Riversdale Railway Station
The station was provisionally named as Prospect Hill. However, during construction, it was given the name "Riversdale".
A number of services terminate at Riversdale after the morning and evening peaks and return to Camberwell for stabling.
History
Riversdale station opened on 30 May 1890, along with the first section of the Outer Circle line. Prior to opening, it was provisionally called Prospect Hill, however, it has been named Riversdale since it opened. The name derives from the nearby Riversdale Road, itself named by parliamentarian and local resident Matthew O'Grady. O'Grady named it after the fact that the road leads to the valley of the Yarra River.
Though it was closed for a year in 1897 and 1898, when the Outer Circle line closed, it reopened soon after due to a public outcry.
In 1915, the current down platform (Platform 2) was provided, as well as two goods sidings. In 1922, a siding for Camberwell Council was provided.
By 1948, the council siding was removed and, by 1953, all remaining sidings were abolished. On 31 July 1955, the line was duplicated to Hartwell and, on 29 November 1959, the line was duplicated to Camberwell. The duplication to Camberwell included a flyover for the down line, which crosses over the Belgrave and Lilydale lines, and the replacement of hand gates with boom barriers at the Prospect Hill Road level crossing, located nearby in the up direction of the station.
The level crossing at Riversdale Road, located at the down end of the station, features unusual manually-operated boom barriers, which are controlled by a signal box. The boom barrier arms are divided into two sections, so as not to make contact with the overhead tram wires. These boom barriers were provided in 1963, and replaced interlocked gates.
In 1972, both platforms were extended at the up end.
Platforms and services
Riversdale has two side platforms. It is serviced by Metro Trains' Alamein line services.
Platform 1:
- Alamein line weekday all stations and limited express services to Flinders Street; all stations shuttle services to Camberwell
Platform 2:
- Alamein line all stations services to Alamein; terminating services
Transport links
CDC Melbourne operates one bus route via Riversdale station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:
Yarra Trams operates one route via Riversdale station:
References
- ^ Estimated Annual Patronage by Network Segment Financial Year 2005–2006 to 2018–19 Department of Transport
- ^ Railway station and tram stop patronage in Victoria for 2008–2021 Philip Mallis
- ^ Annual metropolitan train station patronage (station entries) Data Vic
- ^ "Riversdale". vicsig.net. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ First, Jamie (7 January 2014). "The A-Z story of Melbourne's suburbs". Herald Sun. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ David Beardsell & Bruce Herbert (1979). The Outer Circle: A history of the Oakleigh to Fairfield Park Railway. Australian Railway Historical Society. p. 68. ISBN 0-85849-024-2.
- ^ "Rail Fly-over to Open Soon". The Age. 14 November 1959. p. 3.
- ^ "Camberwell Fly-over Electrified". The Age. 16 November 1959. p. 11.
- ^ John Sinnatt (January 1990). "Level Crossing Protection". Somersault. Signalling Record Society Victoria. pp. 9–17.
- ^ "New Boom Gates Speed Traffic". The Age. 11 October 1963. p. 8.
- ^ "Way and Works". Divisional Diary. Australian Railway Historical Society. May 1972. p. 6.
- ^ "Alamein Line". Public Transport Victoria.
- ^ "612 Box Hill - Chadstone via Surrey Hills & Camberwell & Glen Iris". Public Transport Victoria.
- ^ "70 Waterfront City Docklands - Wattle Park". Public Transport Victoria.
External links
Media related to Riversdale railway station, Melbourne at Wikimedia Commons
- Melway map at street-directory.com.au