Westona Railway Station
Westona is a crossing loop in the middle of a 10-kilometre-long section of single track between Altona Junction and Laverton. The direction in which trains cross at Westona is unusual for Melbourne, in that they pass each other on the right, rather than passing on the more common left.
History
In 1965, the Victorian Parliament passed the Altona Railway Extension Act, which authorised a 1-mile (1.6 km) extension of the Altona railway, west to Maidstone Street. Despite a sign being erected on the future site of Westona station, proclaiming that a railway was to be built to there, nothing was done for almost two decades.
Westona station opened on 21 January 1985, when the railway line from Altona was extended. After opening, the station was briefly the terminus of the line, with the up face of the island platform (Platform 1) only in use. On 14 April of that year, the track to Laverton was opened. The station was named by Joanna O'Connor, Alan Angus and Betty Angus, who won a council-run contest to find a name. Because the new station was west of Altona, they suggested Westona.
In 1986, control of all signals and points was transferred to the Newport signal box, with the signal control panel moved to the relay room for maintenance purposes only.
Platforms and services
Westona has one island platform with two faces. It is served by Werribee line trains.
Platform 1:
- Werribee line all stations and limited express services to Flinders Street and Frankston
Platform 2:
- Werribee line all stations services to Laverton (weekdays only); all stations services to Werribee
Transport links
CDC Melbourne operates one bus route via Westona station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:
- 415 : Laverton station – Williamstown
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
- ^ "Westona". Vicsig. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- ^ "Westona Station". Rail Geelong. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
- ^ "Altona Railway Extension Act 1965". Victorian Historical Acts. Australasian Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ Harrington, Tony (22 January 1985). "Western suburbs get new station, lose three others". The Age. p. 5.
- ^ Byrne, Bridie (16 September 2008). "Diamond Day". Williamstown, Altona, Laverton Star. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ "Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. March 1987. p. 89.
- ^ "Werribee Line". Public Transport Victoria.
- ^ "415 Laverton Station - Williamstown via Altona". Public Transport Victoria.
External links
- Melway map at street-directory.com.au