Westall railway station, Melbourne

MelbourneRailwayStation1
NAME=Westall


CODE=WTL
DISTANCE=21.4 km
LINES=Cranbourne,
Pakenham
PLATFORMS=2
TRACKS=2
STATUS=Unmanned station
FACILITIES= [http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/stop/view/19914 Link]
TIMETABLES= [http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/stop/view/19914#lineInformation Link]
MELWAY= [http://www.street-directory.com.au/sd_new/genmap.cgi?x=145.138263220965&y=-37.9382239285869&sizex=650&sizey=650&level=6&star=1&circle= Link]

http://maps.google.com.au/?ie=UTF8&om=1&z=16&ll=-37.938444,145.138814&spn=0.011998,0.021114 Link]
ZONE=2

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 unmanned and is in Metcard Zone 2.

Facilities

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

The station consists of two side platforms: Platform 1 (Flinders Street bound) has a large weatherboard building, while platform 2 (Dandenong bound) has a small steel shelter. A large Metcard machine is located at the entrance to platform 1, which is able to dispense most ticketing options available and also accept notes and coins. A small coin-only Metcard machine is located at the entrance to platform 2.

History

Westall station was opened as a workers only platform on October 16, 1954.cite book
last = S.E. Doorman and R.G. Henderson
first =
title = Electric Railways of Victoria
publisher = Australian Electric Traction Society
isbn = 0 909459 06 1 ] It was provided for the adjacent Martin and King railway coachbuilding factory. The station was opened to the public on June 1 1959 when all trains on the line were altered to stop there.

The station had a rail yard located at the Down (Dandenong) end, as well as a number of industrial sidings serving nearby factories. [ [http://www.victorianrailways.net/signaling/completedia/weyardia.html Signalling diagram of Westall - 1975] ] 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. [ [http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/doi/doielect.nsf/2a6bd98dee287482ca256915001cff0c/78dc596ef039b8d64a2569990023bd37/$FILE/Part%208%20ar98.pdf Department of Infrastructure: Annual Report 1997-1998] ] 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. [cite web
url=http://www.architectus.com.au/index.php?page=116
title=Public Transport Corporation Train Maintenance Facility
author=architectus
publisher=www.architectus.com.au
accessdate=2008-07-21] On July 26, 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, [ [http://www.robx1.net/victkt/metcard/html/018.htm Unoffical Metcard site: Metcard Vending Machine 2 (MVM 2)] ] 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. [ [http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=7609 Victoria Police: Fire at Westall railway station] ] The damaged part of the building was subsequently demolished and rebuilt.

On May 6 2008, the Government of Victoria announced as part of the 2008-2009 state budget that Westall station would receive a $151 million upgrade which will include a new third platform along with triplicating 2.6 kilometres of existing double track between Centre Road and Springvale Road. Construction will commence in 2009. [ [http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/DOI/DOIElect.nsf/$UNIDS+for+Web+Display/2A91816F52013913CA2574400083088A/$FILE/2008BudgetFactSheet-Dandenong.pdf Dandenong Rail Corridor Stage Two - Department of Transport, Victorian Government] ]

References

MelbourneStations
Line=Pakenham & Cranbourne lines
Previous=Clayton
Here=Westall
Next=Springvale