Southern Cross Station

Southern Cross railway station (until 2005 known as Spencer Street station) is a major railway station in Docklands, Melbourne. It is on Spencer Street, between Collins and La Trobe Streets, at the western edge of the Melbourne central business district. The Docklands Stadium sports arena is 500 metres north-west of the station.

The station is owned, operated and maintained by Civic Nexus, a subsidiary of IFM Investors and operating as Southern Cross Station Pty Ltd, under a 30-year lease to 2036 from the Victorian State Government, as part of a public-private partnership. Southern Cross Station Pty Ltd contracts Infranexus Management Pty Ltd (Infranexus) for management services. Infranexus is also wholly owned by IFM.

The station is the terminus of the state's regional railway network operated by V/Line, ''The Overland'' rail service to Adelaide, and NSW TrainLink XPT services to Sydney. It is also served by suburban rail services operated by Metro Trains, being one of five stations on the City Loop, a mostly underground railway that encircles the Central Business District. It is the second busiest railway station in Melbourne's metropolitan network, with 19.551 million metropolitan passenger movements recorded in 2018/9. In 2018/9 the station also recorded an additional 6.306 million regional passengers through the V/Line network.

Southern Cross also has a coach terminal underneath the Spencer Outlet shopping complex. SkyBus services to Melbourne Airport and since 2017 to Avalon Airport operate from there, as well as Firefly Express and Greyhound Australia interstate coach services, a coach ran public bus (684) and V/Line coach services to Mildura, Yarram, Mansfield, and other parts of Victoria not served by rail.

History

Opened as Spencer Street Station in 1859, five years after the other major Melbourne rail terminus at Flinders Street, the station was a dead-end terminus, running parallel to Spencer Street, composed of a single main platform with a dock platform at the north end. It was not until 1874 that an extra platform was provided.

The two major city stations were not linked until 1879, when a single-track ground-level line was opened. It operated only at night, and only for freight trains. In the 1880s, it was proposed that Spencer Street station be removed in order to facilitate the westward expansion of the city, but the plan was subsequently rejected.

1880s: Passenger services commence

The 1880s saw the first of several grand but unrealised plans for the station. The first accepted design, drafted by Albert Charles Cook in 1883, was a fanciful Palladian palazzo design of two and three storeys, with a central portico.

From 1888 to 1894, the layout of the platforms was altered, with new country platforms being built on an angle to Spencer Street itself. The current coach terminal location was the site of a number of new platforms built for suburban services.

In 1891, further plans were made for a significant new station complex, including three-storey office complex and dominant clock tower, reminiscent of the later Sydney Central station, but the 1890s Depression put an end to such expensive schemes.

In 1888, work started on the double track Flinders Street Viaduct linking the station to Flinders Street station. The line was initially only used by freight trains, with passenger train operations commencing in 1894.Department of Infrastructure: Early history of Southern Cross Station
It was at that time that the first through platform was provided at the station, used by suburban trains from Essendon and Williamstown. The viaduct to Flinders Street was expanded to four tracks in 1915 and, following the electrification of the suburban lines through the station, today's platforms 11 to 14 were opened in 1924, along with a pedestrian subway providing access to them.

In 1938, it was announced that construction of an improved station entrance and new car park had been approved, designed by architects Messrs Stephenson and Meldrum, costing £2,000. Once again however, no construction took place.

1960s: Modernisation

In 1960, work started on a new Spencer Street station, as part of the construction of a new interstate standard gauge line to Sydney, New South Wales. A station building was constructed which largely replaced the 1880s iron sheds, and a new platform number 1 was built. The passenger subway which had been constructed as part of the 1918 works was extended to include access to country platforms. In connection with the construction of the underground loop, platforms 9 and 10 were rebuilt as part of the suburban section of the station, and a new double-track viaduct was constructed between Spencer Street and Flinders Street station, alongside the original one, bringing to six the number of tracks connecting the two stations. At the same time, the four older tracks were resignalled for bi-directional operation.

In 1962, a separate subway network was constructed to carry mail between the station and what was then the Melbourne General Post Office and main postal sorting office, situated on the other side of Spencer Street.

