Rockbank railway station

Rockbank
PTV regional rail station
Eastbound view from Platform 1
General information
Location	Leakes Road, Rockbank, Victoria Australia
Coordinates	37°43′45″S144°39′03″E / 37.7291°S 144.6508°E / -37.7291; 144.6508
Owned by	VicTrack
Operated by	V/Line
Line(s)	Ballarat Ararat Maryborough (Ararat)
Distance	30.2 kilometres from Southern Cross
Platforms	2 side
Tracks	2
Connections	Bus
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Parking	350
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Status	Operational, unstaffed
Station code	RBK
Fare zone	Myki Zone 2
Website	Public Transport Victoria
History
Opened	2 April 1884;141 years ago (1884-04-02)
Rebuilt	26 August 2019
Previous names	Mount Atkinson (1884-1889)
Passengers
2013–2014	6,477 [1]

Preceding station	V/Line			Following station
Caroline Springs towards Southern Cross		Ballarat line		Cobblebank towards Wendouree
		Ballarat line (Melton line)		Cobblebank towards Melton or Bacchus Marsh
		Ararat line		Cobblebank towards Ararat
		Maryborough line		Cobblebank towards Maryborough

Track layout
Legend to Caroline Springs Troups Road Leakes Road 1 2 Paynes Road to Cobblebank

Rockbank railway station is a regional railway station on the Ararat line, located in the western suburb of Rockbank, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ^[3] The station initially opened as "Mount Atkinson" on 2 April 1884, then it was given its current name of Rockbank in November 1889. ^[4]

The station is an unstaffed, ground-level station, featuring two side platforms. The current station was provided in 2019 by the Regional Rail Revival project. ^{[5] [6]} The station is accessible, utilising a pedestrian overpass, lifts, and ramps for platform access. ^[5]

Rockbank station serves the Ballarat and Ararat lines, which are part of V/Line's regional passenger network. The station is served by the 444 bus route to Aintree. ^[7] The journey to Southern Cross railway station, the hub of the V/Line railway network, is approximately 30.2 kilometres (18.8 mi).

Description

Rockbank station is at Leakes Road, Melbourne, a major road which forms the station's eastern boundary. A level crossing is also present. ^[8] The station is located near Rockbank's primary school, general store, and housing estates. The state government agency VicTrack owns the station, and it is primarily operated by V/Line. It is approximately 30.2 kilometres (18.8 mi) away from Southern Cross railway station. The adjacent stations are Caroline Springs station up towards Melbourne and Cobblebank station down towards Ballarat or Ararat. ^[3]

Outside view of Rockbank Station looking at station car park and concourse in the distance

The station consists of two side platforms with a total of two platform edges. A pedestrian bridge links the two platforms, delivered by Kyriacou Architects and SMEC Holdings. The bridge's brown colour represents the earth surrounding the station. ^[9]

The current station is entirely different from its original state, as both platforms were demolished for the new station's construction in 2018. ^[10] The station has 350 car parking spaces and 26 bike cage facilities (known as Parkiteers). ^[11] To meet accessibility needs, the station has lifts and ramps. ^[5]

History

Old Rockbank station before its demolition for the Regional Rail Revival project, October 2010

Original station

The station opened as Mount Atkinson on 2 April 1884, as part of the extension of the Serviceton line, ^[12] and was renamed Rockbank in 1889. The station was established to serve the local farming communities of Rockbank. ^[13] Being on a single track railway line, it was used as a crossing loop, and continued to be used as such until 2021, when the single-track section between Deer Park West and Melton was converted to dual track. ^[14]

By 1914, the station had a rail yard with three tracks. The south track housed the passenger platform, and the north track had a goods shed. The station's signal box was interlocked. ^{[15] [16]} With a chaff mill established in 1908, and a recreation reserve located nearby, the station became the focus of the Rockbank community. ^[13]

In 1960, the crossing loop was extended to accommodate trains up to 730 metres long, and a short platform was provided on the loop road. In 1976, Centralised Traffic Control was provided on the line from Sunshine to Rockbank. The same year, flashing light signals were provided at the Leakes Road level crossing, located nearby in the up direction of the station. ^[15] By the 1970s, the mill siding was no longer in use. The station building was later demolished c. 1985. ^{[13] [17]} A year later, in 1986, the yard was simplified to two tracks: a main line and a crossing loop. ^[15] In 1990, the mechanical signals and switches were removed, and replaced by Automatic and Track Control. ^{[15] [18]} A new platform, parallel to the size of the southbound platform, was provided in 1993. It replaced the original short platform which was located on the passing loop. ^{[15] [13]}

In 2002, boom barriers were provided at the Leakes Road level crossing. ^[15] In 2005, control of the signals was transferred to the Ballarat signal box, as part of the Regional Fast Rail project. ^[16] Between 2015–2019, at least six crashes occurred at the Leakes Road level crossing, with 2 serious collisions and 8 injuries. ^[8]

Reconstructed station

In March 2018, work began on the reconstruction of the station as part of the Regional Rail Revival project. ^{[19] [20]} The station upgrade was managed by Kyriacou Architects and SMEC Holdings, in partnership with Lendlease and Coleman Rail. ^[9] The side platforms were rebuilt to fit six-carriage VLocity trains, and an accessible pedestrian overpass was installed over the tracks, accessed by lifts, ramps and stairs. ^[5] Other new facilities included a car park with capacity for up to 350 cars, a bus interchange, secure bike storage areas (Parkiteers), and drop-off zones. ^[21]

