Eltham railway station, Melbourne

Eltham railway station is a commuter railway station on the Hurstbridge line, which is part of the Melbourne railway network. It serves the north-eastern suburb of Eltham, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Eltham station is a ground level premium station, featuring an island platform. It opened on 5 June 1902, with the current platforms provided in 1960 and the upgrades in 2013.<ref name="VicsigEltham">Template:Cite web</ref>

Eltham is the terminus for half of all services on the line.<ref name=":0" /> Five stabling sidings are located to the west of Platform 2, with the site previously having been a goods yard. The last timber trestle bridge on the Melbourne suburban network is located to the south of the station.

History

Eltham station opened on 5 June 1902, when the railway line from Heidelberg was extended.<ref name=VicsigEltham/> It remained a terminus until June 1912, when the line was extended to Hurstbridge.<ref name=VicsigEltham/> Like the suburb itself, the station is named after the district of Eltham in Kent, England.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1960, Platform 1 was converted from a south-facing bay platform to a through platform, with a connection to the main line provided at the down end of the station.<ref name=VicsigEltham/> Also in that year, the current station building was provided.<ref name="newsrailoct97">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 1969, flashing light signals were provided at the Diamond Street level crossing, located nearby in the down direction from the station.<ref name=VicsigEltham/>

In 1977, a ramped goods platform was abolished, with a goods shed believed to be demolished around the same time.<ref name=newsrailoct97/> By 1984, goods traffic to and from the station ceased.<ref name=newsrailoct97/> In 1987, boom barriers were provided at the Diamond Street level crossing.<ref name="newsrailjan87">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

On 4 July 1996, Eltham was upgraded to a premium station.<ref name=newsrailoct97/> A minor refurbishment of the station also occurred during this time.<ref name=newsrailoct97/>

On 25 December 2011, following a large storm and subsequent flooding, parts of the line at the down end of the level crossing were washed away.<ref name=VicsigEltham/><ref name="newsrailfeb12">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The flooding also eroded a culvert, exposing a small timber bridge.<ref name=VicsigEltham/><ref name=newsrailfeb12/>

Eltham was one of the last stations in Melbourne to be controlled by mechanical safeworking, including the use of semaphore signals. It was also a break between two different types of safeworking: Greensborough to Eltham was controlled by miniature electric staff, whilst Eltham to Hurstbridge was controlled by train staff and ticket. Both safeworking systems were converted to Automatic Track Control (ATC) in early 2013.<ref>Hurstbridge Line Template:Webarchive VICSIG. Retrieved 25 April 2014.</ref> A new amenities building for train drivers was constructed around that time, as well as an upgrade to the stabling sidings.<ref name=VicsigEltham/>

On 15 May 2019, the Level Crossing Removal Project announced that planning for the duplication of 3 km of track between Eltham and Greensborough was underway, with early works began in 2021, with major construction started in 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Eltham Trestle Bridge would not be affected by the project. The project was completed in 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Platforms and services

Eltham has one island platform with two faces. Trains in either direction can depart from either platform, although Hurstbridge bound services almost always depart from Platform 1, and Flinders Street bound services usually depart from Platform 2.

It is served by Hurstbridge line trains.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite PTV route</ref>

Current

colspan="5" style="background:#Template:Rcr;background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #Template:Rcr); " |Eltham platform arrangement
Platform	Line	Destination	Service Type
1	Template:RouteBox	Hurstbridge, Flinders Street	All stations and limited express services
2	Template:RouteBox	Hurstbridge, Flinders Street	All stations and limited express services

Transport links

Dysons operates six routes via Eltham station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

• Template:Color box: to Glenroy station (via Lower Plenty)<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
• Template:Color box: to Glenroy station (via Greensborough)<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
• Template:Color box: to Warrandyte<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
• Template:Color box: to Warrandyte<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
• Template:Color box: to Diamond Creek<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
• Template:Color box: to Eltham station (Eltham Town Service)<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>

Kinetic Melbourne operates one SmartBus route via Eltham station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

• SmartBus Template:Color box: Chelsea station – Westfield Airport West<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>

Gallery

• Southbound view from Platform 2, November 2013
  Southbound view from Platform 2,
  November 2013
• A Metro X'Trapolis train crosses the trestle bridge, November 2013
  A Metro X'Trapolis train crosses the trestle bridge, November 2013
• Southbound view from Platform 1, June 2024
  Southbound view from Platform 1, June 2024
• Southbound view from Platform 2, with two X'Trapolis trains seen sitting in the station sidings, August 2024
  Southbound view from Platform 2, with two X'Trapolis trains seen sitting in the station sidings, August 2024
• Southbound view of the station platforms, August 2024
  Southbound view of the station platforms,
  August 2024

External links

• Template:Commons category-inline
• Melway map at street-directory.com.au