The mechanically interlocked signal box at the station opened in 1887, and was decommissioned in June 2008. Originally built with 120 levers, it had 191 when it closed, making it the world's largest.

Artist Harold Freedman's 36.6 metre long and 7.32 metre high ''History of Transport'' mural featured above the main concourse of the Spencer Street station and was unveiled by the premier of Victoria on January 30, 1978. During radical redevelopment (2002–2006) Freedman's mural was removed, but due to bargaining by the CFMEU, it remains on display above shop-fronts in the adjacent retail centre, DFO.

2000s: Redevelopment

Southern Cross was redeveloped by the Civic Nexus consortium, following an innovative design by Grimshaw Architects and Jackson Architecture which features an undulating roof. Construction began in October 2002 and was completed in late 2006, with the majority of the transport facilities finished in time for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The central features of the design include a wave-shaped roof, a new entrance and concourse on Collins Street, a new coach interchange, a new food court, a bar/restaurant, separate retail outlets inside the station and a separate shopping complex between Bourke and La Trobe Streets.

This new shopping complex originally comprised a Direct Factory Outlets centre, a Virgin Megastore, along with food courts. This opened on 30 November 2006, although not all tenancies were occupied, and stage 2 was opened in March 2007. In 2009 the DFO relocated to a new site at South Wharf, the shopping centre being refitted by owner Austexx and rebranded simply as "Spencer Street fashion station". In 2013 the shopping complex was rebranded as "Spencer Outlet Centre".

In addition to the physical modifications, the station was renamed from Spencer Street to Southern Cross on 13 December 2005.

By July 2004, the project had fallen behind schedule and over budget by $200 million. This was covered extensively in the media. As a result of over-runs and design issues, some elements of the original design, including an additional proposed footbridge connecting Lonsdale Street with Docklands Stadium, were scrapped.

Complaints about access to platforms, empty trains occupying space during the day and lack of government support were raised by Leighton Contractors, the construction firm overseeing the project. This led to concerns that the station might not be ready in time for the Commonwealth Games, and the government arranged with the railway operators to provide more access to the work site.

The station's redevelopment is part of the wider Melbourne Docklands development. The architect responsible for the design is Nicholas Grimshaw. The structural engineering design was performed by WSP Global. The station has been awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects' Lubetkin Prize for most outstanding building outside the European Union. The other buildings nominated were the Des Moines Public Library and the Hearst Tower, New York City.

The redevelopment has meant that passengers take more time to get to the suburban network platforms than before. The pedestrian subway access was removed in favour of street level and elevated concourses. The subway also continued underneath Spencer Street, and its closure means it is necessary for all pedestrians to wait for traffic lights to cross Spencer Street at street level. For all suburban and some country services, passengers using the main entrance on the corner of Collins and Spencer Streets have to ascend two escalators to a shopping concourse and then enter the paid area of the station, before descending again to the metropolitan platforms. There have been some accidents in which people have fallen from this elevated level. The eight-metre ascent and descent is more than necessary to clear the height of trains, and more than the three-metre descent and ascent of the previous subway.

Local architects have cited some of the Southern Cross Station's shortcomings: the building's poor connection to the surrounding streets; its awkward juncture at the pedestrian bridge that links Spencer Street to Docklands Stadium; and the baffling manner in which the grand architectural gesture of Southern Cross Station tapers off into an uninspired homage to the boxy 1980s shopping mall — Spencer Outlet Centre, which houses department store Harris Scarfe along with Witchery, Cotton On, Starbucks and many more outlets.

2010s: Additional platforms

As part of the Regional Rail Link project an extra two platforms (15/16) were constructed and opened in December 2013. These are divided into 15a, 15b, 16a and 16b. They are often used for Gippsland Services, and the lines that use the RRL tracks to Sunshine (Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo lines). These platforms allow trains to avoid the North Melbourne Flyover, which is an inconvenience for trains as it has a maximum speed of 15 km/h, and has shown to cause abnormal wheel wear on the VLocity fleet, as confirmed by an independent report commissioned by V/Line in 2016 to find out the cause of the problem, which ultimately led to up to a month of cancellations of services.

