Mordialloc Railway Station
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Mordialloc railway station is a
commuter rail Commuter rail or suburban rail is a Passenger train, passenger rail service that primarily operates within a metropolitan area, connecting Commuting, commuters to a Central business district, central city from adjacent suburbs or commuter town ...
way station on the
Frankston line The Frankston line is a commuter railway line in the city of Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. Operated by Metro Trains Melbourne, it is the city's third-longest metropolitan railway line, at . The line runs from Flinders St ...
, which is part of the Melbourne railway network. It serves the south-eastern suburb of Mordialloc, in
Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
, Victoria, Australia. Mordialloc station is a ground level
premium station The Melbourne rail network is a metropolitan Commuter rail, suburban and Rail freight transport, freight rail system serving the city of Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. The metropolitan rail network is centred around th ...
, featuring two side platforms. It opened on 19 December 1881. Stabling facilities are located at the Frankston ( down) end of the station, whilst a third track is located through the middle of station, normally only used by Qube's Long Island steel freight train, and trains shunting into the yard. A
pedestrian underpass A subway, also known as an underpass, is a grade-separated pedestrian crossing running underneath a road or railway in order to entirely separate pedestrians and cyclists from motor or train traffic. Terminology In the United States, as ...
is located at the up end of the station. The station precinct itself has a number of heritage buildings and elements, including the cottage style historic station buildings (1882 and 1887), and the last remaining example of an
Edwardian In the United Kingdom, the Edwardian era was a period in the early 20th century that spanned the reign of King Edward VII from 1901 to 1910. It is commonly extended to the start of the First World War in 1914, during the early reign of King Ge ...
–style railway
water tower A water tower is an elevated structure supporting a water tank constructed at a height sufficient to pressurize a water distribution system, distribution system for potable water, and to provide emergency storage for fire protection. Water towe ...
(1910) in Victoria, also known as a "Type H" water tower.


