Southland railway station

Southland railway station is a railway station on the Frankston line in the Melbourne suburb of Cheltenham.

Southland
Commuter rail station
Looking south in November 2017
LocationBay Road, Cheltenham, Victoria
Australia
Coordinates37°57′32″S 145°02′57″E
Owned byVicTrack
Operated byMetro Trains
Line(s)Frankston
Distance21.30 kilometres from Southern Cross
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
Construction
Structure typeAt grade
Disabled accessYes
Other information
StatusHost station
Station codeSOU
Fare zone2
WebsitePublic Transport Victoria
History
Opened26 November 2017
ElectrifiedYes
Services
Preceding station Metro Trains Following station
Highett
towards Werribee or Williamstown via Flinders Street
 Frankston line Cheltenham
towards Frankston

History

19th century

The first proposal for a railway station between Highett and Cheltenham stations, at Bay Road, occurred during the construction of the Frankston line in the early 1880s. The push was led by the Shire of Moorabbin, whose president for some of that decade was Thomas Bent, a land developer and, later, premier of Victoria. Agitation continued through the 1880s, but was discontinued in the early 1890s, by which time the shire had other concerns demanding its attention, with a major economic depression having begun.[1]

1960s

When Westfield Southland (then Southland Shopping Centre) opened in September 1968, discussions were raised on whether a railway station would be built on the Frankston line, adjacent to land then-occupied by the St John of God home for boys. Despite this, plans were not submitted.[2][3]

1990s

The proposal arose again in 1990, by this stage, almost 110 years after the initial idea was established. This was in conjunction with the redevelopment of Westfield Southland shopping centre, which was expanded across the Nepean Highway to land adjacent to the Frankston railway line. The Public Transport Corporation wrote a letter to the City of Moorabbin, responding to suggestions that Cheltenham station be relocated; stating that the project would be infeasible. The Public Transport Users Association predicted that the redevelopment of Westfield Southland would create traffic congestion, unless a new railway station was built. Although plans had been discussed, the proposal was once again moot.[1]

2000s
Westfield Southland shopping centre, which crosses over the Nepean Highway

During the Victorian Election campaign in November 2002, the Labor State Government announced their intentions of implementing a feasibility study into the possibility of a station at Southland. The Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce expressed disapproval with these plans, fearing that the station would "kill" the nearby businesses on Charman Road (adjacent the Cheltenham railway station).[4] Despite this, in 2004, the State Government commenced feasibility works.[5] In 2009, the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry listed a Southland railway station project as "urgent" and in need of a 2012–2014 completion, to support the population increase in Melbourne over the next 30 years, that would require established suburbs to have improved transport.[6]

2010s

Almost 130 years since the original proposal, planning for the Southland railway station resurfaced in November 2010, during the Victorian state election.[7] Both the government and opposition pledged to construct the railway station during the next term (2010–14).[8] The Liberal/National Coalition won the 2010 election from the incumbent Labor government.

In the 2011 budget, $700,000 was allocated for planning; however, no time-frame had been set for the planning of the railway station project.[9] The Department of Transport hosted an online survey on the proposed station entitled "Southland Station Survey"; its benefits and where it will be situated.[10] The City of Kingston and the City of Bayside, alongside the Westfield Group, announced their intention to co-operate together. As a result of the State Government's consultations with both councils, the Government moved onto designing the station with input from the local community in November 2011.[11][12]

By 2012, the project appeared to be on-hold; however, a spokesperson for the State Government claimed that planning for the station was still underway, "which includes identifying the exact location of the station, station layout and access requirements, arrangements for connecting bus services and connections with local roads". According to The Age, the station would not be built during the Liberal government's first term (2010–14).[13]

Nevertheless, the City of Bayside established a project control group in support of the station and aimed at influencing the development. The City of Kingston, the Department of Planning and Community Development, the Department of Transport, VicRoads and Places Victoria also joined Bayside in establishing the group.[14]

Construction work on the station in September 2016, as viewed from the proposed rear entrance at 60 Tulip Grove

Public Transport Victoria's (PTV) 20-year Network Development Plan, released in March 2013, stated a railway station at Southland would be built within the next five years.[15]