Water Tower Clock

In May 2014, the historic Water Tower Clock was installed in the concourse of the station. The clock had originally been erected in 1882 at Flinders Street station, opposite the end of Elizabeth Street, atop a lattice tower about high. In 1902 the clock was moved to Princes Bridge station, and in 1910 it was relocated again, to Spencer Street station, where it remained until it was removed as part of the station's redevelopment in the mid-1960s. The clock mechanism was given to Museum Victoria, but the characteristic turret that housed the clock was sold to a scrap metal merchant. It was later rescued by private collectors, and the clock was returned to public ownership, being put on display in 1999 at the Scienceworks Museum, Spotswood. The clock was extensively restored before its return to Southern Cross, but the original mechanism remains in the collection of Museum Victoria.

Platforms and services

Platforms are numbered from east to west.

Concourses

Concourses are provided at Bourke and Collins Streets. Platform 1 is north of Bourke Street, while Platform 8 South is south of Collins Street. The remainder of platforms are located between Bourke and Collins Streets, with access from both concourses, with regional services from platforms 1-8 and 15-16, and suburban services from platforms 9-14 (platform 8 can also accommodate suburban services if necessary).

Platforms

Platforms 2 to 7, as well as platforms 15 and 16 are numbered as two sections: section A from the Collins Street concourse to the Bourke Street Footbridge, and section B beyond the Bourke Street Footbridge. These sections were previously known as the "Central" (2C to 8C) and "North" (2N to 8N) platforms, respectively. Platform 8 has these two sections and also a "South" section (8S) underneath Collins Street used commonly for Seymour services.

Platforms 1 and 2 are fitted with dual gauge track, permitting both standard gauge interstate trains and V/Line Victorian broad gauge, broad gauge trains. The remainder of the platforms are solely broad gauge. A motorail dock is located at the northern end of the platform, with standard gauge access only.

Standard gauge

Platforms 1 & 2:
* V/Line services to Albury railway station, Albury (3 per day)
* NSW TrainLink New South Wales XPT, XPT services to Sydney (2 per day)
* Journey Beyond services to Adelaide (2 per week)

Broad gauge

Platforms 1–7:
* V/Line services to Melton railway station, Melbourne, Melton, Bacchus Marsh railway station, Bacchus Marsh and Wendouree railway station, Wendouree
* V/Line services to Ararat railway station, Ararat
* V/Line services to Maryborough railway station, Victoria, Maryborough
* V/Line services to Bendigo railway station, Bendigo, Epsom railway station, Victoria, Epsom and Eaglehawk railway station, Eaglehawk
* V/Line services to Echuca railway station, Echuca
* V/Line services to Swan Hill railway station, Swan Hill
* V/Line services to Wyndham Vale railway station, Wyndham Vale, Geelong railway station, Geelong & Waurn Ponds railway station, Waurn Ponds
* V/Line services to Warrnambool railway station, Warrnambool
* V/Line services to Seymour railway station, Seymour
* V/Line services to Shepparton railway station, Shepparton

Platform 8:
:Broad gauge V/Line services departing Platforms 1-7 also depart from Platform 8
* express services to Showgrounds railway station, Melbourne, Showgrounds and/or Flemington Racecourse railway station, Flemington Racecourse (special event days only)

Platform 9:

Destinations via City Loop – Clifton Hill Group:
* all stations and limited stop services to Hurstbridge railway station, Hurstbridge
* all stations and limited stop services to Mernda railway station, Mernda

Platform 10:

Destinations via City Loop – Burnley Group:
* all stations and limited stop services to Belgrave railway station, Belgrave
* all stations and limited stop services to Lilydale railway station, Lilydale
* all stations and limited stop services to Glen Waverley railway station, Glen Waverley
* weekday all stations and limited stop services to Alamein railway station, Alamein

Platform 11:

Destinations via City Loop – Northern Group:
* all stations and limited stop services to Craigieburn railway station, Craigieburn
* all stations and limited stop services to Upfield railway station, Upfield
* all stations and limited stop services to Watergardens railway station, Watergardens & Sunbury railway station, Melbourne, Sunbury

