Bell railway station, Melbourne explained

Bell
Type:PTV commuter rail station
Style:Melbourne
Address:Garnet Street,
Preston, Victoria 3072
Borough:City of Darebin
Country:Australia
Coordinates:-37.7456°N 145.0003°W
Distance:11.70 kilometres from
Southern Cross
Other: Bus
Structure:Elevated
Platform:2 side
Tracks:2
Parking:75
Bicycle:6
Rebuilt:5 September 2022 (LXRP)[1]
Electrified:July 1921 (1500 V DC overhead)
Accessible:Yes—step free access
Code:BEL
Owned:VicTrack
Operator:Metro Trains
Zone:Myki Zone 1
Status:Operational, premium station
Former:Preston-Bell Street (1889–1905)
Website:Public Transport Victoria
Map State:expanded

Bell railway station is a commuter railway station on the Mernda line, which is part of the Melbourne railway network. It serves the north-eastern suburb of Preston, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Bell station is an elevated structure premium station, featuring two side platforms. It opened on 8 October 1889, with the current station provided in 2022.[2]

Initially opened as Preston-Bell Street, the station was given its current name of Bell on 1 August 1905.[3]

History

Bell station opened on 8 October 1889, when the Inner Circle line was extended from North Fitzroy to Reservoir,[2] Bell station is named after nearby Bell Street, itself named after Francis Bell, a landowner in Coburg who had a property named Bell Manor.[4] [5]

It was located adjacent to the former Bell Street level crossing, which was provided with boom barriers in 1969, replacing interlocked gates.[6] In 1973, the platforms at the former ground level station were extended at the up end of the station.[2]

The station once had a goods yard, which was removed in 1986, leaving only a siding at the up end of the station.[7]

On 17 April 1988, the double line block signalling system between Bell and Reservoir was abolished, and replaced with automatic three position signalling.[8] Also in that month, pedestrian gates were provided at the former Bell Street level crossing, in combination with the road boom barriers.[8]

On 31 March 1999, the former ground level station building on Platform 1 was damaged by fire.[2]

On 25 August 2008, Bell was upgraded to a premium station.[9]

There were crossovers located at both ends of the station, and a signal box was located on the former ground level Platform 1, which had a signal panel to control lights and switches in an emergency.[10] In 2012, the panel was abolished.[10]

In January 2016, the Level Crossing Removal Project announced that the Bell Street level crossing would be removed by grade separation. At the time, it had not been decided how the separation would be achieved,[11] but the rail-over option was later chosen.[12] In February 2021, major construction began.[13]

On 17 May 2022, Oakover Road and Bell Street level crossings and equipment were eliminated and on the same night, the ground level station were closed and demolished.[14] [15] On 30 May 2022, the first part of the new elevated railway opened with only a single track while the second track was under construction. This was temporary until 5 September 2022 when the rebuilt station opened.[16] [17]

Platforms and services

Bell has two side platforms. It is serviced by Metro Trains' Mernda line services.[18]

Platform 1:

Platform 2:

Transport links

Dysons operates four bus routes via Bell station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Modern stations at Preston just weeks away. Victoria's Big Build. 5 May 2023. 1 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230301060742/https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/news/level-crossing-removal-project/modern-stations-at-preston-just-weeks-away. live.
  2. Web site: Bell. vicsig.net. 4 February 2023. 1 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211101173943/https://vicsig.net/infrastructure/location/Bell. live.
  3. Web site: Bell. vicsig.net. 4 February 2023. 1 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211101173943/https://vicsig.net/infrastructure/location/Bell. live.
  4. Web site: Bell Street Bridge. Merri-bek City Council. 5 May 2023. 20 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221220125309/https://www.merri-bek.vic.gov.au/globalassets/areas/heritagelib-7504/heritage-list/coburg---bell-street-bridge.pdf. live.
  5. Web site: Jamie. First. The A-Z story of Melbourne's suburbs. Herald Sun. 7 January 2014. 4 February 2023. 26 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221226135637/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/the-az-story-of-melbournes-suburbs/news-story/6f7611b7df20e55ad02f5e9615885e21. live.
  6. January 1990. Level Crossing Protection. John Sinnatt. Somersault. Signalling Record Society Victoria. 9–17.
  7. July 1986. General News. Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. 213.
  8. July 1988. Works. Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. 220.
  9. Web site: Bell Station Becomes a Premium Stop for Commuters. Media Release: Premier of Victoria, Australia. 25 August 2008. premier.vic.gov.au. 2008-08-27. 29 October 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081029004741/http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/minister-for-public-transport/bell-station-becomes-a-premium-stop-for-commuters.html. live.
  10. Web site: Bell Signal Box . Vicsig . 2020-02-15 . 1 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211101173939/https://vicsig.net/index.php?page=infrastructure&box=Bell . live .
  11. News: Carey . Adam . End of the line for older Melbourne stations being torn down and rebuilt . 2020-02-15 . The Age . 2016-01-31 . 6 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230106120510/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/end-of-the-line-for-scores-of-older-melbourne-stations-being-torn-down-and-rebuilt-20160131-gmhzly.html . live .
  12. Web site: Bell Street, Preston . Level Crossing Removal Project . 2020-02-15 . 27 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200227045938/https://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/projects/bell-street-preston . live .
  13. Web site: Full steam ahead at Preston. Victoria's Big Build. 5 May 2023. 28 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220328195409/https://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/media/news/full-steam-ahead-at-preston. live.
  14. Web site: 16 May 2022 . Getting the new Preston rail bridge ready for trains . 8 August 2024 . Victoria's Big Build . en.
  15. Web site: 20 May 2022 . Preston boom gate free . 8 August 2024 . Victoria's Big Build . en.
  16. Web site: Modern stations at Preston just weeks away. Victoria's Big Build. 5 May 2023. 1 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230301060742/https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/news/level-crossing-removal-project/modern-stations-at-preston-just-weeks-away. live.
  17. Web site: New stations open to passengers today in Preston . Victoria's Big Build . 23 September 2022 . 23 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220923120035/https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/news/level-crossing-removal-project/new-stations-open-to-passengers-today-in-preston . live .
  18. train.
  19. Web site: 552 North East Reservoir - Northcote Plaza via High Street. Public Transport Victoria. 5 May 2023. 29 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230429141327/https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/15724/552-north-east-reservoir-northcote-plaza-via-high-street. live.