Rockbank railway station
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Rockbank railway station is a regional railway station on the Ararat line, located in the western suburb of Rockbank, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> The station initially opened as "Mount Atkinson" on 2 April 1884, then it was given its current name of Rockbank in November 1889.<ref name="VRHstory3">Template:Cite web</ref>
The station is an unstaffed, ground-level station, featuring two side platforms. The current station was provided in 2019 by the Regional Rail Revival project.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The station is accessible, utilising a pedestrian overpass, lifts, and ramps for platform access.<ref name=":1" />
Rockbank station serves the Ballarat and Ararat lines, which are part of V/Line's regional passenger network. The station is served by the 444 bus route to Aintree.<ref name=":2" /> The journey to Southern Cross railway station, the hub of the V/Line railway network, is approximately Template:Convert.
Description
Rockbank station is at Leakes Road, Melbourne, a major road which forms the station's eastern boundary. A level crossing is also present.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref> The station is located near Rockbank's primary school, general store, and housing estates. The state government agency VicTrack owns the station, and it is primarily operated by V/Line. It is approximately Template:Convert away from Southern Cross railway station. The adjacent stations are Caroline Springs station up towards Melbourne and Cobblebank station down towards Ballarat or Ararat.<ref name=":0" />
The station consists of two side platforms with a total of two platform edges. A pedestrian bridge links the two platforms, delivered by Kyriacou Architects and SMEC Holdings. The bridge's brown colour represents the earth surrounding the station.<ref name=":8">Template:Cite web</ref>
The current station is entirely different from its original state, as both platforms were demolished for the new station's construction in 2018.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The station has 350 car parking spaces and 26 bike cage facilities (known as Parkiteers).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> To meet accessibility needs, the station has lifts and ramps.<ref name=":1" />
History
Original station
The station opened as Mount Atkinson on 2 April 1884, as part of the extension of the Serviceton line,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and was renamed Rockbank in 1889. The station was established to serve the local farming communities of Rockbank.<ref name=":3" /> Being on a single track railway line, it was used as a crossing loop, and continued to be used as such until 2021, when the single-track section between Deer Park West and Melton was converted to dual track.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
By 1914, the station had a rail yard with three tracks. The south track housed the passenger platform, and the north track had a goods shed. The station's signal box was interlocked.<ref name="VicsigRockbank">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="VRHstory">Template:Cite web</ref> With a chaff mill established in 1908, and a recreation reserve located nearby, the station became the focus of the Rockbank community.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1960, the crossing loop was extended to accommodate trains up to 730 metres long, and a short platform was provided on the loop road. In 1976, Centralised Traffic Control was provided on the line from Sunshine to Rockbank. The same year, flashing light signals were provided at the Leakes Road level crossing, located nearby in the up direction of the station.<ref name=VicsigRockbank/> By the 1970s, the mill siding was no longer in use. The station building was later demolished Template:Circa.<ref name=":3" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A year later, in 1986, the yard was simplified to two tracks: a main line and a crossing loop.<ref name="VicsigRockbank" /> In 1990, the mechanical signals and switches were removed, and replaced by Automatic and Track Control.<ref name="VicsigRockbank" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> A new platform, parallel to the size of the southbound platform, was provided in 1993. It replaced the original short platform which was located on the passing loop.<ref name="VicsigRockbank" /><ref name=":3" />
In 2002, boom barriers were provided at the Leakes Road level crossing.<ref name=VicsigRockbank/> In 2005, control of the signals was transferred to the Ballarat signal box, as part of the Regional Fast Rail project.<ref name=VRHstory/> Between 2015–2019, at least six crashes occurred at the Leakes Road level crossing, with 2 serious collisions and 8 injuries.<ref name=":5" />
Reconstructed station
In March 2018, work began on the reconstruction of the station as part of the Regional Rail Revival project.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The station upgrade was managed by Kyriacou Architects and SMEC Holdings, in partnership with Lendlease and Coleman Rail.<ref name=":8" /> The side platforms were rebuilt to fit six-carriage VLocity trains, and an accessible pedestrian overpass was installed over the tracks, accessed by lifts, ramps and stairs.<ref name=":1" /> Other new facilities included a car park with capacity for up to 350 cars, a bus interchange, secure bike storage areas (Parkiteers), and drop-off zones.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref>
On 26 August 2019, the rebuilt station was opened to passengers.<ref name=":1" /> Following the upgrade, there was a 114.63% increase in passenger movements at the station.<ref name="patronage2013-2021" /> This increased patronage has led to some media attention, with particular concerns being raised that there is insufficient parking.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 2 December 2019, Transit Systems Victoria commenced operation of a bus route via Rockbank station, connecting it to the suburb of Aintree.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The station is set to be integrated into the metropolitan railway network, as part of the rail electrification from Sunshine railway station to Melton under the Western Rail Plan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, there have been no confirmations regarding the integration since the announcement in 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Platforms and services
Rockbank has two side platforms. It is served by V/Line Ballarat and Ararat line trains. The Ballarat line runs between Ballarat railway station and Southern Cross railway station in the Melbourne CBD.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Ararat line takes a similar route, but continues beyond Ballarat to Ararat railway station.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
| colspan="5" style="background:#Template:Rcr;background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #Template:Rcr); " |Rockbank platform arrangement | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Line | Destination | Service Type | Notes |
| 1 | Template:RouteBox Template:RouteBox Template:RouteBox |
Southern Cross | Maryborough line: One daily V/Line service | |
| 2 | Template:RouteBox Template:RouteBox |
Melton, Bacchus Marsh, Wendouree, Ararat |
Transport links
Rockbank station has an accessible bus interchange with six bus bays. The bus interchange also serves as a train replacement coach stop.<ref name=":4" />
Transit Systems Victoria operates one route via Rockbank station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:
- Template:Color box: to Aintree<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>
References
External links
- Template:Commons category-inline
- Rail Geelong gallery
- Victorian Railway Stations gallery
- Melway map at street-directory.com.au