Platform 12:

Destinations via Flinders Street – Caulfield Group:
* express services to Pakenham railway station, Pakenham
* express services to Cranbourne railway station, Cranbourne

Platform 13:

Destinations via Flinders Street:
* services to Flinders Street (trains run through to the Frankston railway line, Frankston line)
* services to Flinders Street (trains run through to the Frankston railway line, Frankston line)
* services to Flinders Street (special event days only)

Platform 14:

Destinations via North Melbourne railway station, North Melbourne:
* all stations and limited stop services to Laverton railway station, Melbourne, Laverton & Werribee railway station, Werribee
* all stations services to Williamstown railway station, Melbourne, Williamstown
* express services to Showgrounds railway station, Melbourne, Showgrounds and/or Flemington Racecourse railway station, Flemington Racecourse (special event days only)

Platforms 15 & 16:
:Broad gauge V/Line services departing Platforms 1-8 also depart from Platforms 15 & 16.
* V/Line services to Traralgon railway station, Traralgon & Bairnsdale railway station, Bairnsdale

Transport links

Metropolitan

Kinetic Melbourne operate three routes via Southern Cross Coach Terminal, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:
*232: Queen Victoria Market - Altona North
*235: Queen Victoria Market - Fishermans Bend
*237: Queen Victoria Market - Fishermans Bend

McKenzie's Tourist Services operates one route to and from Southern Cross station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:
*684: to Eildon, Victoria, Eildon via Lilydale

Yarra Trams operate nine services via Southern Cross station:

From Collins Street:
*: Preston, Victoria, West Preston - Docklands, Victoria, Victoria Harbour
*: North Balwyn, Victoria, North Balwyn - Docklands, Victoria, Victoria Harbour
*: Box Hill, Victoria, Box Hill - Port Melbourne railway station, Port Melbourne
*: Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre, Victoria Gardens - St Kilda, Victoria, St Kilda

From Harbour Esplanade:
*: City Circle tram, City Circle
*: Docklands - Wattle Park, Melbourne, Wattle Park
*: Docklands Stadium - Vermont South

From Bourke Street:
*: RMIT University#Bundoora, RMIT Bundoora Campus - Docklands, Victoria, Waterfront City Docklands
*: East Brunswick, Victoria, East Brunswick - Acland Street, St Kilda Beach

Regional

The following coach services are operated to and from Southern Cross station by private companies on behalf of V/Line:
* Mildura via Ballarat, Maryborough, Victoria, Maryborough and Donald, Victoria, Donald
* Mount Gambier, South Australia, Mount Gambier via Ballarat, Hamilton, Victoria, Hamilton and Casterton, Victoria, Casterton
* Barham, New South Wales, Barham via Heathcote, Victoria, Heathcote
* Barmah via Heathcote and Shepparton
* Deniliquin via Heathcote, Rochester, Victoria, Rochester, Echuca and Moama
* Mansfield via Lilydale, Victoria, Lilydale and Yarra Glen (services extend to Mount Buller, Victoria, Mount Buller during snow season)
* Cowes, Victoria, Cowes via Dandenong, Victoria, Dandenong and Koo Wee Rup
* Inverloch, Victoria, Inverloch via Dandenong and Koo Wee Rup
* Yarram, Victoria, Yarram via Dandenong, Koo Wee Rup and Leongatha
*Eildon, Victoria, Eildon via Lilydale and Healesville, Victoria (Route 684)

References

External links

*
*
Railpage Southern Cross Platform allocation discussionsDiagram of the track layout at Southern Cross station
*Construction images
2003 – 2004
an
2005 – 2008

Melway map
at street-directory.com.au

{{Journey Beyond railway stations, The Overland=y, state=collapsed

Nicholas Grimshaw buildings
Premium Melbourne railway stations
Railway stations in Melbourne
Railway stations in Australia opened in 1859
Buildings and structures in Melbourne City Centre
Railway stations in the City of Melbourne (LGA)
Tram stops in Melbourne
Bus stations in Australia
Bus transport in Melbourne