increase 36.78%
2022–2023450,000[3] Increase 40.71%
Services
Preceding station Railways in Melbourne Metro Trains Following station
Southland
towards Werribee or Williamstown via Flinders Street
 Frankston line Mentone
towards Frankston
Caulfield
towards Werribee or Williamstown via Flinders Street
 Frankston line
Weekday peak express services
Track layout
Legend
to Southland
1
3
2
to Mentone

Cheltenham railway station is a commuter railway station on the Frankston line, which is part of the Melbourne railway network. It serves the south-eastern suburb of Cheltenham, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Cheltenham station is a below ground premium station, featuring three platforms, an island platform with two faces and one side platform. It opened on 19 December 1881, with the current station provided in 2020.[4]

History

Cheltenham station opened on 19 December 1881,[4] and was one of the earliest stations on the Frankston line.[5] Like the suburb itself, the station was named after the Cheltenham Inn, which was opened by Charles Whorral in 1853.[6][7] Whorral named the inn after his home town in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.[6][7]

In 1956, the former dock platform (Platform 1) was provided.[8] A siding originally existed at this dock platform.

In 1966, boom barriers were provided at the former Park Road level crossing, which was located at the up (Melbourne) end of the station.[8] In 1972, a signal panel was installed in the station building to control trains terminating at Platform 1.[9] It coincided with the introduction of automatic signalling between Highett and Cheltenham. Also in that year, boom barriers were provided at the former Charman Road level crossing, which was located at the down (Frankston) end of the station.[8]

In the early 1980s, a fourth track was laid into the bitumen of the former Park Street level crossing in preparation for triplication.[10] However, triplication was only extended to Moorabbin in 1987.[11]

There was previously a siding on the eastern side of the station, at the up end.[12] By 1980, the wiring for the siding was deactivated, when most of the siding was replaced with car parking,[10] and was removed altogether by 1985.[13]

On 8 March 1996, Cheltenham was upgraded to a premium station.[14]

In 2010, Cheltenham was identified as a key part of the Cheltenham Major Activity Centre by the Brumby Labor Government, as part of its Melbourne 2030 strategic planning policy framework. In that year, Kingston City Council proposed a major redevelopment of the station environs, including a new station forecourt with a terraced plaza, giving more prominence to the heritage-listed buildings at the station, and a new taxi rank, similar to that at Mentone.[15] However, the proposal was not implemented.

In October 2015, the station toilets underwent a refurbishment.[16]

From its opening in 1881, the station was located between Mentone and Highett. The opening of Southland in 2017 meant that Southland replaced Highett as the closest station to Cheltenham in the up direction.

In February 2017, it was announced that, as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project of the Andrews Labor Government, Cheltenham would be rebuilt in a rail trench, to allow the elimination of the level crossings at Charman and Park Roads. The trench, 1.26 kilometres (0.78 mi) in length and 30 metres (98 ft) wide, facilitated the reinstatement of the dock platform (Platform 1) as part of a duplication of the down track. Road bridges were constructed over the rail line at Charman and Park Roads, and the previous car park was replaced with a multi–storey car park.[17] On 16 August 2020, the rebuilt station opened in the trench, and a new station building constructed on a deck across the railway line.[18] The former station building on Platforms 1 and 2 was later donated to the Mornington Railway Preservation Society.[19]

Incidents

On 10 May 2008, former The Saddle Club actress Jessica Jacobs was fatally hit by a train at Cheltenham.[20] On 16 March 2012, a motorist was killed after a train hit his car at the former Charman Road level crossing.[21]

Platforms and services

Cheltenham is serviced by Metro Trains' Frankston line services.[22] Until March 2020, it had two side platforms and one dock platform. The latter was served by one afternoon terminating service from Flinders Street, that returned empty to the city, but from 12 October 2014, extra weekday Flinders Street bound services began to use the platform.