History

Mordialloc station was officially opened on 19 December 1881 by Sir Thomas Bent, who was the Minister of Railways, and later becoming the
Premier of Victoria The premier of Victoria is the head of government of the state of Victoria in Australia. The premier leads the Cabinet of Victoria and selects its ministers. The premier is appointed by the governor of Victoria, must be a member of the Vic ...
between 1904 and 1909. The station was provided when the railway line from Caulfield was extended. It remained a terminus until 1 August 1882, when the line was extended to Frankston. Like the suburb itself, the station gets its name from an
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meaning 'near little sea', or from either a creek named Moodi or Marida. The first train to arrive at Mordialloc was a special service from
Princes Bridge Princes Bridge, originally Prince's Bridge,, ''...he wished that it might be distinguished by the name of "Prince's Bridge," in honour of the Prince of Wales, whom he hoped would yet be the Sovereign of their colonies...'' is a bridge in centra ...
, which collected school children from the
Brighton Brighton ( ) is a seaside resort in the city status in the United Kingdom, city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England, south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age Britain, Bronze Age, R ...
area. Further specials occurred during the day, with proper timetabled services commencing the following day. Six services were provided upon opening and, apart from two services, all were shuttle services operating between Caulfield and Mordialloc. When the line opened, none of the stations between Caulfield and Mordialloc had station buildings, as noted by a reporter for '' The Argus''
newspaper A newspaper is a Periodical literature, periodical publication containing written News, information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background. Newspapers can cover a wide variety of fields such as poli ...
. However, it was also noted that the stations had
siding Siding may refer to: * Siding (construction), the outer covering or cladding of a house * Siding (rail) In rail terminology, a siding is a low-speed track section distinct from a running line or through route such as a main line, branch lin ...
s and platforms, with Mordialloc having a 'particularly fine and spacious platform'. In February 1882, a contract was let for the construction of station buildings, for a price of £749-15-0. On 31 July of that year, the line was extended to Frankston, and again was opened by Sir Thomas Bent. Timetabled services commenced the following day, and were initially two daily services and three services on Saturday, connecting with city-bound trains at Mordialloc. By December of that year, through services were operating between the city and Mordialloc/Frankston, with the station itself open for goods traffic. At the start of March 1885, a
turntable A phonograph, later called a gramophone, and since the 1940s a record player, or more recently a turntable, is a device for the mechanical and analogue reproduction of sound. The sound vibration waveforms are recorded as corresponding phys ...
and a
coal stage A coaling tower, coal stage, coaling plant or coaling station is a facility used to load coal as fuel into railway steam locomotives. Coaling towers were often sited at motive power depots or locomotive maintenance shops. In the early years o ...
and
ash pit An ash pit is a remnant of a wildfire A wildfire, forest fire, or a bushfire is an unplanned and uncontrolled fire in an area of Combustibility and flammability, combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire ...
were provided. The turntable was relocated from Berwick, with the coal stage being a new construction. In December of that year, the Locomotive Branch of the
Victorian Railways The Victorian Railways (VR), trading from 1974 as VicRail, was the state-owned operator of most rail transport in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companie ...
recommended the construction of an
engine shed A motive power depot (MPD) or locomotive depot, or traction maintenance depot (TMD), is where locomotives are usually housed, repaired and maintained. They were originally known as "running sheds", "engine sheds" or just "sheds". Facilit ...
, at an estimated cost of £200. However, this did not eventuate. In 1887, an additional siding was provided, and occurring in that year, a contract was let for extensions to the station building. By May of that year, the coal stage was relocated to Flinders Street and, by March 1889, a carriage dock was abolished, to allow an extension of the platform. In 1888,
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of the line was provided between Caulfield and Mordialloc. The
Staff and Ticket Staff may refer to: Pole * Walking staff, an instrument used for balance when walking * Staff, a weapon used in stick-fighting ** Quarterstaff, a European pole weapon * Staff of office, a pole that indicates a position * Staff (railway signall ...
, which worked between Mentone and Mordialloc, was abolished, and the Winters Block system was provided, with the section remaining Mentone–Mordialloc. By August 1890, there were seventeen services to Mordialloc, nine of which continued through to Frankston, and two goods trains. In March 1895, Mordialloc was interlocked, with a thirty
lever frame Mechanical railway signalling installations rely on lever frames for their operation to interlock the Railway signal, signals, track locks and Railroad switch, points to allow the safe operation of trains in the area the signals control. Usuall ...
provided. On 22 March 1896, a new lattice girder bridge was provided over the
Mordialloc Creek The Dandenong Creek (Aboriginal Bunwurrung: ''Narra Narrawong'' or ''Dandinnong'') is an urban creek of the Port Phillip catchment, located in the eastern and south-eastern Greater Melbourne region of the Australian east coast state of Vict ...
, which is located nearby in the down direction of the station, replacing the original timber bridge, which was to the east of the new bridge.
