Clayton railway station, Melbourne
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian EnglishTemplate:Infobox station
Clayton railway station is a commuter railway station located in the suburb of the same name, in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.<ref name=":4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The station opened on 6 January 1880 as "Clayton's Road".<ref name=":52">Template:Cite book</ref> It did not receive its current name until 1890.<ref name=":52" /> It is approximately 17 kilometres from Flinders Street, or about 33 minutes by train.<ref name=":82">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":3" /> The station was previously at grade but, in 2018, a new, elevated station was opened, as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project.<ref name=":5" />
Clayton station is currently served by the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines which are both part of the Melbourne railway network. Additionally, the station is also served by the Gippsland line, which is a part of the Victorian regional railway network, and eight bus routes, including SmartBus route 703.<ref name=":42">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The station is approximately 17 kilometres (11.8 mi), or around a 33 minute train ride away, from Flinders Street.<ref name=":822">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":32">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Description
Clayton railway station is located in the suburb of Clayton. On the north side of the station is Carnish Road, and Clayton Road is to the west. The station is owned by VicTrack, a state government agency, and is operated by Metro Trains Melbourne.<ref name=":42" /> The station is approximately 19 kilometres (11.8 mi), or around a 33 minute train ride away, from Flinders Street.<ref name=":822" />
Clayton station consists of a single island platform which is located above the road, and is connected to Clayton Road through both a lift and an escalator. The length of the platform is approximately Template:Convert long enough for a Metro Trains 7-car HCMT.<ref name=":42" />
The main car park at the station is located in between both Haughton Road and Carnish Road, just south of the station.<ref name=":42" /> The station fully complies with the Disability Discrimination Act of 1992, as there is a lift that connects the station entrance with Platforms 1 and 2.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
History
Clayton station opened just over two years after the line from Oakleigh was extended to Dandenong. The station was originally called Clayton's Road, receiving its current name in 1890.<ref name=":52"/> The station, like the suburb itself, gets its name from the property Clayton Vale, owned by John Clayton in the 1860s and 1870s,<ref name=":52"/> which was located near the station.<ref name="vpclayton">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="heraldsun">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Two timber station buildings, now heritage listed, were constructed in 1891, with one on each platform. What sets the buildings apart was their modular design, which included a booking office, a general waiting area and a ladies waiting room.<ref name=heritage/> When the elevated new station was being constructed, the old station building on platform 2 was relocated and protected due to its historical status. It now contains an archival photographic record of the station.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 1971, boom barriers replaced interlocked gates at the former Clayton Road level crossing, which was located at the up end of the station.<ref name="divisionaldiaryjan72">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
In 1998, Clayton was upgraded to a premium station and staffed from early in the morning until the last train.<ref name="newsrailoct97">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Level crossing removal
In March 2014, the Victorian state government announced a grade separation project to replace the Clayton Road level crossing, as well as the Centre Road level crossing, located nearby in the down direction of the station. That necessitated the rebuilding of the station.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2016, the Andrews government announced that, as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP), Template:Convert of elevated rail would be provided, removing nine level crossings on the Pakenham and Cranbourne rail corridor, including the building of five new elevated stations at Carnegie, Murrumbeena, Hughesdale, Noble Park and Clayton.<ref name=":33">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Dubbed "sky rail" by opponents and some media outlets, the plans for an elevated railway spurred significant local opposition due to concerns over visual and noise impacts.<ref name=":12">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The project became a political issue in the 2018 state election.<ref name=":27">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In April 2018, the new, elevated Clayton station was opened, along with the four other elevated stations on the Caulfield to Dandenong line.<ref name=":5">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The removals created a large new section of open parkland, dubbed a "linear park".<ref name=":11">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This included Template:Convert of new open space, sports courts, playgrounds, new walking and cycling trails, and expanded station forecourts.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As part of the project, the Djerring Trail was created, a Template:Convert shared-use path along the rail corridor, which runs through the Clayton station precinct. In the year after the elevated rail opened in 2018, the media reported that many residents, including some who were opposed to the project, were happy with the outcome and utilised the new open space.<ref name=":25">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":26">Template:Cite news</ref>
