Bell railway station, Melbourne

Last updated

Bell
PTV commuter rail station
Bell station eastern side building, August 2024.jpg
Eastern facade, exterior and landscaping of Bell station, August 2024
General information
LocationGarnet Street,
Preston, Victoria 3072
City of Darebin
Australia
Coordinates 37°44′44″S145°00′01″E / 37.7456°S 145.0003°E / -37.7456; 145.0003
Owned by VicTrack
Operated by Metro Trains
Line(s) Mernda
Distance11.70 kilometres from
Southern Cross
Platforms2 side
Tracks2
Connections Victoria bus logo.svg Bus
Construction
Structure typeElevated
Parking75
Bicycle facilities6
AccessibleYes—step free access
Other information
StatusOperational, premium station
Station codeBEL
Fare zone Myki Zone 1
Website Public Transport Victoria
History
Opened8 October 1889;135 years ago (1889-10-08)
Rebuilt5 September 2022 (LXRP)
ElectrifiedJuly 1921 (1500 V DC overhead)
Previous namesPreston-Bell Street (1889–1905)
Passengers
2005–2006307,030 [1]
Preceding station Melbourne train logo.svg Metro Trains Following station
Thornbury
towards Flinders Street
Mernda line Preston
towards Mernda

Bell railway station is a commuter railway station located in the north-eastern suburb of Preston in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. [5] Bell station opened on 8 October 1889, with the former ground level station closed and demolished in May 2022 and the current elevated station provided in September 2022 by the Level Crossing Removal Project. [6] Bell station initially opened as "Preston-Bell Street" upon its opening in 1889, then it was given its current name of "Bell" on 1 August 1905.

Contents

Bell is an elevated premium station, consisting of two side platforms connected by staircases, lifts and a ground level concourse. Bell station fully complies with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and is accessible as there is a lift connecting to the ground level concourse and Bell station platforms on either side. [7]

Bell station is owned by VicTrack, a state government agency, and operated by Metro Trains Melbourne. The station is currently served by the Mernda line, part of the Melbourne railway network. [5] It is also served by four bus routes including Dysons bus routes 513, 514, 552 and 553. Bell station is approximately 9 km (5.6 mi) or around a 22 minute train ride to Flinders Street. [8]

Description

Elevated rail leading to Bell station, Melbourne July 2023 (cropped).jpg
Landscaping, elevated railway and bicycle lanes at Bell station, August 2024.jpg
The elevated railway leading up to Bell station and the northern entrance (top), Bell station features a concourse and landscaping area.

Bell railway station is located in the north-eastern suburb of Preston in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is owned by VicTrack, a state government agency, and operated by Metro Trains Melbourne. [5] The adjacent stations are Thornbury station up towards Flinders Street and Preston station down towards Mernda. [8] A train ride to Flinders Street takes around 22 minutes, covering 9 km (5.6 mi). [8]

Bell station is fitted with shelters over the seating areas for protection against Melbourne's weather, as well as secure bike parking spots. [9] In total, there are 77 car and 28 protected bike parking at Bell station. [10] [11] Moreover, the station features a ground level concourse, accessible by stairs and lifts up to the elevated platforms. [7]

There is one main station building, opened in 2022, and made out of local roofscapes abstracted into three-dimensional patterns: mostly pink and purple glazing windows, post-war rooftops and references to the local art and culture scene. [9] [12] It contains a waiting room, a customer service, PSO office and a spacious ground level concourse connected to the platforms. [13] [14] [15]

Bell station is flanked on its eastern side by an amphitheatre. [12]

History

Pre level crossing removal

Former ground level station platforms, prior to the 2022 rebuilding project BellStation.jpg
Former ground level station platforms, prior to the 2022 rebuilding project

Bell station was opened on 8 October 1889 and named after the nearby Bell Street, a major road located on the north side of Bell. The line passing through Bell was built to extend the Inner Circle line from North Fitzroy station to a new terminus at Reservoir station. [16] [17]

The original Bell station was situated next to the former Bell Street level crossing, which was upgraded with manually operated boom barriers in 1969, replacing the interlocking gates. [18] A goods yard originally served Bell, however, it was removed in 1986, leaving only a siding area. [19] On 17 April 1988, the double-line block signalling system between Bell and Reservoir was decommissioned and was replaced with automatic three position signalling. [20] Additionally, in the same month, Bell was enhanced with pedestrian gates at the former Bell Street level crossing, in combination with the manually operated road boom barriers. [20]

