Town Hall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Future PTV rapid transit station | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() An acoustic box over the Collins Street entry to Town Hall railway station in December 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Location | Swanston Street Melbourne, Victoria 3000 City of Melbourne Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 37°48′57″S144°58′02″E / 37.8159259°S 144.9671336°E | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Owned by | VicTrack | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operated by | Metro Trains | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Line(s) | Sunshine–Dandenong | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Platforms | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tracks | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Connections |
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Construction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Structure type | Underground | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Depth | 28 metres (92 feet) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accessible | Yes—step free access | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Status | Under construction | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fare zone | Myki Zone 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Website | Town Hall station | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Electrified | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Previous names | CBD South | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Services | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Town Hall railway station (originally known by the working title of CBD South) is a rapid transit station currently under construction as part of the Metro Tunnel project in Melbourne, Victoria. The station will serve the southern end of the Melbourne central business district (CBD) and will connect to Flinders Street station via an underground pedestrian walkway. [1]
It is being built below Swanston Street between Flinders and Collins Streets and will serve local destinations including St Paul's Cathedral, Federation Square, Southbank and the Degraves Street dining precinct. It is named for the nearby Melbourne Town Hall. Construction commenced in 2018 with the station expected to open in 2025.
The Metro Tunnel project began in 2015, with early works commencing on the two central business district (CBD) station sites in 2017. [2] [3] In April 2017, City Square on Swanston Street was fenced off for the commencement of construction and staging works. [4] Major station works at Town Hall began in 2018. [5]
Cross Yarra Partnership, led by Lendlease, was named as the preferred bidder for the construction contract in July 2017 and designs for the project's five stations were presented by the consortium were released publicly, as well as details of connections to existing stations and streetscapes. [6] In November 2017, after a naming competition, it was announced the CBD South station would be named Town Hall, after the nearby Melbourne Town Hall. [7] Updated designs were revealed by the government in 2018 that showed Town Hall and State Library stations would feature large platform caverns with archways, and that there would be multiple entrances. [8] [9]
City Square, Port Philip Arcade on Flinders Street and several small shops along Swanston Street were demolished to allow construction of the station. [10] [11] [12]
In May 2020, major traffic changes were put in place near Flinders Street station in order to improve safety around large trucks entering acoustic sheds as a part of the project. Left turns from St Kilda Road to Flinders Street were removed, and the pedestrian crossing between St Paul's Cathedral and Federation Square was temporarily closed. [13]
Two tunnel boring machines arrived at Town Hall station in April 2021 and were dismantled and extracted, signalling an end to tunnelling on the project. [14] Road-headers broke through at the platform tunnels of Town Hall station in August 2021 as the major excavation phase on the two CBD stations neared completion. [15] Town Hall was excavated to a depth of 33 m (108 ft) below street level, with the station platforms to sit 27 m (89 ft) below street level. [15] This followed the completion of road-header excavation of the platform caverns at State Library in 2020. [16]
In late 2022, acoustic sheds began to be dismantled at the Town Hall and Anzac station locations in order to allow construction of above-ground station structures. [17] [18]
The station will feature four entrances, the main entrance being located in City Square opposite Melbourne Town Hall, the second being located off Flinders Street, connected to Cocker Alley and Scott Alley. [19] The third entrance is located within Federation Square, with the Square's information centre demolished in 2018 to construct the new entrance. [20]
The final entrance is an underground connection to nearby Flinders Street station through the already existing Campbell Arcade connection. [19] A number of changes were made to the design of the Campbell Arcade walkway to preserve the site's heritage character. [21]
Initially it was planned to build the station using the cut-and-cover method, however this was changed so that the tunnels would run deeper underneath the ground in order to not disturb services, utilities and businesses on Swanston Street. [22] [23]
Like State Library station, Town Hall used a unique "trinocular" construction method involved the mining of three large, overlapping tunnels with vaulted ceilings. [24] Large arches will define the 230 metre long platforms. [25] Underneath City Square, the station's main entrance features a 14-metre high concourse space. [26] Eight columns hold up a vaulted ceiling nicknamed "the crypt", an architectural reference to the nearby St Paul's Cathedral. [26]
The station was designed by architects RSHP, Hassell and Weston Williamson. [27]
In December 2022 the developer Lendlease secured planning approval for the over-site development above the Flinders Street entrance to Town Hall. [28] The nine-story office and retail development will feature station entrances opening to Swanston Street, Flinders Street and rebuilt arcades connecting to Cocker Alley and Scott Alley. [29] The site is owned by the Victorian government and sits around the famous Young and Jackson Hotel and adjoins the Nicholas Building. [30]