Platforms and services
Clayton is an elevated premium station, consisting of an island platform connected to the station concourse on Clayton Road via escalators, lifts and a staircase.<ref name=":4" /> The station is served by both Pakenham and Cranbourne trains, and is also served by V/Line trains on the Gippsland line.<ref name=":3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Services to East Pakenham and Cranbourne travel together south-east towards Dandenong before splitting into two separate lines. Services to the city run express from Caulfield (Malvern during off-peak) to South Yarra, before stopping all stations to Flinders Street via the City Loop.<ref name=":3" /> Traralgon and Bairnsdale services run express to Nar Nar Goon, stopping at Dandenong and Pakenham, before stopping all stations after Nar Nar Goon. From Clayton regional services to the city run express to Richmond, stopping at Caulfield, before stopping all stations to Southern Cross.<ref name=":3" />
Current (Metro)
| colspan="5" style="background:#Template:Rcr;background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #Template:Rcr); " |Clayton platform arrangement | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Line | Destination | Via | Service Type |
| 1 | Template:RouteBox Template:RouteBox |
Flinders Street | City Loop | All stations and limited express services |
| 2 | Template:RouteBox Template:RouteBox |
East Pakenham, Cranbourne | All stations |
Current (V/Line)
| colspan="5" style="background:#Template:Rcr;background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #Template:Rcr); " |Clayton platform arrangement | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Line | Destination | Via | Notes |
| 1 | Template:RouteBox | Southern Cross | Flinders Street | Set down only |
| 2 | Template:RouteBox | Traralgon, Bairnsdale | Pick up only |
From 30 November 2025 to 1 February 2026
| colspan="6" style="background:#Template:Rcr;background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #Template:Rcr); " |Clayton platform arrangement | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Line | Destination | Via | Service Type | Notes |
| 1 | Template:RouteBox Template:RouteBox |
Flinders Street | City Loop | Limited express | |
| Template:RouteBox | Sunbury (weekends only), West Footscray | Town Hall | Between 10:00am and 3:00pm on weekdays, and between 10:00am and 7:00pm on weekends | ||
| 2 | Template:RouteBox Template:RouteBox |
East Pakenham, Cranbourne, Westall | All stations |
From 1 February 2026
| colspan="5" style="background:#Template:Rcr;background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #Template:Rcr); " |Clayton platform arrangement | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Line | Destination | Via | Service Type |
| 1 | Template:RouteBox Template:RouteBox |
Sunbury, Watergardens, West Footscray | Town Hall | Limited express |
| 2 | Template:RouteBox Template:RouteBox |
East Pakenham, Cranbourne | All stations |
Transport links
Clayton is served by eight bus routes, including SmartBus route 703. Routes 704, 821, 824, 978, 979 and northbound services on routes 631, 703 and 733 depart from the interchange on Carinish Road,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> whereas southbound services on route 631, 703 and 733 depart from the bus stop on Clayton Road.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Carinish Road
- Template:Color box: to Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre<ref name=":0" />
- SmartBus Template:Color box: to Blackburn station<ref name=":1" />
- Template:Color box: Oakleigh station – Westall station<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
- Template:Color box: to Box Hill station<ref name=":2" />
- Template:Color box: to Westfield Southland<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
- Template:Color box: Moorabbin station – Parkmore Shopping Centre<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
- Night Bus Template:Color box: to Dandenong station (via Mulgrave) (Saturday and Sunday mornings only)<ref name="ptv978">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Night Bus Template:Color box: to Dandenong station (via Keysborough) (Saturday and Sunday mornings only)<ref name="ptv979">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Clayton Road
- Template:Color box: to Westfield Southland<ref name=":0">Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
- SmartBus Template:Color box: to Middle Brighton station<ref name=":1">Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
- Template:Color box: to Oakleigh station<ref name=":2">Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
Suburban Rail Loop
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} In 2018, Clayton station has been chosen as one of the stations to be served by the proposed Suburban Rail Loop. As part of the project, the station will receive a major upgrade, which will involve construction of two new underground platforms, as well as the conversion of the station to a transport superhub.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In June 2022, construction began just south of the existing station.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Tunnelling is set to begin in 2026, and the eastern section of the SRL (SRL East) is planned to open in 2035.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A direct paid-area connection between the new underground station and elevated platforms is planned to be built between the elevated rail tracks.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Template:RouteBox services to Southland and Box Hill
References
External links
- Template:Commons category-inline
- Melway map at street-directory.com.au