Merri railway station

Merri railway station is located on the Mernda line, in Victoria, Australia. It serves the north-eastern Melbourne suburb of Northcote. It opened on 8 October 1889 as Northcote, being renamed Merri on 10 December 1906.[1]

Merri
Building on platform 1 in May 2014
Location	Railway Street, Northcote Australia
Coordinates	37°46′40″S 144°59′35″E
Owned by	VicTrack
Operated by	Metro
Line(s)	Mernda
Distance	8.04 kilometres from Southern Cross
Platforms	2 side
Tracks	2
Connections	Bus Tram
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Parking	6
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Status	Unstaffed station
Station code	MER
Fare zone	Myki zone 1
Website	Public Transport Victoria
History
Opened	8 October 1889
Electrified	Yes
Previous names	Northcote
Services
Preceding station   Metro Trains   Following station Rushall towards Flinders Street Mernda line Northcote towards Mernda

The original conception of the station was to act as a major junction in a planned "North Suburban Railway System". The Argus reported in 1887 that; "The Station at Union-street, as shown on our plan, must necessarily be the most important in the Northern System, as lines branch from this point to Preston and Whittlesea on the north ; Heidelberg, Kew, &.c., on the east; Carlton, Royal-park, North Melbourne, and Spencer-street on the south-west; Fitzroy, East Melbourne, and Flinders-street on the south; and if the alternative route is adopted, Clifton-hill, Collingwood, Richmond, and Flinders street on the south east.",[2] while land sale plans advertised the upcoming construction of the "Grand Central Junction Station".[3]

The station building was rebuilt in 1910, to accommodate an increased population in the area.[4]

The nearby level crossing at Charles Street had hand-operated gates until 1924, when they were replaced with interlocked gates, operated from the nearby signal box, following several serious traffic accidents.[5] These gates were replaced with boom barriers in 1986.[6]

During October 1987, the double line block system between Merri - Northcote was abolished, and replaced with three positioning signalling,[7] with all two position signals between Merri and Thornbury also abolished.[7]

Platforms & services

Merri has two side platforms. It is serviced by Metro Trains' Mernda line services.[8]

Platform 1:

• Mernda line: all stations and limited stops services to Flinders Street

Platform 2:

• Mernda line: all stations services to Mernda

Transport links

Moonee Valley Coaches operates one route via Merri station:

• 506: Moonee Ponds Junction – Westgarth station[9]

Yarra Trams operates two routes via Merri station:

• 11: West Preston – Victoria Harbour (Docklands)[10]
• 86: Bundoora RMIT – Waterfront City (Docklands)[11]

References

1. Merri Vicsig
2. The Argus 9 December 1887
3. "Fitzroy Junction Estate" land sale advertisement 1887
4. Darebin Heritage Study 2000 - Merri - Northcote
5. The Argus, 13 Nov 1924
6. "Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. March 1987. p. 89.
7. "Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. January 1988. p. 27.
8. "Mernda Line". Public Transport Victoria.
9. "506 Moonee Ponds - Westgarth Station via Brunswick". Public Transport Victoria.
10. "11 West Preston - Victoria Harbour Docklands". Public Transport Victoria.
11. "86 Bundoora RMIT - Waterfront City Docklands". Public Transport Victoria.

External links

• Melway map at street-directory.com.au