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Royal Park railway station

Coordinates: 37°46′53″S 144°57′06″E / 37.7813°S 144.9517°E / -37.7813; 144.9517
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Royal Park
PTV commuter rail station
Southbound view from Platform 1, October 2024
General information
Other namesRoyal Park – Zoo
LocationPoplar Road,
Parkville, Victoria 3052
City of Melbourne
Australia
Coordinates37°46′53″S 144°57′06″E / 37.7813°S 144.9517°E / -37.7813; 144.9517
Owned byVicTrack
Operated byMetro Trains
Line(s)Upfield
Distance5.46 kilometres from
Southern Cross
Platforms2 side
Tracks2
Connections
  • List of bus routes in Melbourne Bus
  • Trams in Melbourne Tram
Construction
Structure typeGround
AccessibleYes—step free access
Other information
StatusOperational, unstaffed
Station codeRPK
Fare zoneMyki Zone 1
WebsitePublic Transport Victoria
History
Opened9 September 1884; 140 years ago (1884-09-09)
ElectrifiedDecember 1920
(1500 V DC overhead)
Passengers
2005–2006177,600[1]
2006–2007210,077[1] Increase 18.28%
2007–2008243,256[1] Increase 15.79%
2008–2009296,238[2] Increase 21.78%
2009–2010297,410[2] Increase 0.39%
2010–2011290,675[2] Decrease 2.26%
2011–2012313,084[2] Increase 7.71%
2012–2013Not measured[2]
2013–2014307,711[2] Decrease 1.71%
2014–2015315,380[2] Increase 2.49%
2015–2016312,245[2] Decrease 0.99%
2016–2017339,226[2] Increase 8.64%
2017–2018337,560[2] Decrease 0.49%
2018–2019357,050[2] Increase 5.77%
2019–2020269,450[2] Decrease 24.53%
2020–2021117,850[2] Decrease 56.3%
2021–2022156,050[3] Increase 32.41%
Services
Preceding station Railways in Melbourne Metro Trains Following station
Flemington Bridge
towards Flinders Street
 Upfield line Jewell
towards Upfield
Former services
Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Junction   Inner Circle line   North Carlton
  List of closed railway stations in Melbourne  
Track layout
Legend
to Flemington Bridge
Poplar Road
1
2
to Jewell

Royal Park railway station is a commuter railway station on the Upfield line, part of the Melbourne railway network. It serves the northern suburb of Parkville in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Royal Park station is a ground-level unstaffed station, featuring two side platforms. It opened on 9 September 1884.[4]

It is located in the park of the same name, and is the nearest station to Melbourne Zoo. A disused signal box is located at the up end of Platform 1.

History

[edit]

Royal Park station opened on 9 September 1884, when the railway line was extended from North Melbourne to Coburg.[4] The original plan for the route of the line through Royal Park was to be east of the Zoological Gardens, but after local protests against the destruction of the park, a decision was made to build the line to the west for "reasons of economy". On opening, only temporary station buildings were provided, along with a signal box and gatekeepers cottage.[5]

On 8 May 1888, Royal Park became a junction, with the opening of the Inner Circle line, to both Clifton Hill and Northcote. At the same time, a timber station building and station masters residence were erected. Between 1889 and 1912, there was a goods siding near the station, named Royal Park Cutting Siding.[5]

The current station building on Platform 1 which opened in 1920, October 2024

In 1920, the current station building on Platform 1 opened, after the original station building was destroyed by fire in 1919.[4] It opened with a tile roof in the "Gisborne style" and, in 1936, a new waiting shed and ticket office replaced earlier structures on Platform 2.[5]

The current boom gate barriers at the Poplar Road level crossing, October 2024

In 1971, boom barriers replaced interlocked gates at the Poplar Road level crossing, located at the up end of the station, when automatic signaling reached the station from Jewell, with automatic signaling extended to Macaulay in 1972.[6] In 1981, the Inner Circle line (by then a goods-only stub to Fitzroy) was closed and, in 1989, the waiting shed on Platform 2 was destroyed by arson. In 1994, the signal box on Platform 1 was closed.[6]

Platforms and services

[edit]
A Comeng train on an Upfield-bound service arrives at Platform 2, October 2024

Royal Park has two side platforms. It is serviced by Metro Trains' Upfield line services.[7]

Platform 1:

Platform 2:

[edit]
The route 58 tram stop at Royal Park station, on the south side of Poplar Road, October 2024

Dysons operates one route via Royal Park station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

  •  505 : Moonee Ponds Junction – Melbourne University[8]

Yarra Trams operates one route via Royal Park station:

[edit]
  • Southbound view from Platform 2, October 2019
    Southbound view from Platform 2, October 2019
  • Northbound view from Platform 2, October 2024
    Northbound view from Platform 2, October 2024
  • Station building and entrance to Platform 1, October 2024
    Station building and entrance to Platform 1, October 2024
  • Station shelter on Platform 2, October 2024
    Station shelter on Platform 2, October 2024
  • The "Royal Park-Zoo" station signage on Platform 1 to accommodate the nearby Melbourne Zoo, October 2024
    The "Royal Park-Zoo" station signage on Platform 1 to accommodate the nearby Melbourne Zoo, October 2024

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Estimated Annual Patronage by Network Segment Financial Year 2005–2006 to 2018–19 Department of Transport
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Railway station and tram stop patronage in Victoria for 2008–2021 Philip Mallis
  3. ^ Annual metropolitan train station patronage (station entries) Data Vic
  4. ^ a b c "Royal Park". vicsig.net. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Jon Saul and Wendy Moore (May 1990). Down the line to Upfield. Coburg Public Transport Group.
  6. ^ a b Andrew Waugh. "VR History by Andrew Waugh – Upfield Line" (PDF). VR History. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
  7. ^ "Upfield Line". Public Transport Victoria.
  8. ^ "505 Moonee Ponds - Melbourne University via Parkville Gardens". Public Transport Victoria.
  9. ^ "58 West Coburg - Toorak". Public Transport Victoria.
[edit]

Media related to Royal Park railway station, Melbourne at Wikimedia Commons

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