Alamein railway station, Melbourne
Encyclopedia
Alamein is a railway station on the Alamein line in Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
. It is located between Ashburn Grove and Laurel Street in the suburb of Ashburton
and is the terminus
of the line. It is in Metcard
ticketing Zone 1.
, so in order to turn around, the driver must change ends.
The station is one of only two terminus stations in Melbourne not to be classed as a "premium station
" (the other being Hurstbridge, although Hurstbridge is manned on a part-time basis unlike Alamein). As a result, it is no longer staffed, and is serviced only by ticket machines (large Metcard
and myki
ticket vending machines). It is only a small station with a small to semi-large weatherboard building in the center with a disused booking office and other facilities are locked, and lacks among other things such as car parking spaces. As with most of the Melbourne rail network, it is, however, fully wheelchair accessible, being at ground level with no ramps or stairs. The station is not serviced by any connecting bus services.
Though it has not been staffed for transport purposes since the 1990s, Alamein is one of several stations across the network to be opened for use for other purposes. As such, once a week, it is used by community groups for a small craft market. For most of the day it is one of the two lesser used stations along the line, along with Willison.
The station serviced a new Housing Commission
estate that had been opened up to house people that had displaced after the Second World War. The station still bears the name of the estate, which in turn had been named after the battlefield in North Africa
.
A walking trail along the alignment continues after Alamein station until it is punctuated by the Malvern Valley Public Golf Course further along Ashburn Grove. There is also a walking trail to East Malvern station.
In 2007 the toilets were reopened for use at the station remarkably in very good condition. They were then closed at an unknown date for an unknown reason.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is located between Ashburn Grove and Laurel Street in the suburb of Ashburton
Ashburton, Victoria
Ashburton is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 12 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Boroondara...
and is the terminus
Terminal Station
Terminal Station is a 1953 film by Italian director Vittorio De Sica. It tells the story of the love affair between an Italian man and an American woman. The film was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.-Production:...
of the line. It is in Metcard
Metcard
"OneLink" redirects here. For the computer/cable company, see OneLink Communications.Metcard is the brand name of an integrated ticketing system used to access public transport in Melbourne, Australia. It is a universal ticket which allows users to ride on the city's Metlink network, consisting of...
ticketing Zone 1.
Facilities
Alamein has only one bi-directional platformRailway platform
A railway platform is a section of pathway, alongside rail tracks at a train station, metro station or tram stop, at which passengers may board or alight from trains or trams. Almost all stations for rail transport have some form of platforms, with larger stations having multiple platforms...
, so in order to turn around, the driver must change ends.
The station is one of only two terminus stations in Melbourne not to be classed as a "premium station
Premium station
A premium station is a category of railway station on Melbourne's Metro Rail Network which is operated by Metro Trains Melbourne. In terms of station standards, a premium station is a high standard station which sits above the medium standard host stations and the low standard unmanned...
" (the other being Hurstbridge, although Hurstbridge is manned on a part-time basis unlike Alamein). As a result, it is no longer staffed, and is serviced only by ticket machines (large Metcard
Metcard
"OneLink" redirects here. For the computer/cable company, see OneLink Communications.Metcard is the brand name of an integrated ticketing system used to access public transport in Melbourne, Australia. It is a universal ticket which allows users to ride on the city's Metlink network, consisting of...
and myki
Myki
myki is the contactless smartcard ticketing system being introduced on public transport in Victoria, Australia. myki is designed to replace a number of ticket systems in Victoria, primarily the Metcard and V/Line ticketing systems...
ticket vending machines). It is only a small station with a small to semi-large weatherboard building in the center with a disused booking office and other facilities are locked, and lacks among other things such as car parking spaces. As with most of the Melbourne rail network, it is, however, fully wheelchair accessible, being at ground level with no ramps or stairs. The station is not serviced by any connecting bus services.
Though it has not been staffed for transport purposes since the 1990s, Alamein is one of several stations across the network to be opened for use for other purposes. As such, once a week, it is used by community groups for a small craft market. For most of the day it is one of the two lesser used stations along the line, along with Willison.
History
Alamein was the last station to be built on what is now the line of the same name. It was built in 1948 on the reservation of the ill-fated Outer Circle line, the section on which Alamein is now located being closed to all traffic in 1895.The station serviced a new Housing Commission
Housing Commission of Victoria
The Housing Commission of Victoria was a State Government body responsible for public housing in Victoria, Australia...
estate that had been opened up to house people that had displaced after the Second World War. The station still bears the name of the estate, which in turn had been named after the battlefield in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
.
A walking trail along the alignment continues after Alamein station until it is punctuated by the Malvern Valley Public Golf Course further along Ashburn Grove. There is also a walking trail to East Malvern station.
In 2007 the toilets were reopened for use at the station remarkably in very good condition. They were then closed at an unknown date for an unknown reason.
Platforms and services
Platform 1:- Suburban Metro TrainsMetro Trains MelbourneMetro Trains Melbourne is the current franchise operator of the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Australia. Metro Trains Melbourne is a joint venture led by Hong Kong based MTR Corporation together with John Holland Group and United Group Rail .Metro Trains Melbourne operates a fleet of 381...
services to Flinders StreetFlinders Street StationFlinders Street Station is the central railway station of the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets next to the Yarra River in the heart of the city, stretching from Swanston Street to Queen Street and covering two city...
(Peak only). - Suburban Metro Trains services to CamberwellCamberwell railway station, MelbourneCamberwell is a railway station which serves the Belgrave, Lilydale and Alamein lines in the eastern Melbourne suburb of Camberwell, Victoria, Australia...
.