Southland railway station

Southland railway station is a commuter railway station on the Frankston line, which is part of the Melbourne railway network. It serves the south-eastern suburb of Cheltenham, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Southland station is a ground-level staffed station, featuring two side platforms. It opened on 26 November 2017.^[3]

Southland
PTV commuter rail station
Southbound view from Platform 1, November 2017
General information
Location	Bay Road, Cheltenham, Victoria 3192 City of Bayside City of Kingston Australia
Coordinates	37°57′32″S 145°02′57″E
Owned by	VicTrack
Operated by	Metro Trains
Line(s)	Frankston
Distance	21.30 kilometres from Southern Cross
Platforms	2 side
Tracks	2
Construction
Structure type	At grade
Parking	Yes
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Accessible	Yes—step free access
Other information
Status	Operational, host station
Station code	SOU
Fare zone	Myki Zone 2
Website	Public Transport Victoria
History
Opened	26 November 2017; 6 years ago (2017-11-26)
Electrified	June 1922 (1500 V DC overhead)
Passengers
2017–2018	300,167[1]
2018–2019	557,650[2]  85.8%
2019–2020	441,650[2]  20.8%
2020–2021	277,000[2]  37.3%
2021–2022	298,200[2]  7.65%
Services
Preceding station Metro Trains Following station Highett towards Werribee or Williamstown via Flinders Street Frankston line Cheltenham towards Frankston Future Terminus Suburban Rail Loop East (under construction) Clayton towards Box Hill
Track layout Legend to Highett 1 2 to Cheltenham

History

19th century

The first proposal for a railway station between Highett and Cheltenham, at Bay Road, occurred during the construction of the Frankston line in the early 1880s. The push was led by the Shire of Moorabbin, whose president for some of that decade was Thomas Bent, a land developer and, later, Premier of Victoria. Agitation continued through the 1880s, but was discontinued in the early 1890s, by which time the shire's attention had to be directed to a major economic crisis.^[4]

20th century

1960s

When Westfield Southland (then known as Southland Shopping Centre) opened in September 1968, discussions were raised on whether a railway station would be built on the Frankston line, adjacent to land then-occupied by the St John of God Home for Boys. Despite this, plans were not submitted.^[5][6]

1990s

The proposal arose again in 1990, by this stage, almost 110 years after the initial idea was established. This was in conjunction with the redevelopment of Westfield Southland, which was expanded across the Nepean Highway to land adjacent to the Frankston line. The Public Transport Corporation wrote a letter to the City of Moorabbin, responding to suggestions that Cheltenham station should be relocated, stating that the project would be infeasible. The Public Transport Users Association predicted that the redevelopment of Westfield Southland would create traffic congestion unless a new railway station was built. Although plans had been discussed, the proposal was once again moot.^[4]

21st century

2000s

During the Victorian Election campaign in November 2002, the Labor State Government announced their intentions of implementing a feasibility study into the possibility of a station at Southland. The Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce expressed disapproval of these plans, fearing that the station would "kill" the nearby businesses on Charman Road (adjacent to Cheltenham station).^[7] Despite this, in 2004, the State Government commenced feasibility works.^[8] In 2009, the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry listed a Southland railway station project as "urgent" and in need of a 2012–2014 completion, to support the population increase in Melbourne over the next 30 years, that would require established suburbs to have improved transport.^[9]

2010s

Almost 130 years since the original proposal, planning for the station resurfaced in November 2010, during the Victorian state election.^[10] Both the government and opposition pledged to construct the railway station during the next term (2010–2014).^[11] The Liberal/National Coalition won the 2010 election from the incumbent Labor government.

In the 2011/2012 State Budget, $700,000 was allocated for planning; however, no time frame had been set for the planning of the railway station project.^[12] The Department of Transport hosted an online survey on the proposed station entitled "Southland Station Survey"; its benefits and where it will be situated.^[13] The City of Kingston and the City of Bayside, alongside the Westfield Group, announced their intention to co-operate together. As a result of the State Government's consultations with both councils, the Government moved on to designing the station with input from the local community in November 2011.^[14][15]

By 2012, the project appeared to be on hold; however, a spokesperson for the State Government claimed that planning for the station was still underway, "which includes identifying the exact location of the station, station layout and access requirements, arrangements for connecting bus services and connections with local roads". According to The Age, the station would not be built during the Liberal government's first term (2010–2014).^[16]

Nevertheless, the City of Bayside established a project control group in support of the station and aimed at influencing its development. The City of Kingston, the Department of Planning and Community Development, the Department of Transport, VicRoads and Places Victoria also joined Bayside in establishing the group.^[17]

Public Transport Victoria's (PTV) 20-year Network Development Plan, released in March 2013, stated a railway station at Southland would be built within the next five years.^[18]

