Clifton Hill railway station
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:Infobox station
Clifton Hill railway station is a commuter railway station and the junction point on the Mernda and Hurstbridge lines, which are both part of the Melbourne railway network. It serves the north-eastern suburb of Clifton Hill, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Clifton Hill station is a ground-level premium station, featuring two side platforms. It opened on 8 May 1888, with the current station provided in 1990.<ref name="vicsigcliftonhill">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Immediately to the north of the station, the Mernda and Hurstbridge lines diverge.
History
Clifton Hill station opened on 8 May 1888, when a railway line between Collingwood and Heidelberg was provided.<ref name=vicsigcliftonhill/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Like the suburb itself, the station was named after the farm Clifton, which was named in 1841 by early landowner John Docker.<ref name="vpcliftonhill">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Land speculator John Knipe later named the area Clifton Hill.<ref name=vpcliftonhill/>
In December 1981, the station building was damaged by fire, although the heritage-registered verandah escaped serious damage. In 1990, the station was renovated, with a matching verandah built on the western platform (Platform 2).<ref name="newsrailoct97">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 1992, boom barriers replaced interlocked gates at the Ramsden Street level crossing, located nearby in the up direction of the station.<ref name="newsrailnov92">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Signal boxes "A" and "B" were also abolished in May of that year, with semaphore signals replaced by coloured light signals.<ref name=newsrailnov92/> On 25 June 1996, Clifton Hill was upgraded to a premium station.<ref name=newsrailoct97/>
Clifton Hill is listed on the Register of the National Estate<ref>Clifton Hill Railway Station Department of the Environment</ref> as an intact example of a Victorian Tudor-style suburban railway station, and is one of eleven that were originally built between 1887 and 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 (Platform 1) is also considered architecturally rare. Other features of the complex include two timber-framed gabled roofed signal boxes (built in 1888 and 1901 respectively), located on either side of Platform 2, and the original swinging railway gates (out of use since 1992).<ref>Clifton Hill Railway Station Complex Heritage Victoria</ref> One signal box was for the operation of the former level crossing gates across Heidelberg Road, which was replaced by a road overpass in 1957. The other signal box controlled the level crossing gates at Ramsden Street.
Clifton Hill was once part of the Inner Circle line. The Hurstbridge line, between Clifton Hill and Westgarth, was duplicated during late 2008 and early 2009, and included a second bridge over the Merri Creek. On 27 January 2009, it was opened by former premier, John Brumby, and former transport minister, Lynne Kosky.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
In the early hours of 25 December 2011, a corrugated iron extension to the Platform 2 station building was damaged by fire.<ref name="newsrailfeb12">Template:Cite magazine</ref> By 12 January 2012, the extension was demolished and removed.<ref name=newsrailfeb12/>
On 13 July 2025, an X'Trapolis train derailed near the station.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Platforms and services
Clifton Hill has two side platforms, connected by an underpass. Platform 1 contains an enclosed waiting area, while Platform 2 contains a semi-enclosed waiting area and toilets.
The station is serviced by Metro Trains' Mernda and Hurstbridge line services.<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref><ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
Current
| colspan="5" style="background:#Template:Rcr;background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #Template:Rcr); " |Clifton Hill platform arrangement | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Line | Destination | Service Type |
| 1 | Template:RouteBox Template:RouteBox |
Flinders Street | All stations and limited express services |
| 2 | Template:RouteBox | Reservoir, Epping, Mernda | All stations and limited express services |
| Template:RouteBox | Macleod, Greensborough, Eltham, Hurstbridge |
Transport links
Dysons operates two bus routes via Clifton Hill station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:
- Template:Color box: to Moonee Ponds Junction<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
- Template:Color box: Heidelberg station – University of Melbourne (off-peak extension to Queen Victoria Market)<ref name="ptv546">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Kinetic Melbourne operates one route via Clifton Hill station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:
Gallery
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Station building on Platform 2, August 2024 -
Station building and entrance to Platform 2, facing from Hoddle Highway, August 2024 -
Station building and entrance to Platform 1, August 2024 -
Northbound view from Platform 2, August 2024 -
The ramps, station building, verandah and PIDS on Platform 2, August 2024 -
The station's pedestrian underpass under Hoddle Highway, August 2024 -
The station's eastern car park and pedestrian underpass entrance, August 2024 -
The railway tracks where the Mernda and Hurstbridge lines diverge north of the station
