Kangaroo Flat railway station
Template:Short description Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox station
Kangaroo Flat railway station is a regional railway station on the Deniliquin line, part of the Victorian railway network. It serves the southern suburb of Kangaroo Flat, in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. Kangaroo Flat station is a ground level unstaffed station, featuring two side platforms. It opened on 1 February 1874.<ref name="VicsigKangarooFlat">Kangaroo Flat Vicsig</ref>
Initially opened as Kangaroo Flat, the station was renamed to Kangaroo on 9 May 1904. Then was given its current name of Kangaroo Flat on 17 July 1916, back to its original station name.<ref name="VicsigKangarooFlat"/>
History
The contract for the construction of Kangaroo Flat was let in 1862. In 1904, it was renamed Kangaroo, resuming its original identity in 1916. By 1926, facilities included a signal frame, a pair of side platforms on the double track line, a goods siding and shed on the eastern side of the line, and a crossover between tracks. In 1938, the stationmaster was withdrawn, with the station being worked by the porter-in-charge, under "caretaker" conditions.<ref name=VRHistory>Kangaroo Flat Victorian Station Histories</ref>
From 1889, the station was a block point, under the Winters Block system, but it could be "switched out" in times of quieter traffic. That status remained until 1980, when the signal box was only "switched in" when required. In 1987, the signal box was closed, and all points and signals removed.<ref name=VRHistory/><ref name="newsrail">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
After a fire in 1990 that caused extensive damage, the station building was left unused, and only two trains per weekday stopped at the station.<ref>Kangaroo Flat is back V/Line Voice issue 35 April 2008</ref> In 2002, the exterior of the station building and the former goods shed were restored.<ref name="newsrailjune02">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The Regional Fast Rail project in 2005 saw the line towards Melbourne singled south of the station.<ref>Locals may lose services due to Fast Rail project ABC News 11 June 2004</ref>
Following a community-led campaign for better services in Bendigo's southern growth corridor, an upgrade of the station was announced in February 2008, involving the construction of a new booking office, a 50-bay car park and bus interchange, and the refurbishment of the waiting room.<ref>Liberals say petition prompts Kangaroo Flat train station revamp ABC News 13 February 2008</ref> In January 2014, the platforms were extended, to accommodate longer trains.<ref>Plan to extend V/Line platforms Bendigo Advertiser 8 January 2014</ref>
Disused stations Ravenswood and Harcourt are located between Kangaroo Flat and Castlemaine, whilst disused station Golden Square is located between Kangaroo Flat and Bendigo.
Accidents and incidents
On 15 February 2017, V/Line VLocity set VL34 derailed after colliding with a vehicle that had been abandoned on the line near Kangaroo Flat. Two people were taken to hospital.<ref name=Bendigo>Template:Cite web</ref>
Platforms and services
Kangaroo Flat has two side platforms. Platform 1 is used by almost all V/Line Bendigo, Echuca and Swan Hill line services travelling in both directions. Platform 2 is used by one Bendigo line service towards Eaglehawk every weekday.<ref>Bendigo - Melbourne timetable Public Transport Victoria</ref>
| colspan="5" style="background:#Template:Rcr;background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #Template:Rcr); " |Kangaroo Flat platform arrangement | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Line | Destination | Service Type | Notes |
| 1 | Template:RouteBox Template:RouteBox Template:RouteBox |
Southern Cross, Bendigo, Epsom, Eaglehawk, Echuca, Swan Hill | All stations and limited express services | |
| 2 | Template:RouteBox | Eaglehawk | All stations | One weekday service |
Transport links
Christian's Bus Company operates one route via Kangaroo Flat station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:
- Template:Color box: Huntly – Kangaroo Flat<ref>5 Huntly - Kangaroo Flat via Bendigo Station Public Transport Victoria</ref>
References
External links
- Template:Commons category-inline
- Victorian Railway Stations gallery
- Melway map at street-directory.com.au