Following the reconstruction and reconfiguration of the station and tracks, as of July 2020, Platform 1 has been turned into a through track, servicing all Flinders Street trains. The station now has the following configuration:

Platform 1:

Platform 2:

  •  Frankston line  all stations and limited express services to Flinders Street, Werribee and Williamstown

Platform 3:

Kinetic Melbourne operates three bus routes via Cheltenham station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

  •  600 : Westfield Southland – St Kilda station[23]
  •  922 : Westfield Southland – St Kilda station[24]
  •  923 : Westfield Southland – St Kilda station[25]

Ventura Bus Lines operates four routes via Cheltenham station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

  • Drawings of the Cheltenham railway station building, c. 1881
    Drawings of the Cheltenham railway station building, c. 1881
  • Cheltenham railway station, c. 1920
    Cheltenham railway station, c. 1920
  • Cheltenham railway station, c. 1920
    Cheltenham railway station, c. 1920
  • Southbound view of the station platforms from the former Park Road level crossing, September 2007
    Southbound view of the station platforms from the former Park Road level crossing,
    September 2007
  • Northbound view from Platform 3, August 2012
    Northbound view from Platform 3, August 2012
  • Northbound view of the station platforms from the former Charman Road level crossing, February 2017
    Northbound view of the station platforms from the former Charman Road level crossing,
    February 2017
  • Station concourse and entrance, November 2020
    Station concourse and entrance, November 2020

References

  1. ^ a b c d Estimated Annual Patronage by Network Segment Financial Year 2005-2006 to 2018-19 Department of Transport
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Railway station and tram stop patronage in Victoria for 2008-2021 Philip Mallis
  3. ^ a b Annual metropolitan train station patronage (station entries) Data Vic
  4. ^ a b "Cheltenham". vicsig.net. Archived from the original on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  5. ^ Cheltenham Railway Station Archived 13 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine Kingston City Council
  6. ^ a b "Cheltenham". Victorian Places. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  7. ^ a b First, Jamie (7 January 2014). "The A-Z story of Melbourne's suburbs". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  8. ^ a b c "Way & Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. May 1973. p. 92.
  9. ^ "Cheltenham Signal Box". Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  10. ^ a b "Cheltenham". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. June 1981. p. 114.
  11. ^ "Frankston Line". vicsig.net. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Cheltenham Interlocking Information". vicsig.net. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Glenhuntly to Parkdale 1985". The Met Signalling Diagram No 47’85. signaldiagramsandphotos.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  14. ^ "Upgrading Eltham to a Premium Station". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. October 1997. pp. 303–315.
  15. ^ Cheltenham Structure Plan Draft Report 22 March 2010 Kingston City Council
  16. ^ "Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. January 2016. p. 25.
  17. ^ Taylor, Alastair. (20 February 2017). "Rail trenches for Cheltenham and Mentone, hundreds of new units in the development pipeline to benefit" Archived 22 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine. UrbanMelbourne.info. Retrieved 21 February 2017
  18. ^ "New Cheltenham Station now open". Level Crossing Removal Project. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  19. ^ "Century-old Cheltenham Station building finds a new home". Victoria's Big Build. 7 October 2021. Archived from the original on 20 April 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  20. ^ "Saddle Club actress killed by train". 15 May 2008. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  21. ^ Commuters face lengthy delays Archived 25 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine The Age
  22. ^ "Frankston Line". Public Transport Victoria.
  23. ^ "600 Southland Shopping Centre - St Kilda Station". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  24. ^ "922 Southland SC - St Kilda Station". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  25. ^ "923 Southland SC - St Kilda Station". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  26. ^ "811 Dandenong - Brighton via Heatherton Road & Springvale". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  27. ^ "812 Dandenong - Brighton via Parkmore Shopping Centre". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  28. ^ "822 Chadstone SC - Sandringham via Murrumbeena & Southland SC (From 02-12-2018)". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  29. ^ "828 Hampton - Berwick Station via Southland SC & Dandenong". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 11 February 2024.