On 26 August 2019, the rebuilt station was opened to passengers. ^[5] Following the upgrade, there was a 114.63% increase in passenger movements at the station. ^[1] This increased patronage has led to some media attention, with particular concerns being raised that there is insufficient parking. ^{[22] [23]}

On 2 December 2019, Transit Systems Victoria commenced operation of a bus route via Rockbank station, connecting it to the suburb of Aintree. ^{[24] [25]}

The station is set to be integrated into the metropolitan railway network, as part of the rail electrification from Sunshine railway station to Melton under the Western Rail Plan. ^[26] However, there have been no confirmations regarding the integration since the announcement in 2018. ^{[27] [28]}

Platforms and services

Rockbank has two side platforms. It is served by V/Line Ballarat and Ararat line trains. The Ballarat line runs between Ballarat railway station and Southern Cross railway station in the Melbourne CBD. ^[29] The Ararat line takes a similar route, but continues beyond Ballarat to Ararat railway station. ^[30]

Platform 1:

•   Ballarat line   services to Southern Cross ^[31]
•   Ararat line   services to Southern Cross ^[32]
•   Maryborough line   one daily service to Southern Cross ^[33]

Platform 2:

•   Ballarat line   services to Melton, Bacchus Marsh and Wendouree ^[31]
•   Ararat line   services to Ararat ^[32]

Transport links

Rockbank station has an accessible bus interchange with six bus bays. The bus interchange also serves as a train replacement coach stop. ^[21]

Transit Systems Victoria operates one route via Rockbank station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

•  444 : to Aintree ^[7]

References

1. Mallis, Philip (9 March 2022). "Railway station and tram stop patronage in Victoria for 2008-2021 | Philip Mallis". Philip Mallis. Archived from the original on 15 January 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
2. "Moving Melton Transport Prospectus 2025 - Rail". Moving Melton. Archived from the original on 25 April 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
3. "Rockbank Railway Station". Public Transport Victoria . Archived from the original on 13 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
4. "Victorian Station Histories - Rockbank" (PDF). Victorian Railways History. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
5. "Rockbank Station". Victoria’s Big Build. 27 July 2021. Archived from the original on 18 March 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
6. "New And Improved Rockbank Station". Premier of Victoria. 25 August 2019. Archived from the original on 10 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
7. "444 Rockbank Station to Aintree". Public Transport Victoria. Archived from the original on 13 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
8. "Level Crossing Removals". Moving Melton. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
9. "Rockbank Station". Kyriacou Architects. Archived from the original on 10 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
10. "Accolade Rockbank Station" (PDF). Accolade Rockbank. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
11. "Regional Parkiteer bike facility locations" (PDF). Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
12. "Victorian Railways History". Victorian Railways. Archived from the original on 20 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
13. "Rockbank Station and Ward's Chaffmill Site". Victorian Heritage Database. Archived from the original on 2 May 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
14. "Ballarat Line Upgrade". Victoria's Big Build. 18 September 2023. Archived from the original on 28 March 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
15. "Rockbank". Vicsig. Archived from the original on 25 January 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
16. "Victorian Station Histories - Rockbank" (PDF). Victorian Railways History. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
17. "Rockbank - Stations Past". Stations Past. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
18. NETWORK: Australian Railways Journal, Volume 27. 1990. p. 24.
19. "$518 Million Ballarat Line Upgrade Released To Market". Premier of Victoria. 1 March 2017. Archived from the original on 20 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
20. Hartmann, Imogen (9 February 2021). "$600 million Ballarat Line Upgrade complete". Infrastructure Magazine. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
21. "Rockbank - Rockbank station". V/Line. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
22. "'Pressing need' for station upgrade". Melton and Moorabool Star Weekly. 11 January 2025. Archived from the original on 4 April 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
23. Barreta, Gladys (21 February 2025). "Community demands action on road safety". Melton and Moorabool Star Weekly. Archived from the original on 2 May 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
24. "Bus Boost For Melton, Rockbank And The Growing West". Premier of Victoria. 30 August 2019. Archived from the original on 4 April 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
25. "New and improved bus services for Melton, Rockbank and surrounds". Public Transport Victoria. Archived from the original on 23 March 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
26. Ilanbey, Sumeyya (17 October 2018). "Electrification of Melton railway line on the cards". Melton and Moorabool Star Weekly.
27. "Confusion and plummeting confidence in rail promises for regional Victoria". ABC News. 5 August 2023. Archived from the original on 10 April 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
28. Kennedy, Jaidyn (29 January 2025). "Melton continues to advocate for rail electrification". Melton and Moorabool Star Weekly.
29. "Ballarat-Wendouree - Melbourne via Melton". Public Transport Victoria. Archived from the original on 25 April 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
30. "Ararat - Melbourne via Ballarat". Public Transport Victoria. Archived from the original on 29 April 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
31. "Ballarat timetable". V/Line. 1 December 2024. Archived from the original on 12 April 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
32. "Ararat timetable". V/Line. 13 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
33. "Maryborough - Melton via Ballarat Timetable" (PDF). Public Transport Victoria. 7 June 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2025.

External links

• Media related to Rockbank railway station, Melbourne at Wikimedia Commons
• Rail Geelong gallery
• Victorian Railway Stations gallery
• Melway map at street-directory.com.au