Donnybrook railway station is a regional railway station on the Tocumwal line. It serves the northern suburb of Donnybrook, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Donnybrook station is a ground level unstaffed station, featuring two side platforms. It opened on 14 October 1872, with the current station provided in 2020.[1]
History
Donnybrook station opened on 14 October 1872, with a single platform on the west side. The railway line opened a few months earlier, as part of the North East line to School House Lane.[2]
In 1882, a second platform was provided, but duplication of the track in both directions was not completed for a few more years. A goods shed was erected in 1888, while the current station building on Platform 2 dates to 1900.[2] The last siding was abolished in 1989.[3]
In 1962, the Melbourne-Albury standard gauge line behind Platform 1 opened, along with the 900 metre Donnybrook Loop. Since 2011, the loop has been extended into a 6.8 kilometres long passing lane, as part of the Australian Rail Track Corporation's Melbourne–Sydney upgrade program,[4] but has since been cut back to 2 kilometres in length.[5][6]
In early 1976, the goods platform was abolished.[7]
In 1961, flashing light signals replaced hand gates at the Donnybrook Road level crossing, located at the up end of the station.[1] In 1998, boom barriers were provided.[3]
In 2016, Platform 2 was extended at the down end of the station, to accommodate 6-car VLocity trains, allowing northbound commuters to enter and exit via any door. Southbound commuters, however, had to use the first three carriages of the train to board or alight, due to the shorter Platform 1.[10]
On 23 April 2020, upgrades to the station were completed as part of the Regional Rail Revival project. The upgrades included 150 new car parking spaces, better pedestrian and bus access to the station, upgraded CCTV and extending Platform 1 at the down end.[11]
Demolished station Beveridge was located between Donnybrook and Wallan stations.