Murchison East railway station

Railway station in Victoria, Australia

36°36′47″S 145°14′26″E / 36.6131°S 145.2405°E / -36.6131; 145.2405Owned byVicTrackOperated byV/LineLine(s)Shepparton (Tocumwal)Distance147.25 kilometres from
Southern CrossPlatforms1Tracks3ConstructionStructure typeGroundParkingYesAccessibleYesOther informationStatusOperational, unstaffedStation codeMSTFare zoneMyki not available. Paper ticket only.WebsitePublic Transport VictoriaHistoryOpened1 September 1890; 133 years ago (1890-09-01)RebuiltAugust 2022[1]Previous namesMurchisonPassengers2013–201414,228[2]2014–201512,253[2] Decrease 13.88%2015–201612,533[2] Increase 2.28%2016–201711,386[2] Decrease 9.15%2017–2018Not measured[2]2018–201911,350[2] Decrease 0.31%2019–20209,900[2] Decrease 12.77%2020–20214,300[2] Decrease 56.56% Services
Preceding station Railways in Victoria V/Line Following station
Nagambie Shepparton line Mooroopna
towards Shepparton
Location
Murchison East is located in Victoria
Murchison East
Murchison East
Location within Victoria

Murchison East railway station is located on the Tocumwal line in Victoria, Australia. It serves the town of Murchison East, and it opened on 1 September 1890 as Murchison.[3][4]

History

Murchison East station opened on 1 September 1890, just over ten years after the railway line from Mangalore to Shepparton opened.[3]

The station became a junction in the month that it opened, when the line to Rushworth opened, branching off at the southern (up) end of the station. That line was later extended to Colbinabbin and Girgarre. In 1987, the Rushworth line closed.[5]

In 1974, flashing light signals replaced hand gates at the Goulburn Valley Highway level crossing, located nearby in the up direction of the station.[6] In 2009, boom barriers were provided.[7]

The station has the longest passing loop on the line, totalling 870 metres in length.[8] However, in 2013, the loop was booked out of service due to poor track condition. A number of other sidings that serve a grain silo complex are located opposite the platform.

On 4 June 2014, the station building was destroyed by fire.[9] The main timber station building had been fenced off, and a new passenger shelter constructed alongside.

As part of the Regional Rail Revival project to upgrade the Shepparton line, the platform was extended to accommodate VLocity trains. The crossing loop was also extended, enabling trains to pass each other.[10][11] By August 2022, the project was completed, and included new lighting, seating, shelter and CCTV, as well an upgraded car park and upgraded paths leading to the station.[1]

Closed station Wahring was located between Murchison East and Nagambie, while closed stations Arcadia and Toolamba were located between Murchison East and Mooroopna.

Platforms and services

Murchison East has one platform. It is serviced by V/Line Shepparton line services.[12] Occasionally, some services terminate here instead of terminating at Shepparton.

Platform 1:

  • Northbound view of the station platform, July 2008. The original station building has since been demolished due to a fire in 2014.
    Northbound view of the station platform,
    July 2008. The original station building has since been demolished due to a fire in 2014.

References

  1. ^ a b Safer, more accessible stations for Shepparton Line - Victoria's Big Build
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Railway station and tram stop patronage in Victoria for 2008-2021 Philip Mallis
  3. ^ a b "Murchison East". vicsig.net. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  4. ^ Bob Whitehead (2008). Tocumwal Railway Centenary.
  5. ^ Sid Brown (March 1990). "Tracks Across the State". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society: 71–76.
  6. ^ "Way & Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. March 1975. p. 56.
  7. ^ "Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. June 2009. p. 183.
  8. ^ V/Line. "Seymour to Tocumwal". Network Access Information Pack. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
  9. ^ Toscano, Nick (4 June 2014). "Country train station destroyed by fire". The Age. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  10. ^ "Shepparton Line Upgrade". Victoria's Big Build. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  11. ^ "Stage 2: In progress". Victoria's Big Build. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  12. ^ Shepparton - Melbourne Public Transport Victoria
  • Media related to Murchison East railway station at Wikimedia Commons
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Public Transport Victoria railway stations
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V/Line services and stations
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