Mexican-Canadian artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer was commissioned to create a permanent artwork for Town Hall as part of the Metro Tunnel's legacy artwork program. [31] In 2024, Rail Projects Victoria stated that this commission had been cancelled due to difficulties from the COVID-19 pandemic, and unlike the other stations Town Hall would not have its own artwork. [32]
A number of artworks and sculptures will be returned to the Town Hall sites once construction has finished, including the King Neptune sculpture by Melbourne artist Charles Bush. [19] The King Neptune sculpture sat above the entrance to Port Phillip Arcade on Flinders Street, which was demolished for the station. [33] [19] The famous statue of ill-fated explorers Burke and Wills was removed from City Square in 2017 and is planned to return to the corner of Collins and Swanston Streets after the completion of the station. [34] The John Mockridge Fountain water wall will also be returned and relocated to the northern edge of City Square along Collins Street. [35]
As part of the construction of Town Hall Station, the City Square precinct is set to be rebuilt as a public gathering and events space. [26] There will be 70 new bike parking spaces built to cope with increasing demand, as well as improved tram interchanges on Flinders, Collins, and Swanston streets. [19] A new tram connection is planned to be built as part of the Metro Tunnel, allowing trams to turn onto Flinders Street from the current tram terminus on Elizabeth Street. [36]
G | Street level | Entrances/Exits |
B1M | City Square Concourse | Walkway |
B1 | City Square Concourse | Retail, walkway |
Federation Square Concourse | Walkway | |
Flinders and Swanston Streets Concourse | Retail, toilets, walkway | |
B2 | City Square Concourse | Retail, toilets, walkway |
Federation Square Concourse | Walkway | |
Flinders and Swanston Streets Concourse | Concourse, passageway to Flinders Street station, Campbell Arcade | |
B3 | City Square Concourse | Concourse, customer service |
Federation Square Concourse | Walkway to platform | |
Flinders and Swanston Streets Concourse | ||
B4 Platforms | Platform 1 | Sunshine Dandenong Line towards Sunbury (State Library) → |
Island platform, doors will open on the right | ||
Platform 2 | ← Sunshine Dandenong Line towards Pakenham or Cranbourne (Anzac) |
Flinders Street railway station is a train station located on the corner of Flinders and Swanston streets in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is the second busiest train station in Australia, serving the entire metropolitan rail network, 15 tram routes travelling to and from the city, as well as some country and regional V/Line services to eastern Victoria. Opened in 1854, the station is the oldest in Australia, backing onto the Yarra River in the central business district, the complex includes 13 platforms and structures that stretch over more than two city blocks, from east of Swanston Street to nearly at Market Street.
Federation Square is a venue for arts, culture and public events on the edge of the Melbourne central business district. It covers an area of 3.2 ha at the intersection of Flinders and Swanston Streets built above busy railway lines and across the road from Flinders Street station. It incorporates major cultural institutions such as the Ian Potter Centre, Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) and the Koorie Heritage Trust as well as cafes and bars in a series of buildings centred around a large paved square, and a glass walled atrium.
The City Loop is a piece of underground commuter rail infrastructure in the central business district (CBD) of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Parliament railway station is a commuter railway station adjacent to the border between the Melbourne CBD and the suburb of East Melbourne, in Victoria, Australia. The station has two island platforms in a two-floor configuration, connected to street level via two underground concourses.
Toorak railway station is a commuter railway station on the northern boundary of Armadale, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The station is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, and was opened on 7 May 1879. The station is named after the nearby suburb of Toorak—located north of the station. The station consists of an island platform and two side platforms all accessed by a pedestrian bridge. There are two principal station buildings located on the central platform and on platform 4, consisting of a small two and one-story brick buildings. These buildings were provided in 1914, as ticketing and staff offices. The station is only partially accessible due to a multiple steep access ramps.
Armadale railway station is a commuter railway station in Armadale, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The station is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register and was opened on 7 May 1879. The station consists of an island platform and two side platforms, all accessed by a pedestrian bridge. There are two principal station buildings located on the central platform and on platform 4, consisting of a small two and one-story brick buildings. These buildings were provided in 1914 as ticketing and staff offices. The station is only partially accessible due to a multiple steep access ramps.
The Cranbourne line is a commuter railway line in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Operated by Metro Trains Melbourne, it is the city's second longest metropolitan railway line at 44 kilometres (27 mi). The line runs from Flinders Street station in central Melbourne to Cranbourne station in the south-east, serving 24 stations via the City Loop, South Yarra, Caulfield, Oakleigh, and Dandenong. The line operates for approximately 20 hours a day with 24 hour service available on Friday and Saturday nights. During peak hour, headways of up to 5 to 15 minutes are operated with services every 15–20 minutes during off-peak hours. Trains on the Cranbourne line run with a seven-car formation operated by High Capacity Metro Trains.
