Essendon railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Essendon
PTV commuter and regional rail station
Southbound view from Platform 2, September 2018
Location	Russell Street, Essendon, Victoria 3040 City of Moonee Valley Australia
Coordinates	37°45′22″S 144°54′58″E / 37.7560°S 144.9161°E / -37.7560; 144.9161
Owned by	VicTrack
Operated by	Metro Trains V/Line
Line(s)	Craigieburn Lua error: expandTemplate: template "V/Line color" does not exist. Lua error: expandTemplate: template "V/Line color" does not exist. (Tocumwal)
Distance	8.01 kilometres from Southern Cross
Platforms	3 (1 side, 1 island)
Tracks	3
Connections	Bus Tram
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Parking	499
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Other information
Status	Operational, premium station
Station code	ESD
Fare zone	Myki Zone 1
Website	Public Transport Victoria
History
Opened	1 November 1860; 164 years ago (1860-11-01)
Closed	1 July 1864
Rebuilt	9 October 1871
Electrified	May 1919 (1500 V DC overhead)
Traffic
2005–2018 numbers Passengers (2005–2006) 1,453,109 Passengers (2006–2007) 1,494,586  2.85% Passengers (2007–2008) 1,673,602  11.97% Passengers (2008–2009) 1,680,211  0.39% Passengers (2009–2010) 1,736,588  3.35% Passengers (2010–2011) 1,702,189  1.98% Passengers (2011–2012) 1,670,551  1.86% Passengers (2012–2013) Not measured Passengers (2013–2014) 1,599,832  4.23% Passengers (2014–2015) 1,570,121  1.85% Passengers (2015–2016) 1,597,247  1.72% Passengers (2016–2017) 1,750,538  9.59% Passengers (2017–2018) 1,688,377  3.55%
Passengers (2018–2019)	1,480,050  12.34%
Passengers (2019–2020)	1,298,700  12.25%
Passengers (2020–2021)	579,150  55.4%
Passengers (2021–2022)	723,050  24.84%
Passengers (2022–2023)	1,160,200  60.46%
Passengers (2023–2024)	1,312,800  13.15%
Services
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Essendon railway station is a busy train station in the northern suburb of Essendon, Melbourne, Australia. It's part of both the local Craigieburn line and the longer-distance Seymour line. This station is a "premium station," which means it offers more services and facilities for passengers.

The station is at ground level and has three platforms. There's one side platform and one island platform with two sides for trains. Essendon station first opened on November 1, 1860. The station you see today was built in 1871.

History of Essendon Station

Essendon station first opened its doors on November 1, 1860. It was the end of the line for a private railway company called the Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company.

However, the station closed down on July 1, 1864. It reopened a few years later, on October 9, 1871, but this time it was owned by the government. In 1872, the railway line was extended further north. The station, like the suburb, was named after a place called Essendon in England.

Station Upgrades Over Time

In 1878, a brand new station was built. It had a single platform where the current island platform is now. Later, in 1886, underground walkways (subways) and footbridges were added. This was also when the island platform got its current design.

Around the same time, a special bridge was built for the railway over Mount Alexander Road. This was one of the first projects to separate train tracks from roads in Victoria, making it safer. In 1909, the station buildings you see today were constructed. A middle track was also added between Platforms 1 and 2.

Electric Trains Arrive

In May 1919, electric train services started running between the city and Essendon. The electric lines were extended to Broadmeadows in 1921. For many years, most local trains ended their journey at Essendon. A shuttle train then took people further north until 1925. Full-day services to Broadmeadows only began in 1941.

Modern Changes and Safety

In 1969, the station got its current layout. The middle track was removed, and the old signal box (which controlled train movements) was closed. New automatic signals were put in place along the line. The old railway gates at Buckley Street were replaced with modern boom barriers, which are much safer. A control panel for signals was also placed inside the station office that year.

