Parliament railway station, Melbourne

MelbourneRailwayStation1
NAME=Parliament


CODE=PAR
DISTANCE=1.2 km
LINES=All lines
PLATFORMS=4
TRACKS=4
STATUS=Premium Station
FACILITIES= [http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/stop/view/19843 Link]
TIMETABLES= [http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/stop/view/19843#linkInfomation Link]
MELWAY= [http://www.street-directory.com.au/sd_new/genmap.cgi?x=144.973328484617&y=-37.8119170891122&sizex=650&sizey=650&level=7&star=1&circle= Link]

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&om=1&z=17&ll=-37.811988,144.97344&spn=0.006281,0.009978 Link]
ZONE=1

Parliament is an underground railway station in the suburban train 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.

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; 31, 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.cite web
url=http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/doi/doielect.nsf/2a6bd98dee287482ca256915001cff0c/44507f9d12a4406cca25700c0012fe36/$FILE/MURL%20booklet.pdf
title=MURL Booklet
author=Metropolitan Transport Authority
publisher=www.doi.vic.gov.au
accessdate=2008-07-20]

To the south booking hall 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.

The station opened on January 22 1983.cite web
url=http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/Doi/Internet/transport.nsf/AllDocs/74164766E0CEAF95CA25700500122952?OpenDocument
title=Public transport - City Loop history
author=Department of Infrastructure
publisher=www.doi.vic.gov.au
accessdate=2008-07-20] At the time of opening the station had the longest escalators in the southern hemisphere.

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.

References