The Mernda line is a commuter railway line in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Operated by Metro Trains Melbourne, it is the city's eighth longest metropolitan railway line at 33.1 kilometres (20.6 mi). The line runs from Flinders Street station in central Melbourne to Mernda station in the north, serving 29 stations including Clifton Hill, Reservoir, Epping, and South Morang. The line operates for approximately 19 hours a day with 24-hour service available on Friday and Saturday nights. During peak hour, headways of up to 7.5 minutes are operated with services every 10–30 minutes during off-peak hours. Trains on the Mernda line run with two three-car formations of X'Trapolis 100 trainsets.
The Sunbury line is a commuter railway line in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Operated by Metro Trains Melbourne, it is the city's fifth longest metropolitan railway line at 40.3 kilometres (25.0 mi). The line runs from Flinders Street station in central Melbourne to Sunbury station in the north, serving 18 stations via North Melbourne, Sunshine, St Albans, and Watergardens. The line operates for approximately 19 hours a day with 24 hour service available on Friday and Saturday nights. During peak hour, headways of up to 5 minutes are operated with services every 20–30 minutes during off-peak hours. Trains on the Sunbury line run with a two three-car formations of Comeng or Siemens Nexas trainsets.
Melbourne Central railway station is an underground station on the electrified railway network in Melbourne, Australia. It is one of three underground stations on the City Loop, which runs through the north and east of the Melbourne CBD.
The City Square was a public plaza located in the Central Business District (CBD) of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The site was bounded by Swanston Street, Collins Street, Flinders Lane and the Westin Hotel. The historic landmarks of Melbourne Town Hall and St Paul’s Cathedral were across the streets to the north and south respectively.
The Melbourne central business district is the city centre and main urban area of the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, centred on the Hoddle Grid, the oldest part of the city laid out in 1837, and includes its fringes. The Melbourne CBD is located in the local government area of the City of Melbourne which also includes some of inner suburbs adjoining the CBD.
Jolimont Yard was an array of railway lines and carriage sidings on the edge of the central business district of Melbourne, Australia. Located between Flinders Street station, Richmond Junction, the Yarra River and Flinders Street they were often criticised for cutting off the city from the river, being the site of many redevelopment proposals. The Princes Gate Towers were built over part of the yard in the 1960s, which themselves were replaced by Federation Square in the 2000s. The rail sidings themselves were progressively removed from the 1980s to the 1990s with only running lines today, but the area continues to be referred to as the 'Jolimont railyards' by Melburnians.
The Metro Tunnel is a metropolitan heavy rail project currently under construction in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It includes the construction of twin 9-kilometre (5.6 mi) rail tunnels between South Kensington and South Yarra with five new underground stations. The tunnel will connect the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines with the Sunbury line, creating a new high-frequency cross-city line that bypasses Flinders Street station and the City Loop. The line is also planned to serve Melbourne Airport via a new branch line west of Sunshine.
Port Phillip Arcade was a small arcade in Melbourne, the capital city of the Australian state of Victoria with several cafés and general food outlets. It connects Flinders Lane with Flinders Street between Swanston Street and Degraves Street.
Campbell Arcade is a pedestrian arcade located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The arcade is accessible from Flinders Street station and was built in 1955 to ensure crossing between Flinders Street and Melbourne's main train station was safer. It was completed ahead of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
Arden railway station is a railway station In Melbourne, constructed as part of the Metro Tunnel project. When opened, it will be served by the Sunbury, Pakenham and Cranbourne lines. Located in North Melbourne, below Laurens and Arden Streets, it was constructed using the cut-and-cover method. Major construction commenced in April 2018, and was completed in January 2024.
Melbourne Airport Rail is a proposed rail link from the Melbourne CBD to Melbourne Airport at Tullamarine. Since October 2022, the project has also been considered as part of the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) and branded as SRL Airport. The rail link will run through the under-construction Metro Tunnel, running 27 km from the airport to Town Hall station in the city centre with 12 km of new track between the airport and Sunshine station. The link will be a new branch of the Melbourne Metro rail network and run High-Capacity Metro Trains at a 10-minute frequency. The project is being delivered by the Victorian state government agency Rail Projects Victoria.
State Library railway station is a railway station currently under construction as part of the Metro Tunnel project in Melbourne, Victoria. The station will serve the northern end of the Melbourne central business district (CBD) and is adjacent to the existing Melbourne Central station on the City Loop. State Library will directly connect with Melbourne Central via an underground paid-area connection.
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