In 1987, trains stopped being stored overnight at Essendon. The overhead electric wires for these storage tracks were removed in 1988. Some old side tracks near Rose Street were also taken away.

On August 16, 1996, Essendon was officially made a "premium station." This means it has more staff and services available for passengers. In June 2014, the signal control panel was removed as train operations became more automated.

Buckley Street Level Crossing Removal

On September 20, 2016, the Victorian State Government announced a big project. They planned to remove the level crossing at Buckley Street. This is where the road crossed the train tracks at the same level. Construction started in 2018. The level crossing was removed, and Buckley Street reopened on September 28, 2018. Now, Buckley Street goes under the railway line in a special trench. This makes the area much safer and helps traffic flow better.

There were plans to upgrade the station for the Melbourne Metro Rail Tunnel project, which opened in 2025. These upgrades would have allowed more trains to start their journeys at Essendon. However, these specific plans were later removed from the project.

Platforms and Train Services

Essendon station has three platforms for trains.

• Platform 1 is a side platform.
• Platforms 2 and 3 are part of an island platform.

Platform 1 is mainly used by V/Line trains to pass local Metro Trains services. It's also used when shorter, three-car trains end their journey here, as it's not long enough for a full six-car train.

The station serves trains on the Craigieburn line and some V/Line Seymour line services.

Train Services from Each Platform

• Platform 1:
  • This platform is mostly a Passing loop for V/Line trains. It's also used by shorter passenger trains during big disruptions.

• Platform 2:
  •  Craigieburn line  All local trains heading to Flinders Street in the city.
  • <span style="background-color:#Lua error: expandTemplate: template "V/Line color" does not exist.; border:1px solid #Lua error: expandTemplate: template "V/Line color" does not exist.;"> Seymour line  Three V/Line services on weekday mornings go to Southern Cross. Passengers can only get off here.
  • <span style="background-color:#Lua error: expandTemplate: template "V/Line color" does not exist.; border:1px solid #Lua error: expandTemplate: template "V/Line color" does not exist.;"> Shepparton line  One V/Line service on weekday mornings goes to Southern Cross. Passengers can only get off here.

• Platform 3:
  •  Craigieburn line  All local trains heading to Craigieburn.
  • <span style="background-color:#Lua error: expandTemplate: template "V/Line color" does not exist.; border:1px solid #Lua error: expandTemplate: template "V/Line color" does not exist.;"> Seymour line  Four V/Line services on weekday evenings go to Seymour. Passengers can only get on here.
  • <span style="background-color:#Lua error: expandTemplate: template "V/Line color" does not exist.; border:1px solid #Lua error: expandTemplate: template "V/Line color" does not exist.;"> Shepparton line  One V/Line service on weekday evenings goes to Shepparton. Passengers can only get on here.

Getting Around: Transport Links

Essendon station is a hub for many different ways to travel.

Bus Routes

Ten different bus routes stop at Essendon station. These buses are run by different companies under contract to Public Transport Victoria.

•  465 : Travels to Keilor Park.
•  468 : Travels to Highpoint Shopping Centre.
•  469 : Travels between Moonee Ponds Junction and Keilor East.
•  476 : Travels between Watergardens station and Moonee Ponds Junction.
•  477 : Travels between Moonee Ponds Junction and Broadmeadows station.
•  483 : Travels between Sunbury station and Moonee Ponds Junction.
•  503 : Travels to Brunswick East.
•  510 : Travels to Ivanhoe station.
• SmartBus  903 : Travels between Altona station and Mordialloc.
• Night Bus  959 : Travels between Queen Street in the city and Broadmeadows station. This bus runs only on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Tram Route

One tram route also operates via Essendon station:

• : This tram travels between Airport West and Flinders Street station (via Elizabeth Street).

Images for kids

• 

  H 220 leads the northbound Albury Express past the signal box at Essendon, c. 1949

• 

  Northbound view from Platform 1, April 2005