Clifton Hill railway station, Melbourne

MelbourneRailwayStation1
NAME=Clifton Hill


CODE=CHL
DISTANCE=5.4 km
LINES=Epping,
Hurstbridge
PLATFORMS=2
TRACKS=3
STATUS=Premium Station
FACILITIES= [http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/stop/view/19974 Link]
TIMETABLES= [http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/stop/view/19974#lineInformation Link]

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&om=1&z=16&ll=-37.788675,144.995434&spn=0.012565,0.019956 Link]
ZONE=1

Clifton Hill railway station is a Premium Station [ cite web|url=http://www.connexmelbourne.com.au/index.php?id=79 |title=Connex Melbourne Premium Stations |accessdate=2008-02-14 |first=Connex Melbourne |publisher=Connex Melbourne ] in the suburb of Clifton Hill, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It services the
Epping [ cite web|url=http://www.connexmelbourne.com.au/media/images/network_map.gif|title=Connex Melbourne Network Map |accessdate=2008-02-14 |first=Connex Melbourne |format=GIF |publisher=Connex Melbourne ] and Hurstbridge railway lines and is located shortly before the junction of these lines. The station falls within the Metcard Zone 1 area.

The station is located [ cite web|url=http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&om=1&z=16&ll=-37.788675,144.995434&spn=0.012565,0.019956 |title=Google Maps : Clifton Hill railway station |accessdate=2008-02-14 |first=Google |publisher=Google ] between Hoddle Street and John Street and can be accessed via either street. Tram route 86 is a short walk from the station.

Facilities

The station consists of three tracks with platforms on either side. The station buildings, of which there is one on each platform, are of a Tudor inspired design [ cite web|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;search=place_name%3DClifton%2520Hill%3Bkeyword_PD%3Don%3Bkeyword_SS%3Don%3Bkeyword_PH%3Don%3Blatitude_1dir%3DS%3Blongitude_1dir%3DE%3Blongitude_2dir%3DE%3Blatitude_2dir%3DS%3Bin_region%3Dpart;place_id=15097 |title=Australian Heritage Database |accessdate=2008-02-14 |publisher=Australian Government ] . The buildings are symmetrical and orientated around a central booking lobby with a waiting room and station offices on either side of this. Corrugated iron extensions are located on either side of the main buildings and contain toilets and a porter's room. Timber verandahs on each platform shelter waiting passengers.

A pedestrian underpass is located beneath the station and connects John Street, Platforms 1 and 2, and Mayor's Park which is located on the opposite side of Hoddle Street.

Historical Significance

The Clifton Hill railway station is registered with the Australian National Heritage List [ cite web|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;search=place_name%3DClifton%2520Hill%3Bkeyword_PD%3Don%3Bkeyword_SS%3Don%3Bkeyword_PH%3Don%3Blatitude_1dir%3DS%3Blongitude_1dir%3DE%3Blongitude_2dir%3DE%3Blatitude_2dir%3DS%3Bin_region%3Dpart;place_id=15097 |title=Australian Heritage Database |accessdate=2008-02-14 |publisher=Australian Government ] . It is an intact example of a Victorian Tudor style suburban railway station and is one of eleven that were originally built in the period 1887–1889. It is the only example that still retains the original corrugated iron wings on either side of the main building. The timber verandah on the eastern platform is also considered architecturally rare.

History

Clifton Hill station opened on May 8 1888. [ [http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=infrastructure&name=Clifton%20Hill VICSIG Infrastructure - Clifton Hill] ] The station was damaged by fire in December 1981, although the heritage registered verandah escaped serious damage. The station was renovated in 1990 with a matching verandah built on the western platform. It was upgraded to Premium Station status on June 25 1996.cite journal
year = 1997
month = October
title = Upgrading Eltham to a Premium Station
journal = Newsrail
publisher = Australian Railway Heritage Society (Victorian Division)
pages = page 310 ]

Future Developments

The main line from the CBD splits into the Epping and Hurstbridge lines immediately north of the Clifton Hill railway station. Whilst the majority of the line is dual track, there is a 750m section of single track between the Clifton Hill station and the Westgarth station. This causes all Hurstbridge trains and some Epping trains to merge at the junction. This bottleneck puts constrains on the movement of trains through this junction and if a train is delayed, can cause substantial ongoing delays.

A project [ cite web|url=http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/doi/doielect.nsf/2a6bd98dee287482ca256915001cff0c/29aa261b0dc98eb9ca2573080083cee0/$FILE/070110%20FINAL%20Clifton%20Hill%20Capacity%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf |title=Clifton Hill Capacity Fact Sheet |accessdate=2008-02-14 |publisher=Department of Infrastructure ] has started to dual track this section with construction planned to start in late 2007 and an estimated completion date of 2010. Once completed, the dual tracks will benefit trains on both lines particularly in peak hour. It also improve the capacity of the junction which will allow additional trains to run in the future.

References

VictorianStations

VICORMELB = Melbourne
Here=Clifton Hill
Previous1=Victoria Park
Previous2=Victoria Park
Line1=Epping line
Next1=Rushall
Line2=Hurstbridge line
Next2=Westgarth