Funding for the station was allocated in the 2013/14 Victorian State Budget.[16] In April 2014 the government announced construction would commence in 2015, with the station to open in 2016.[17][18] In November 2014 Labor won the state election, resulting in a change of government. By March 2015, plans for the project were renewed and released. Consultation with the community began in March and was completed by May 2015. Construction on the station commenced in August 2016;[19] since, an underpass has been constructed joining the two platforms, with construction on the closest platform towards the shopping centre starting in February 2017.[20]

A key development in the Southland Principal Activity Centre, it has been predicted that the station will be used by 4,400 people daily.[18] PTV purchased and developed land on the street adjacent to the railway line, 60 Tulip Grove, which will operate as a future access point to the station for residents on the west side of the railway.[21]

The station opened on 26 November 2017[22] and features:[23]

  • A pedestrian underpass
  • Two side platforms
  • Seating and shelters
  • Myki vending machine
  • Toilets
  • CCTV monitoring
  • Protective Services Officer (PSO) facilities

Naming

Despite being referred to in public discourse as Southland Station since the 1990s redevelopment of the adjacent shopping centre, concerns had been raised about associating a public asset with a privately owned enterprise.[24] Following discussions between stakeholders and the community, Public Transport Victoria confirmed in its February 2016 feedback summary report that the station would be named Southland.[25]

Platforms & services

Southland has two side platforms. It is served by Metro Trains' Frankston services.

Platform 1:

Platform 2:

References
  1. Whitehead, Graham J. "Railway Station at Bay Road". Kingston Local History. City of Kingston. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  2. Gough, Deborah. (23 April 2014). "No public toilets for new $21m Southland train station". The Age. Retrieved 27 January 2016
  3. Marshall, Norman. "Methodist Children’s Homes at Cheltenham : A Time for Change". Kingston Historical Website. Retrieved 27 January 2016
  4. Rafferty, Michelle. (27 November 2002). "Rail link - bid for - Southland". Moorabbin/Glen Eira Leader. Retrieved 6 June 2015
  5. "Southland Train Station Feasibility Work Continues". 9 December 2004. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  6. Ballantyne, Adrian (23 November 2009). "Renewed calls for train station at Cheltenham's Southland". Mordialloc Chelsea Leader. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  7. Andrews, Jon (18 November 2010). "Both parties promise Southland train station". Moorabbin Leader. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  8. Lucas, Clay (19 November 2010). "Clash on Southland station cost". The Age. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  9. Bennett, Jessica (14 May 2011). "Southland station building can wait". Bayside Leader. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  10. Lucas, Clay (16 November 2011). "Highett survey prompts fears". Bayside Leader. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  11. Thom, Greg (22 November 2011). "Baillieu Government accuses Labor MP of lying". Herald Sun. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  12. "Council to explore future Southland Structure Plan". City of Kingston. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  13. Carey, Adam (29 July 2012). "Southland station election promise goes off the rails". The Age. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  14. Laura Banks and Bridget Fitzgerald L. Banks (27 August 2012). "Bayside council drives Southland train campaign". Melbourne Weekly Bayside. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  15. Andrews, Jon (28 March 2013). "Airport link 15 years off in $30b public transport plan". The Age. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  16. Adoranti, Kylie (7 May 2013). "Level crossing removal funded in infrastructure-heavy Victorian Budget". Herald Sun: Moonee Valley Leader. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  17. Early works to start on Frankston line's Southland station Premier of Victoria 23 April 2014
  18. Savage, Alison (23 April 2014). "Deal reached to build new train station at Southland shopping centre". ABC News. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  19. Carmody, Broede. (15 August 2016). "Southland Station construction starts, some Frankston line disruption to follow". The Age. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  20. Bidey, Sam. (10 February 2017). "Southland station edges closer to completion with weekend work". Moorabbin Kingston Leader. Retrieved 13 February 2017
  21. Chad, Van Estrop (1 August 2016). "Work to begin this month on new Southland railway station". Herald Sun. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  22. "Southland Station Set For A Festive Opening". Premier of Victoria. 22 October 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  23. Sommerville, Troels (11 March 2015). "Southland train station plans released ahead of consultation sessions". Herald Sun. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  24. Carton, Donna (5 May 2015). "Proposed train station at Southland has no name". Moorabbin Kingston Leader. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  25. New station at Southland. Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 23 February 2016
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