Regrading Grading in civil engineering and landscape architectural construction is the work of ensuring a level base, or one with a specified slope, for a construction work such as a foundation, the base course for a road or a railway, or landscape and ...
occurred at the Up end of the station, with a railway overpass built over Nepean Road. That bridge was brought into use on 16 August of that year. In December that year, the Commissioners of the Victorian Railways inspected the station, and announced a proposal to replace the existing frame with a
signal box A signal is both the process and the result of transmission of data over some media accomplished by embedding some variation. Signals are important in multiple subject fields including signal processing, information theory and biology. In ...
at the McDonald Street
level crossing A level crossing is an intersection where a railway line crosses a road, Trail, path, or (in rare situations) airport runway, at the same level, as opposed to the railway line or the road etc. crossing over or under using an Overpass#Railway, o ...
. This did not occur, however, alterations to the tracks and interlocking did occur in February 1898, and included two additional working levers for the frame. By 1901, there were six through services (five of which were services bound for Mornington or Stony Point), and ten services terminating. This gave Mordialloc a service roughly every hour throughout the day. In 1907, a new engine shed was provided. It was originally erected at
Traralgon Traralgon ( , ) is a city located in the east of the Latrobe Valley in the Gippsland region of Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia and the most populous city in the City of Latrobe and the region. The urban population of Traralgon at the ...
in 1884, and was relocated to Briagolong in 1902, when a new shed at Traralgon was provided. The following year, a new signalbay and interlocking was provided. By that date, two dead–end sidings were in service at the Down end of the station. In 1910, duplication of the line between Mordialloc and Frankston occurred, resulting in a rebuilt and enlarged
yard The yard (symbol: yd) is an English units, English unit of length in both the British imperial units, imperial and US United States customary units, customary systems of measurement equalling 3 foot (unit), feet or 36 inches. Sinc ...
and a complete overhaul to the station layout: a portion of a floating goods platform from Williamstown was erected by August 1 of that year, with instructions to reduce the length of the platform to also occurring. By December 1, a second platform (current day Platform 2) was provided. The signalling was also altered, allowing Down trains to use all three running tracks if necessary. A new goods
road A road is a thoroughfare used primarily for movement of traffic. Roads differ from streets, whose primary use is local access. They also differ from stroads, which combine the features of streets and roads. Most modern roads are paved. Th ...
(No.4 road) was provided behind Platform 2 to the enlarged goods yard, which was now extended to Mordialloc Creek. A new engine shed and turntable were provided, as well as the current pedestrian underpass. On 5 January 1911, a new, elevated signal box was provided adjacent to the Bear Street level crossing, complete with a fifty lever frame. By 1 March of that year, the Edwardian–style water tower was completed. By December 1913, there were seventeen through services and fourteen terminating services, with a number of goods trains to and from Frankston, Mornington Junction and
Carrum Carrum is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, south-east of Melbourne's Melbourne city centre, Central Business District, located within the City of Kingston Local Government Areas of Victoria, local government ar ...
(an as–required service only) also shunting in the yard at various hours of the day.
Electrification Electrification is the process of powering by electricity and, in many contexts, the introduction of such power by changing over from an earlier power source. In the context of history of technology and economic development, electrification refe ...
arrived at the station in May 1922, and was extended to Frankston in August of that year. The first trail run of an electric train to Mordialloc occurred on 19 May of that year, with electric services beginning three days later, on 22 May. A trail run to Frankston occurred on 21 August, with services commencing on 24 August. Electrification, however, brought little alterations to the station, apart from some minor signalling changes. By December 1924, there was thirty through services, twenty–four terminating services and three goods services. Two train sets also stabled overnight. Sometime around 1924, the engine shed was abolished. The Victorian Railways' Chief Engineer of the Way & Works branch recommended it be relocated to Colac, but it is unsure if this happened. In February of the following year, the platforms were extended in the Up direction, to allow the operation of 7–car trains. In 1927, the former signalbay was removed, to allow improvements to the width of the platform. During November 1929, a number of roads in the yard were
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, allowing the use of
electric locomotive An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or on-board energy storage such as a Battery (electricity), battery or a supercapacitor. Locomotives with on-board fuelled prime mover (locomotive), ...
s on goods services. On 28 December 1938, the
grandstand A grandstand is a normally permanent structure for seating spectators, typically at sports stadiums and including both auto racing and horse racing. The grandstand is in essence like a single section of a stadium, but differs from a stadium i ...
of the nearby Epsom Racecourse was destroyed by fire, bringing an end to race traffic to Mordialloc. Prior to this, race specials were generally formed by 7–car Tait sets.
Racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...
s themselves were carried by train, with special services originating from
