White City railway station, Melbourne
Encyclopedia
White City is a former railway station that was located on the Sydenham railway line (then the St Albans line) of the Melbourne suburban rail system
in Melbourne, Australia. It is located approximately 700 metres west of Tottenham railway station
. The next station down the line is Sunshine
.
It primarily existed to service the local industry (in particular the Olympic Tyres factory) and the greyhound racing
track in the area, known as White City Coursing Club. The station only ever had a westbound platform, even though at its peak, fifty services a week
stopped at the station. Due to its proximity to Tottenham
station, White City's signals
were operated from there.
Workmen's train
s from the city commenced stopping at the station on 10 June 1940 but it was not until 28 June 1948 that citybound trains commenced stopping at the station when an afternoon up working started from the station's single platform, using the crossover at the up end of the platform. White City was made a regular suburban station in December 1949.
In the early 1980s, Tottenham station underwent renovations. The line was raised in order to avoid the level crossing at Ashley Street. A new high-level island platform
was built there, and it was decided to remove the nearby White City station as a result. On 4 October 1981, White City was officially closed. It was later demolished, and no trace of its presence remains today.
Railways in Melbourne
The Melbourne rail network is operated by Metro Trains Melbourne under franchise from the Government of Victoria. The network is based on a commuter rail model centred on the Melbourne Central Business District and Flinders Street Station, rather than a rapid transit model, with a focus on...
in Melbourne, Australia. It is located approximately 700 metres west of Tottenham railway station
Tottenham railway station, Melbourne
Tottenham is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in the suburb of Tottenham, on the Sydenham railway line. Tottenham is unmanned, and is in Metcard Zone 1.-Facilities:...
. The next station down the line is Sunshine
Sunshine railway station, Melbourne
Sunshine is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in the suburb of Sunshine, on the Sydenham railway line. It is the junction for the line west to Ballarat...
.
History
White City was opened on 11 November 1927 as Coursing Platform, and was renamed White City on 25 August 1929. (an alternate opening date is 10 December 1927.)It primarily existed to service the local industry (in particular the Olympic Tyres factory) and the greyhound racing
Greyhound racing
Greyhound racing is the sport of racing greyhounds. The dogs chase a lure on a track until they arrive at the finish line. The one that arrives first is the winner....
track in the area, known as White City Coursing Club. The station only ever had a westbound platform, even though at its peak, fifty services a week
Week
A week is a time unit equal to seven days.The English word week continues an Old English wice, ultimately from a Common Germanic , from a root "turn, move, change"...
stopped at the station. Due to its proximity to Tottenham
Tottenham, Victoria
Tottenham is a suburb west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong.Tottenham is mostly an industrial suburb, with the Olex Cable manufacturing facility one of the many industrial businesses located in Tottenham....
station, White City's signals
Railway signalling
Railway signalling is a system used to control railway traffic safely, essentially to prevent trains from colliding. Being guided by fixed rails, trains are uniquely susceptible to collision; furthermore, trains cannot stop quickly, and frequently operate at speeds that do not enable them to stop...
were operated from there.
Workmen's train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
s from the city commenced stopping at the station on 10 June 1940 but it was not until 28 June 1948 that citybound trains commenced stopping at the station when an afternoon up working started from the station's single platform, using the crossover at the up end of the platform. White City was made a regular suburban station in December 1949.
In the early 1980s, Tottenham station underwent renovations. The line was raised in order to avoid the level crossing at Ashley Street. A new high-level island platform
Island platform
An island platform is a station layout arrangement where a single platform is positioned between two tracks within a railway station, tram stop or transitway interchange...
was built there, and it was decided to remove the nearby White City station as a result. On 4 October 1981, White City was officially closed. It was later demolished, and no trace of its presence remains today.