Ashburton railway station, Melbourne
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Ashburton railway station is a commuter railway station on the Alamein line, which is part of the Melbourne railway network. It serves the eastern suburb of Ashburton, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Ashburton station is a ground level premium station, featuring one side platform. It opened on 30 May 1890.<ref name="vicsigashburton" />
Initially opened as Norwood, the station was given its current name of Ashburton on 12 December 1890.<ref name="vicsigashburton">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Situated immediately north of the station, the double track becomes single for the rest of the section to Alamein.
History
Ashburton station opened on 30 May 1890, and was on the first section of the Outer Circle line.<ref name=vicsigashburton/> Like the suburb itself, the station was named after Ashburton Terrace in Cork, Ireland, where councillor E. Dillon, who suggested the name, had previously lived.<ref name="vpashburton">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="heraldsun">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
By 1893, the northern half of the Outer Circle line had been closed and, on 9 December 1895, the line beyond Ashburton, connecting with Oakleigh was closed as well. For a short period, that left the line from Camberwell to Ashburton as the only remaining stretch of the Outer Circle line.<ref name=vicsigashburton/>
On 1 May 1897, Ashburton closed, along with the line from Camberwell.<ref name=vicsigashburton/> After an outcry from the local community, that section of the line reopened on 4 July 1898, becoming the Ashburton line once again. The line was electrified on 30 October 1924 but, in the years leading up to that, it was served by the popularly-named Deepdene Dasher, which ran a shuttle between Ashburton and Deepdene, and usually consisted of an F-Class engine and one or two American-type carriages.<ref name=beardsell>Template:Cite book</ref> When the track was extended 600 metres to a new terminus at Alamein, on 28 June 1948, the Ashburton line became the Alamein line.
In 1977, a signal panel was provided in the station building.<ref name=vicsigashburton/><ref name="signalbox">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Train Staff and Ticket safeworking system to Alamein was also abolished in that year.<ref name=vicsigashburton/><ref name=signalbox/>
A siding is located at the Flinders Street (up) end of the station. In July 1989, timetabled use of the siding ended, due to the vandalising of trains stabled there.<ref name="newsrailoct89">Template:Cite magazine</ref> However, from time to time, maintenance trains use the siding during track works.
On 1 February 1996, Ashburton was upgraded to a premium station.<ref name="newsrailoct97">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Also occurring in that year, the station was the first on the metropolitan railway system where the former Metcard ticketing system was trialled.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Platforms and services
Ashburton has one platform and is served by Alamein line trains.<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
| colspan="5" style="background:#Template:Rcr;background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #Template:Rcr); " |Riversdale platform arrangement | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Line | Destination | Via | Service Type |
| 1 | Template:RouteBox' | Camberwell, Flinders Street, Alamein | City Loop | All stations and limited express services |
Transport links
Ventura Bus Lines operates one bus route via Ashburton station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:
References
External links
- Melway map at street-directory.com.au