Flemington Racecourse Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is the world's richest handicap and the world's richest 3200-metre horse race. The race ...
and the loading of the horses carried out at the Newmarket Stock Siding, Flinders Street and other stations as required. In early 1942, the water supply for
steam locomotive A steam locomotive is a locomotive that provides the force to move itself and other vehicles by means of the expansion of steam. It is fuelled by burning combustible material (usually coal, Fuel oil, oil or, rarely, Wood fuel, wood) to heat ...
s was decommissioned, along with the water tower. Post–
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,
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ia was being extensively developed towards Mordialloc and beyond. By February 1950, there was fifty–one through services (a number of these services terminated at Aspendale), twenty–eight terminating services (with two sets stabling overnight) and a Monday–Wednesday–Friday goods service to and from Seaford, which shunted at Mordialloc twice on the days it operated. Sometime between 1954 and 1956, the turntable in the yard was abolished. On 21 December 1955, a
substation A substation is a part of an electrical Electricity generation, generation, electric power transmission, transmission, and electric power distribution, distribution system. Substations transform voltage from high to low, or the reverse, or pe ...
was provided near the Station Street level crossing, located in the Down direction of the station. It was provided to improve the power supply at the outer ends of suburban railway lines, allowing improved services. Around 1961, the
goods shed A goods shed is a railway building designed for storing goods before, after, and during loading to and unloading from a train. A typical goods shed will have a track running through it to allow goods wagons to be unloaded under cover, althou ...
and platform were abolished. By May 1963, the station was serviced by sixty–three through services, with ten services that terminated, with five train sets stabling overnight. It was still served by the goods service to and from Seaford, however, this now only operated on Wednesdays. Between 1964 and 1966, the current railway overpass crossing the Nepean Highway was provided, replacing the original 1896–built overpass. During 1967, there was consideration to extending Platform 2 to allow 8–car trains, which would've forced the relocation of a number of signal posts. However, a number of signal renewals did occur during this time. By November 1973, planning was underway for the extension of the third track from Caulfield to Mordialloc. This, however, has not eventuated: the third track was only extended to
Moorabbin Moorabbin is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 15 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Kingston local government area. Moorabbin recorded a population of 6,287 at the . Most of the e ...
in 1987. Automatic signalling between Mordialloc and Chelsea was provided in 1977. Between 1979 and 1982, a new concrete bridge was provided over the Mordialloc Creek, replacing the lattice girder bridge from 1896. By 1981, the goods yard was closed to traffic, and No.4 road was abolished and baulked on the Up side of the Bear Street level crossing, with the last recorded use of the road occurring when an
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–bound passenger set was held during a shunters strike. By 1984, the overhead lines for No.4 road and the goods sidings were removed. Three-position signalling replaced double line block signalling between Mordialloc and Parkdale in April 1986, this being the last section of double line block working on the Frankston line. Mordialloc, however, remained mechanically interlocked. This all changed in the following year, 1987: the elevated signal box was abolished, and was replaced with a signal panel that was located in the main station building on Platform 1.
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s were provided at both the McDonald Street and Bear Street level crossings, located in the up and down directions of the station respectively, and all semaphore signals were replaced with three position signals. In June 1988, the elevated signal box was demolished. In 1990, security fencing was provided for the stabling yard. On 5 December 1995, Mordialloc was upgraded to a
premium station The Melbourne rail network is a metropolitan Commuter rail, suburban and Rail freight transport, freight rail system serving the city of Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. The metropolitan rail network is centred around th ...
. In early 2011, the stabling yard was upgraded. On 9 September 2013, whilst travelling through the McDonald Street level crossing, a wagon on the Long Island steel train derailed, causing lengthy delays. In October 2015, new accessible toilets were provided at the station. On 7 October 2021, the signal panel was abolished, with control transferred to the Kananook Signal Control Centre. On 9 October 2022, the Andrews government announced that the McDonald Street and Bear Street level crossings would be removed by 2028, along with five other level crossings on the Frankston line, it was fast tracked for removal in June 2023 projected for 2026. The designs for the new station was announced in June 2024 and will be
elevated An elevated railway or elevated train (also known as an el train or el for short) is a railway with the Track (rail transport), tracks above street level on a viaduct or other elevated structure (usually constructed from steel, cast iron, concre ...
and the station to feature an
island platform An island platform (also center platform (American English) or centre platform (British English)) is a station layout arrangement where a single platform is positioned between two tracks within a railway station, tram stop or transitway inte ...
, the plans also show that the heritage building on Platform 2 to be kept and Bear Street to be closed off as part of the level crossing removal and McDonald Street to remain.