Funding for the station was allocated in the 2013/2014 State Budget.^[19] In April 2014, the government announced construction would commence in 2015, with the station to open in 2016.^[20][21] In November 2014, Labor won the state election, resulting in a change of government. By March 2015, plans for the project were renewed and released. Consultation with the community began in March and was completed by May 2015. Construction on the station commenced in August 2016.^[22] Since the start of construction, a pedestrian underpass had been constructed joining the two platforms, with construction on the closest platform towards the shopping centre starting in February 2017.^[23]

On 26 November 2017, the station opened,^[24] and features:^[25]

A pedestrian underpass Two side platforms Seating and shelters Myki vending machine Toilets

CCTV monitoring Protective Services Officers (PSO) facilities

Naming

Despite being referred to in public discourse as Southland station since the 1990s redevelopment of the adjacent shopping centre, concerns had been raised about associating a public asset with a privately owned enterprise.^[26] Following discussions between stakeholders and the community, Public Transport Victoria confirmed in its February 2016 feedback summary report that the station would be named Southland.^[27]

Platforms and services

Southland has two side platforms. It is serviced by Metro Trains' Frankston line services.

Platform 1:

•  Frankston line  all stations services to Flinders Street, Werribee and Williamstown

Platform 2:

•  Frankston line  all stations services to Frankston

Gallery

• 
  Westfield Southland shopping centre, which crosses over the Nepean Highway, August 2011
• 
  Construction work on the station, as viewed from the proposed rear entrance at 60 Tulip Grove, September 2016

References

1. Station patronage in Victoria for 2013–2018 Archived 5 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine Philip Mallis
2. Annual metropolitan train station patronage (station entries) Archived 6 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine Data Vic
3. "Southland". vicsig.net. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
4. Whitehead, Graham J. "Railway Station at Bay Road". Kingston Local History. City of Kingston. Archived from the original on 2 April 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
5. Gough, Deborah. (23 April 2014). "No public toilets for new $21m Southland train station" Archived 23 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine. The Age. Retrieved 27 January 2016
6. Marshall, Norman. "Methodist Children’s Homes at Cheltenham : A Time for Change" Archived 19 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Kingston Historical Website. Retrieved 27 January 2016
7. Rafferty, Michelle. (27 November 2002). "Rail link – bid for – Southland". Moorabbin/Glen Eira Leader. Retrieved 6 June 2015
8. "Southland Train Station Feasibility Work Continues". 9 December 2004. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
9. Ballantyne, Adrian (23 November 2009). "Renewed calls for train station at Cheltenham's Southland". Mordialloc Chelsea Leader. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
10. Andrews, Jon (18 November 2010). "Both parties promise Southland train station". Moorabbin Leader. Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
11. Lucas, Clay (19 November 2010). "Clash on Southland station cost". The Age. Archived from the original on 24 December 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
12. Bennett, Jessica (14 May 2011). "Southland station building can wait". Bayside Leader. Archived from the original on 16 April 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
13. Lucas, Clay (16 November 2011). "Highett survey prompts fears". Bayside Leader. Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
14. Thom, Greg (22 November 2011). "Baillieu Government accuses Labor MP of lying". Herald Sun. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
15. "Council to explore future Southland Structure Plan". City of Kingston. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
16. Carey, Adam (29 July 2012). "Southland station election promise goes off the rails". The Age. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
17. Laura Banks and Bridget Fitzgerald L. Banks (27 August 2012). "Bayside council drives Southland train campaign". Melbourne Weekly Bayside. Archived from the original on 2 September 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
18. Andrews, Jon (28 March 2013). "Airport link 15 years off in $30b public transport plan". The Age. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
19. Adoranti, Kylie (7 May 2013). "Level crossing removal funded in infrastructure-heavy Victorian Budget". Herald Sun: Moonee Valley Leader. Archived from the original on 21 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
20. Early works to start on Frankston line's Southland station Archived 26 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine Premier of Victoria 23 April 2014
21. Savage, Alison (23 April 2014). "Deal reached to build new train station at Southland shopping centre". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
22. Carmody, Broede. (15 August 2016). "Southland Station construction starts, some Frankston line disruption to follow" Archived 13 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine. The Age. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
23. Bidey, Sam. (10 February 2017). "Southland station edges closer to completion with weekend work" Archived 11 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Moorabbin Kingston Leader. Retrieved 13 February 2017
24. "Southland Station Set For A Festive Opening". Premier of Victoria. 22 October 2017. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
25. Sommerville, Troels (11 March 2015). "Southland train station plans released ahead of consultation sessions". Herald Sun. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
26. Carton, Donna (5 May 2015). "Proposed train station at Southland has no name". Moorabbin Kingston Leader. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
27. New station at Southland. Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 23 February 2016

External links

• New station at Southland Public Transport Victoria