On 25 August 2008, Bell was upgraded to a premium station, featuring the addition of customer service facilities and the conversion of the former ground-level station building into a waiting room. [21]

Level Crossing Removal Project

Bell station forecourt, landscaping and building, August 2024.jpg
Bell station viewed from the south 2.jpg
Bell station ticket hall, Melbourne on Mernda line July 2023.jpg
The western facade (top), Bell entrance, building and landscaping (middle), interior of Bell building leading out to the northern entrance (bottom)

In 2014, the first Andrews government announced a $2.4 billion program to remove 50 level crossings in Melbourne, including the Bell Street level crossing. The program was projected for completion by 2022. [22] [23] In January 2016, it was incorporated into the Level Crossing Removal Project program, but at the time, it had not been decided how the grade separation would be realised in regards to the Bell Street level crossing. [24]

On 30 November 2018, the second Andrews government announced that the Level Crossing Removal Project would remove one level crossing at Oakover Road, along with 24 other level crossings across Melbourne as part of a $6.6 billion program. [25] Instead, the level crossing was substituted with the elevated railway option. [26] [27]

The Bell railway station reconstruction began in February 2021 with piling works, installation of fencing around the construction site, and development of foundation for the temporary overhead wiring that would be used in the future 2 km (1.2 mi) elevated railway. [28]

During the major construction period in 2021 and 2022, the Mernda line was closed a few times for maximum of 12 days to facilitate further piling and excavation works. [29] The Mernda line was closed between 5 May to 12 May 2021, when the original Bell station building was demolished to make way for the new elevated railway, followed by the installation of an operational temporary station. [29] Subsequently, the 114 piers were dug and the first part of the U-through elevated railway section was constructed, made up of two L-shaped beams. [30] Between 17 May to 30 May 2022, the Mernda line was shut down for 12 days to remove the Oakover Road and Bell Street level crossings, get the first part of the elevated railway ready for trains to run on and demolish the old station platforms. [31] [32]

On 30 May 2022, the first part of the two kilometre elevated railway was opened, until 26 August 2022 only a single track was temporarily available because the Mernda line couldn't be closed for no longer than 12 days due to the requirement for trains to regularly access the Epping maintenance yard facility. [30]

Bell station concourse stairs and glass stein colour windows, August 2024.jpg
Station building glass colour stein at Bell station, August 2024.jpg
Bell rebuilt by the LXRP in 2022 features colour glass stained windows on the western and eastern sides of the facade, Bell has lighting and staircases on both sides

On 5 September 2022 Bell station was opened to the public. [6] The rebuilt Bell was moved 40 metres from the former ground level station site to increase the amount of community open space, forecourt and landscaping area. [33] The new building was built with additional exits opened on the north side. [6] Moreover, it got upgraded with water and energy efficient features such as solar panels, rainwater-reuse systems, LED lighting and environmentally sustainable materials to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. [12] In 2023, the open space project was constructed near Oakover Road, located west and 280 metres from Bell station. [12] It was named "Oakover Green" and equipped with a playground, landscaped gardens, seating areas and a yarning circle developed by Wurundjeri artists. [12] In October 2024, Bell was recognised as one of the top six most beautiful stations in the world by Prix Versailles. It was the only Australian railway station recognised in that category. [34]

Services

Mernda line train at elevated platform of Bell station, Melbourne, July 2023.jpg
Bell station Platform 1, September 2022.jpg
Bell railway station Platform 2 (northern view)(26 August 2024).jpg
An X'Trapolis 100 train on a Flinders Street-bound service idle at Platform 1, July 2023 (top), Platform 1 at Bell looking southbound, September 2022 (middle), Platform 2 at Bell looking northbound, August 2024 (bottom)

Bell has two side platforms. Bell station is currently served by the Mernda line, part of the metropolitan railway network. [8] The Mernda line runs from Mernda station, north-east of Melbourne, joining with the Hurstbridge line at Clifton Hill station before travelling through Flinders Street station and back through the City Loop in a clockwise direction. [8]

Platform 1:

Platform 2:

Bell station has four bus route connections operated by Dysons and no tram connections. The route 513 and route 514 bus stop at the nearby Bell Street, north-west of Bell station: the route 513 bus operates from Eltham station to Glenroy station via Lower Plenty, while the route 514 bus operates from Eltham station to Glenroy station via Greensborough. [35] [36] The route 552 and 553 bus stop at the nearby High Street, east of Bell station: the route 552 operates from North East Reservoir to Northcote Plaza, while the route 553 bus operates from Preston to West Preston. [37] [38]