Platforms and services

Mordialloc has two
side platform A side platform (also known as a marginal platform or a single-face platform) is a platform positioned to the side of one or more railway tracks or guideways at a railway station, tram stop, or transitway. A station having dual side platforms, ...
s. It is serviced by
Metro Trains Metro Trains Melbourne, often known simply as Metro, is the operator and brand name of train services on the electrified metropolitan rail network serving the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is the largest urban rail network in Au ...
'
Frankston line The Frankston line is a commuter railway line in the city of Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. Operated by Metro Trains Melbourne, it is the city's third-longest metropolitan railway line, at . The line runs from Flinders St ...
services. A number of services terminate at Mordialloc and stable in the sidings south of the station. Platform 1: * all stations and limited express services to Flinders Street,
Werribee Werribee is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the local government area of the City of Wyndham. Werribee recorded a population of 50,027 at the 2021 census. Werrib ...
and Williamstown Platform 2: * all stations services to Frankston


Transport links

Kinetic Melbourne Kinetic Melbourne is a bus operator in Melbourne, Australia, operating a fleet of 602 buses on 45 bus routes, as well as seven SmartBus routes. It commenced operations on 31 January 2022, taking over all routes previously operated by Transdev Me ...
operates one
SmartBus SmartBus is a network of bus services in the city of Melbourne, Australia. Overseen by Public Transport Victoria, the network comprises nine key cross-town and orbital bus routes around Melbourne. Key aspects of the service include more freque ...
route Route or routes may refer to: * Air route, route structure or airway * GPS route, a series of one or more GPS waypoints * Route (gridiron football), a path run by a wide receiver * Route (command), a program used to configure the routing table * ...
via Mordialloc station, under contract to
Public Transport Victoria Public Transport Victoria (PTV) is the brand name for public transport in the Australian state of Victoria. It was previously the trading name of the Public Transport Development Authority (PTDA), a now-defunct statutory authority in Victo ...
: *
SmartBus SmartBus is a network of bus services in the city of Melbourne, Australia. Overseen by Public Transport Victoria, the network comprises nine key cross-town and orbital bus routes around Melbourne. Key aspects of the service include more freque ...
: Altona stationMordialloc
Ventura Bus Lines Ventura Bus Lines is a large bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, operating a fleet of more than 950 buses on 141 bus routes. History Early history Ventura was founded in December 1924 by Henry Cornwall. The name and co ...
operates four routes via Mordialloc station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria: * : to
Springvale station Springvale or Springvale Station is a pastoral lease that operates as a cattle station in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia. The Springvale Aggregation was created when Springvale was purchased along with Alice Downs, Mabel Down ...
(peak-hour only) * : Mordialloc – Chelsea station (off-peak only) * : Hampton stationCarrum station * : to Noble Park station SkyBus also operates a service to
Melbourne Airport Melbourne Airport , known locally as Tullamarine Airport, is an international airport serving Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Operating 24/7 service, 24 hours a day with on-site parking, shopping and dining, Melbourne Airport is the List of th ...
via Mordialloc station.


Gallery

File:Mordialloc station 1 b.jpg, Station building and entrance to Platform 1, September 2021 File:Mordiallocstation2021 b.jpg, Southbound view from Platform 1, October 2021 File:Mordialloc station 2 b.jpg, Station building and entrance to Platform 2,
May 2022


References


External links


Melway map
at street-directory.com.au {{Public Transport Victoria railway stations, Frankston=y, state=collapsed Premium Melbourne railway stations Railway stations in Australia opened in 1881 Railway stations in the City of Kingston (Victoria)