Deer Park railway station
Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:Infobox station
Deer Park railway station is a regional railway station on the Ararat and Warrnambool lines. It serves the western suburb of Deer Park, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Deer Park station is an elevated premium station, featuring two side platforms. It opened on 2 April 1884, with the current station provided in April 2023.<ref name="vicsigdeerpark">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Initially opened as Kororoit, the station was given its current name of Deer Park on 3 December 1889.<ref name="vicsigdeerpark">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
History
Deer Park station opened as Kororoit on 2 April 1884, along with the Serviceton line, and was renamed Deer Park in 1899, by which time the station had a three road yard, passenger platform on the southern track, a goods platform on the northern track, and an interlocked signal box. Being on a single track railway, it served as a crossing loop for trains, which remained until 1913, when the signal box was abolished.<ref name=vrhistory>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 1928, a siding serving Nobel Chemical Finishes (Australia) Pty Ltd was provided at the up (Spencer Street) end of the station, running north to a loop siding and dead end. In 1929, alterations were made to the electric staff working of trains, to permit workers trains to operate to the Nobel factories at Ardeer and Deer Park. In 1943, the signal box was reopened, in conjunction with the opening of the new Ravenhall siding (Commonwealth Government Siding), at the down end of the yard. The new siding ran south from the line to a loop siding, before terminating at a dead end.<ref name=vrhistory/> Also occurring in that year, flashing light signals were provided at the former Mount Derrimut Road level crossing (then known as Station Road), which was located at the up end of the station.<ref name="somersaultjan92">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
The Nobel siding (later ICIANZ) was closed in 1955 and, in 1976, the line from Sunshine to Deer Park West Junction was duplicated,<ref name=vicsigdeerpark/><ref name="newsrailmay74">Template:Cite magazine</ref> with the current island platform also provided.<ref name=newsrailmay74/> The signal box was closed, and the line was worked by Centralised Traffic Control from Sunshine. Crossovers between both lines were provided at each end of the platform. In 1978, the Ravenhall siding was abolished.
In 1981, boom barriers were provided at the former Mount Derrimut Road level crossing.<ref name=vrhistory/><ref name="somersaultjan90">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 1987, one of the loop sidings in the yard was removed, with the last siding removed in 1989, leaving only the main line and platform.<ref name=vrhistory/> In 2005, as part of the Regional Fast Rail project, control of the signalling was transferred to the Ballarat signal box.<ref name="interlocking">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In September 2009, an upgrade of Deer Park station commenced, including:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- 150 paved car-parking spaces;
- improved station access, lighting and signage;
- improved station security via CCTV;
- retain as many trees as possible, as well as planting new trees;
- protect native grasses to the east of the new car park.
In June 2015, the junction of the Deer Park – West Werribee line, part of the Regional Rail Link project, opened three kilometres west of Deer Park.<ref>Deer Park - West Werribee Junction Regional Rail Link</ref><ref name="railgeelong">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The year prior, during major construction works, the station underwent a minor upgrade as part of the project. There were changes to the platform and the car-park, and safety fences were installed between the tracks and the car-park waiting area.
First announced by the Andrews State Government in 2018, the station is set to be integrated into the metropolitan railway network, as part of the Western Rail Plan.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
As part of the Regional Rail Revival project, Template:Convert of track was duplicated between Deer Park West and Melton. It was provided in late 2019, coinciding with the opening of Cobblebank.<ref name=vicsigdeerpark/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
As part of the Level Crossing Removal Project, the Mount Derrimut Road level crossing was grade separated and the station rebuilt in April 2023.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The railway line was elevated over the road, along with the rebuilt station.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Construction began in 2021, with the station and adjacent road reopening on 24 April 2023.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Deer Park is also the first station in Victoria to have a roof garden<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Platforms and services
Deer Park has two side platforms. It is serviced by V/Line Ballarat, Ararat and Geelong line services, as well as selected weekend Warrnambool line services.<ref>Ballarat - Melbourne timetable Public Transport Victoria</ref><ref>Geelong - Melbourne timetable Public Transport Victoria</ref>
| colspan="5" style="background:#Template:Rcr;background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #Template:Rcr); " |Deer Park platform arrangement | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Line | Destination | Service Type | Notes |
| 1 | Template:RouteBox Template:RouteBox Template:RouteBox Template:RouteBox Template:RouteBox |
Southern Cross | Maryborough line: One daily V/Line service | |
| 2 | Template:RouteBox Template:RouteBox Template:RouteBox Template:RouteBox Template:RouteBox |
Melton, Bacchus Marsh, Wendouree, Ararat, Wyndham Vale, Geelong, South Geelong, Marshall, Waurn Ponds, Warrnambool |
Transport links
CDC Melbourne operates one bus route via Deer Park station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:
- Template:Color box: Sunshine station – Laverton station (shared with Transit Systems Victoria)<ref name=t400/>
Transit Systems Victoria operates three routes via Deer Park station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:
- Template:Color box: Sunshine station – Laverton station (shared with CDC Melbourne)<ref name=t400>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
- Template:Color box: Sunshine station – Watergardens station<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
- Template:Color box: Sunshine station – Brimbank Central Shopping Centre<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
Gallery
-
Eastbound view of former ground level Platform 1, September 2010 -
Westbound view of platforms, with works for the station rebuilding and level crossing removal in the background, November 2022 -
Eastbound view from Platform 2, May 2023
References
External links
- Template:Commons category-inline
- Victorian Railway Stations gallery
- Melway map at street-directory.com.au