Bentleigh railway station
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:Infobox station
Bentleigh railway station is a commuter railway station on the Frankston line, which is part of the Melbourne railway network. It serves the south-eastern suburb of Bentleigh, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Bentleigh station is a below ground premium station, featuring three platforms, an island platform with two faces and one side platform. It opened on 19 December 1881, with the current station provided in August 2016.<ref name="VicsigBentleigh">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Initially opened as East Brighton, the station was given its current name of Bentleigh on 1 May 1907.<ref name="VicsigBentleigh">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
History
Bentleigh station opened on 19 December 1881, when the railway line from Caulfield was extended to Mordialloc.<ref name=VicsigBentleigh/> Like the suburb itself, the station was named after Thomas Bent, former Premier of Victoria between 1904 and 1909.<ref name="vpbentleigh">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="heraldsun">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
A goods siding once existed at the station. It closed in 1922, and the connections to the siding were removed in that same year.<ref name=VicsigBentleigh/> In 1944, a crossover at the down end of the station was abolished.<ref name=VicsigBentleigh/>
In 1974, boom barriers replaced interlocked gates at the former Centre Road level crossing, which was located at the down end of the station.<ref name="newsrailfeb75">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
On 28 June 1987, the up face of the former ground level island platform was brought into use.<ref name="newsrailsep87">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The former pedestrian underpass was also provided during this time.
In 1998, Bentleigh was upgraded to a premium station.<ref name="newsrailoct97">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Prior to the works, Bentleigh closely resembled McKinnon. Also around this time, the underpass was filled in.
In 2006, the station's former pedestrian level crossing was upgraded as part of a VicTrack trial of new crossing technology. Additional warning devices were also fitted, with the common red pedestrian sign, as well as an LED light box saying "Another Train Coming", which is lit when either an express train is approaching on the southbound line, or when a train is approaching after another train on the northbound line.
In May 2015, the Level Crossing Removal Authority announced a grade separation project to replace the Centre Road level crossing, immediately south of the station. This included rebuilding the station.<ref>First to go level crossings in Melbourne's south-east top Andrew's election promise to-do list The Age 19 May 2015</ref> On 4 June 2016, the station closed for demolition. On 29 August of that year, the rebuilt station opened.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Bentleigh was one of the stations set to receive funding through the Morrison government's controversial Commuter Car Park Scheme, where funding was allocated to stations without consultation with local councils, and which the Auditor-General labelled "pork-barrelling".<ref name="theage.com.au">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As of 2021, City of Glen Eira was starting community consultation over the proposal, with concerns that the funding was "tainted".<ref name="theage.com.au"/>
Platforms and services
Bentleigh has one island platform with two faces, and one side platform. It is serviced by Metro Trains' Frankston line services.<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
Current
| colspan="6" style="background:#Template:Rcr;background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #Template:Rcr); " |Bentleigh platform arrangement | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Line | Destination | Via | Service Type | Notes |
| 1 | Template:RouteBox | Flinders Street, Werribee, Williamstown | Flinders Street | All stations and limited express services | |
| 2 | Template:RouteBox | Services may occasionally stop at this platform. Peak hour services run express through this station. | |||
| 3 | Template:RouteBox | Frankston | All stations |
From 1 February 2026
| colspan="6" style="background:#Template:Rcr;background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #Template:Rcr); " |Bentleigh platform arrangement | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Line | Destination | Via | Service Type | Notes |
| 1 | Template:RouteBox | Flinders Street | City Loop | All stations and limited express services | |
| 2 | Template:RouteBox | Services may occasionally stop at this platform. Peak hour services run express through this station. | |||
| 3 | Template:RouteBox | Frankston | All stations |
Transport links
Ventura Bus Lines operates two routes via Bentleigh station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:
- Template:Color box: to Oakleigh station<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
- SmartBus Template:Color box: Middle Brighton station – Blackburn station<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
Gallery
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Southbound view from the former ground level Platform 3, June 2014, prior to demolition
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Southbound view from Platform 3, August 2016
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Station concourse and entrance, December 2018