Bus connections:

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Estimated Annual Patronage by Network Segment Financial Year 2005-2006 to 2018-19". Department of Transport. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Railway station and tram stop patronage in Victoria for 2008-2021". Philip Mallis. Archived from the original on 17 December 2022.
  3. ↑ "Annual metropolitan train station patronage (station entries)". Data Vic. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023.
  4. ↑ "Annual metropolitan train station entries 2022-23". Data Vic. Archived from the original on 20 January 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 "Bell Station". Metro Trains Melbourne. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 "New stations open to passengers today in Preston". Victoria's Big Build. 5 September 2022. Archived from the original on 23 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Access Guide". Metro Trains Melbourne. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Mernda line". Public Transport Victoria. Archived from the original on 5 June 2025. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  9. 1 2 "Making memories at Bell Station". Victoria's Big Build. 16 October 2024. Archived from the original on 29 December 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  10. ↑ "New Bell station" (PDF). Victoria's Big Build. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  11. ↑ "Parkiteer - Secure cage locations". Parkiteer. Archived from the original on 12 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Preston community update – October 2022". Victoria's Big Build. 11 October 2022. Archived from the original on 20 April 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  13. ↑ "Preston's Bell Station has been named one of the most beautiful stations in the world". TimeOut. 18 October 2024. Archived from the original on 6 December 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  14. ↑ "Staffed stations". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  15. ↑ "The prefabricated LGS framing used on the stunning Bell Station facade". Architecture & Design. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  16. ↑ "Bell Street Bridge" (PDF). Merri-bek City Council . Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  17. ↑ First, Jamie (7 January 2014). "The A-Z story of Melbourne's suburbs". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  18. ↑ John Sinnatt (January 1990). "Level Crossing Protection". Somersault. Signalling Record Society Victoria. pp. 9–17.
  19. ↑ "General News". Newsrail . Australian Railway Historical Society. July 1986. p. 213.
  20. 1 2 "Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. July 1988. p. 220.
  21. ↑ "Bell Station Becomes a Premium Stop for Commuters". Media Release: Premier of Victoria, Australia. premier.vic.gov.au. 25 August 2008. Archived from the original on 29 October 2008. Retrieved 27 August 2008.
  22. ↑ "Level Crossing Removals are Labor's Priority". www.premier.vic.gov.au. 12 December 2014. Archived from the original on 29 December 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  23. ↑ "$2.4 Billion To Kick Start Level Crossing Removals". www.premier.vic.gov.au. 5 May 2015. Archived from the original on 29 December 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  24. ↑ Carey, Adam (31 January 2016). "End of the line for older Melbourne stations being torn down and rebuilt". The Age. Archived from the original on 6 January 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  25. ↑ "More level crossing removals on the way". Victoria's Big Build. 30 November 2018. Archived from the original on 29 December 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  26. ↑ "Bell Street, Preston". Victoria's Big Build. Archived from the original on 27 February 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  27. ↑ "Only Labor Will Remove 75 Dangerous And Congested Level Crossings By 2025". www.premier.vic.gov.au. 21 October 2018. Archived from the original on 29 December 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  28. ↑ "Full steam ahead at Preston". Victoria's Big Build. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  29. 1 2 "Level Crossing Construction Ramping Up In Preston". www.premier.vic.gov.au. 5 May 2021. Archived from the original on 30 December 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  30. 1 2 "How we'll build the Preston rail bridge fact sheet". Victoria's Big Build. 27 July 2021. Archived from the original on 30 December 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  31. ↑ "Getting the new Preston elevated railway ready for trains". Victoria's Big Build. 16 May 2022. Archived from the original on 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  32. ↑ "Preston boom gate free". Victoria's Big Build. 20 May 2022. Archived from the original on 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  33. ↑ "New Bell Station fact sheet". Victoria's Big Build. 4 October 2020. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  34. ↑ "Wood Marsh's Bell station named one of the worlds most beautiful passenger stations by Prix Versailles 2024". Wood Marsh. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  35. 1 2 "513 Eltham - Glenroy via Lower Plenty". Public Transport Victoria. Archived from the original on 4 November 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  36. 1 2 "514 Eltham - Glenroy via Greensborough". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  37. 1 2 "552 North East Reservoir - Northcote Plaza via High Street". Public Transport Victoria . Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  38. 1 2 "553 Preston - West Preston via Reservoir". Public Transport Victoria. Archived from the original on 4 November 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
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