Essendon railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Essendon
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| Commuter and regional railway station | ||
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Northbound view from Platform 1
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| Location | Russell Street, Essendon Australia |
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| Coordinates | 37°45′22″S 144°54′58″E / 37.7560°S 144.9161°E | |
| Owned by | VicTrack | |
| Operated by | Metro | |
| Line(s) | Craigieburn | |
| Distance | 8.01 kilometres from Southern Cross | |
| Platforms | 3 (1 side, 1 island) | |
| Tracks | 3 | |
| Connections | Bus Tram |
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| Construction | ||
| Structure type | Ground | |
| Parking | 499 | |
| Bicycle facilities | Yes | |
| Disabled access | Yes | |
| Other information | ||
| Status | Premium station | |
| Station code | ESD | |
| Fare zone | Myki zone 1 | |
| Website | Public Transport Victoria | |
| History | ||
| Opened | 1 November 1860 | |
| Closed | 1 July 1864 | |
| Rebuilt | 9 October 1871 | |
| Electrified | Yes | |
| Traffic | ||
| Passengers (2014-2015) | Not measured | |
| Passengers (2015-2016) | 1.60 million  0.16% |
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| Passengers (2016-2017) | 1.75 million  9.6% |
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| Passengers (2017-2018) | 1.69 million 3.55% |
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| Services | ||
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Essendon railway station is a train station in Essendon, a northern suburb of Melbourne, Australia. It is part of the Craigieburn train line.
The station first opened on 1 November 1860. It was the end of the line for a private company called the Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company. The station closed for a few years but reopened on 9 October 1871. This time, the government owned it.
Contents
Station History
The train line heading north from Essendon opened in 1872. This was part of the North East line that went all the way to Wodonga.
Early Changes
In 1878, a brand new station was built. It had a single platform where the current island platform is now. In 1886, underground walkways and footbridges were added. The single platform was also changed into the island platform we see today.
Around the same time, a road bridge was built over the railway at Mount Alexander Road. This was one of the first projects in Victoria to separate a road from a railway line. This means the road went over or under the tracks, making it safer.
In 1909, the station buildings you see now were built. An extra track was also added between platforms 1 and 2.
Electric Trains and Upgrades
Electric train services started running between the city and Essendon in 1919. The electric lines were extended to Broadmeadows in 1921.
For a while, most local trains ended at Essendon. A smaller shuttle train ran further along the line until 1925. By 1941, trains ran all day directly from the city to Broadmeadows.
The station got its current layout in 1969. The extra middle track was removed. The old signal box, which controlled the train signals, was closed. New automatic signals were put in along the line. The old crossing gates at Buckley Street were replaced with modern boom barriers.
Recent Changes
On 20 September 2016, the Victorian government announced a big project. They planned to remove the level crossing at Buckley Street. A level crossing is where a road crosses train tracks at the same level.
Construction started in 2018. The level crossing was removed, and Buckley Street reopened on 28 September 2018. Now, Buckley Street goes under the railway line in a special trench.
As part of the Melbourne Metro Rail Tunnel project, Essendon Station will get upgrades. These changes will allow more trains to start their journeys from Essendon when the tunnel opens around 2025.
Platforms and Train Services
Essendon station has three platforms. One is an island platform with two sides, and the other is a single side platform.
The station serves trains from Metro Trains' Craigieburn line. It also serves V/Line Seymour services.
Platform 1
- This platform is mostly used for V/Line trains to pass other trains.
- It is rarely used for passengers, usually only during major disruptions.
Platform 2
- Craigieburn line: All-stations trains heading to Flinders Street in the city.
- Seymour line: Morning peak services (busy times) for V/Line trains going to Southern Cross.
Platform 3
- Craigieburn line: All-stations trains heading to Craigieburn.
- Seymour line: Evening peak services for V/Line trains going to Seymour.
Connecting Transport
Essendon station is a hub where you can connect to other types of transport like buses and trams.
Bus Routes
Several bus companies operate routes that stop at Essendon station:
- CDC Melbourne operates route 477: Moonee Ponds Junction – Broadmeadows station
- Kastoria Bus Lines operates:
- 469: Moonee Ponds Junction – Keilor East
- 476: Moonee Ponds Junction – Watergardens station
- Moonee Valley Coaches operates route 503: to Brunswick East
- Moreland Buslines operates route 510: to Ivanhoe station
- Ryan Brothers Bus Service operates:
- 465: to Keilor Park
- 468: to Highpoint Shopping Centre
- Sunbury Bus Service operates route 483: Sunbury station – Moonee Ponds Junction
- Transdev Melbourne operates SmartBus route 903: Altona station – Mordialloc station
Tram Routes
- Yarra Trams operates Route 59: Westfield Airport West – Elizabeth Street, City
Gallery
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H 220 leads the northbound Albury Express past the signalbox at Essendon, around 1949.
Images for kids
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Northbound view from Platform 1 in April 2005
