Richmond railway station, Melbourne facts for kids
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| Station information | |
|---|---|
| Code | RMD |
| Distance from Flinders St |
2.4 km |
| Line | Alamein, Bairnsdale, Belgrave, Cranbourne, Frankston, Glen Waverley, Lilydale, Pakenham, Sandringham |
| # Platforms | 10 |
| # Tracks | 10 |
| Status | Premium station |
| Metlink profile | Link |
| Melway map | Link |
| Google map | Link |
| GPS Coordinates | 37°49′25″S 144°59′20″E |
| Zone | 1 |
Richmond station is a busy railway station located in Richmond, a part of Melbourne, Australia. This station is special because it's built on a bridge right over Punt Road.
Richmond station has ten platforms, which are like long waiting areas for trains. These platforms are connected by three underground walkways called subways. It's a major hub where many of Melbourne's eastern and south-eastern train lines meet. These lines include:
- Frankston
- Glen Waverley
- Pakenham
- Sandringham
- Cranbourne
- Belgrave
- Lilydale
- Alamein
The station is about 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) from Flinders Street Station, which is Melbourne's main train station. Richmond station is super close to big sports venues like the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Punt Road Oval, and Melbourne Park. This means it gets very busy when there are sports games or other big events happening!
You can also catch Tram route 70 right past Richmond Station along Swan Street. Underneath the station, Punt Road has a big intersection with Swan Street and Brunton Avenue.
Contents
The History of Richmond Station
Richmond station has been moved and rebuilt four times over the years. It's had quite a journey!
First Station (1859)
The very first station in Punt Road was at ground level. It opened on 8 February, 1859. But it didn't stay open for long. It closed that same year on 12 December, 1859. On the very same day, a brand new station opened nearby in Swan Street.
Second Station (1885)
In 1885, another new station was built just north of Swan Street. This one was different because it was raised up, not at ground level. It had six platforms. For a little while, both the old ground-level station and this new raised station were used. But eventually, the ground-level Swan Street station closed down.
Modern Station (1960)
By the 1940s, the station that was built in 1885 started to get old and fall apart. It was in such bad shape that the local council even suggested it should be torn down! However, a new station wasn't built for another 20 years. Finally, on 26 March, 1960, the current station opened. It was built a bit to the west of the old one. The bridges at both ends of the station, over Punt Road and Swan Street, were also rebuilt to fit the ten train tracks. After the new station was ready, the old one was pulled down.
Why the Station Was Considered for Updates
In 2005, the condition of Richmond station became a topic of discussion again. Melbourne was getting ready to host the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Richmond station was a main entry point for many of the sports venues. People thought the station looked a bit dull and unwelcoming. Because it was a raised station, it didn't have much shelter, making it windy and cold sometimes. It also had steep ramps and stairs, and no lifts, which made it hard for some people to use. The government thought about building a brand new station, but they decided it would cost too much money at the time.
Richmond Station in Movies
Did you know that Richmond station has even been in a movie? The very first scene of the movie Romper Stomper was filmed at Richmond station. In the movie, it was called Footscray station.
Images for kids
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Westbound view from Platform 1, showing the junction of Punt Road and Olympic Boulevard to the left, and the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in the distance, in January 2021.
