Wendouree railway station explained

Wendouree
Type:PTV regional rail station
Style:V/Line
Address:Gillies Street North,
Wendouree, Victoria 3355
Borough:City of Ballarat
Country:Australia
Coordinates:-37.5417°N 143.83°W
Map Type:Australia Victoria
Distance:123.13 kilometres from
Southern Cross
Line:
(Serviceton)
Other: Bus
Structure:Ground
Platform:2 side
Tracks:2
Parking:200 bays
Bicycle:Yes
Accessible:Yes
Code:WED
Owned:VicTrack
Operator:V/Line
Zone:Myki Zone 8
Status:Operational, staffed
Website:Public Transport Victoria

Wendouree railway station is located on the Serviceton line in Victoria, Australia. It serves the north-western Ballarat suburb of Wendouree, and opened on 12 June 2009.[1]

History

20th century

The original Wendouree station opened on 9 December 1901 as Ballarat Gardens, and was renamed Wendouree on 1 August 1905.[2] It was located just west of the Forest Street level crossing, 750 metres east of the present station, and was closed to passenger traffic on 4 October 1981, as part of the New Deal for Country Passengers timetable.[3] Prior to its closure, the only train timetabled to stop at Wendouree was a Horsham service on Sundays.[3]

In 1992, boom barriers replaced interlocked gates at the Gillies Street level crossing, in the up direction from the present station.[4]

At Gillies Street, near the site of the current station, there was a 19th-century signal box, which controlled the Ballarat Cattle Yards junction. After falling into disrepair, the Public Transport Corporation was approached by Kim Lynden, who successfully tendered to move the building to Blampied in 1998, where it is used as a bed and breakfast facility.[5]

21st century

On 8 September 2006, then Victorian Premier, Steve Bracks, announced a new station would be built to relieve congestion at Ballarat, following a passenger boom after the completion of the Regional Fast Rail project.[6] [7]

The station was the subject of a naming competition, which closed in April 2007.[8] Construction work started in May 2008,[9] [10] with the station originally due for completion in that year.[11]

On 11 June 2009, the station was opened by the then Minister for Public Transport, Lynne Kosky, with services commencing on 14 June.[12] The cost of the station and associated works was initially projected to be $11 million, but eventually cost $18.7 million.

In 2021, as part of the Regional Rail Revival project, Platform 2 and its refuge siding was opened opposite Platform 1, allowing terminating Ballarat trains to not block Ararat trains that use Platform 1, with a footbridge, lifts, ramps and stairs connecting the platforms. There was also an upgrade to the station forecourt.[13]

Platforms and services

Wendouree has two side platforms, and is served by Ballarat and Ararat line trains.[14] [15]

Platform 1:

Platform 2:

Transport links

CDC Ballarat operates four bus routes via Wendouree station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wendouree . vicsig.net . 19 February 2023.
  2. Web site: |accessdate=5 March 2022 |website=vicsig.net Wendouree [1st] ].
  3. April 2007 . Attachment A: Other historical notes on the Ballarat - Ararat line . . . 117.
  4. Web site: Linton Junction . vicsig.net . 19 February 2023.
  5. News: Sweet slumber signals change . 16 November 1998 . . 9.
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20110403003811/http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/bc348d5912436a9cca256cfc0082d800/42daf50e900501b2ca2571e60002305d!OpenDocument Ballarat to Get a Second Train Station
  7. April 2007 . Notes on the Ballarat - Ararat Rail Corridor . Chris . Banger . Newsrail . Australian Railway Historical Society . 106–115.
  8. https://web.archive.org/web/20070907141515/http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/798c8b072d117a01ca256c8c0019bb01/c994c0eb57209a8fca2572bb00047074!OpenDocument Ballarat Station Naming Competition Closes Soon
  9. News: Wendouree train station contract set, work started . Ballarat Courier . 20 May 2008.
  10. https://web.archive.org/web/20090613222846/http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/minister-for-public-transport/major-milestones-for-new-wendouree-station.html Major Milestones for New Wendouree Station
  11. News: Train station runs late . Ballarat Courier . 3 June 2008.
  12. News: Ballarat's new train station to officially open . 2023-06-13 . ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 2009-06-12.
  13. Web site: Wendouree Station . Victoria's Big Build . 21 November 2021.
  14. https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/1728 Ballarat – Melbourne timetable
  15. https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/1837 Ararat – Melbourne
  16. https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/15162/10-ballarat-station-alfredton-via-wendouree/ 10 Ballarat Station - Alfredton via Wendouree
  17. https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/15163/11-ballarat-station-wendouree-station-via-howitt-st/ 11 Ballarat Station - Wendouree Station via Howitt St
  18. https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/15164/12-ballarat-station-wendouree-station-via-forest-st/ 12 Ballarat Station - Wendouree Station via Forest St
  19. https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/15176/31-wendouree-station-miners-rest/ 31 Wendouree Station - Miners Rest