Wikipedia

State Library railway station

State Library railway station (originally under the working title of CBD North) 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.

State Library
Future PTV rapid transit station
Construction site of station entrance and building, February 2024
General information
LocationSwanston Street
Melbourne, Victoria 3000
City of Melbourne
Australia
Coordinates37°48′27″S 144°57′45″E / 37.8076312°S 144.9623925°E / -37.8076312; 144.9623925
Owned byVicTrack
Operated byMetro Trains
Line(s)Sunshine–Dandenong
Platforms2
Tracks2
Connections
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
AccessibleYes—step free access
Other information
StatusUnder construction
Fare zoneMyki Zone 1
WebsiteState Library station
History
ElectrifiedYes
Previous namesCBD North
Services
Preceding station Railways in Melbourne Metro Trains Following station
Parkville
towards Sunbury
 Sunshine–Dandenong corridor
(under construction) 		Town Hall
towards East Pakenham or Cranbourne
Track layout
Legend
to Parkville
1
2
to Town Hall

The station will feature two street-level entrances on La Trobe and Franklin Streets and is named for the nearby State Library of Victoria. It will provide direct access to RMIT University, Melbourne City Baths, Melbourne Central shopping centre and the nearby Queen Victoria Market. Construction commenced in 2018 with the station scheduled to open in 2025.

The nearby Parliament station once had the longest escalator in the Southern Hemisphere at 30 meters long, holding the title from 1983 - 2022, being exceeded by a 35 meter escalator at Airport Central station in Perth in 2022. An escalator at State Library station will overtake both at 42.5 metres long. However, none of these escalators are the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, with the title belonging to a 45 meter escalator at Central station in Sydney.

History edit

In December 2008, the proposal for a new underground rail corridor running north-south through the Melbourne CBD was incorporated into the Brumby Ministry's Victorian Transport Plan after originally featuring in a report from Rod Eddington.[1] It was to be built in two stages: the first from Footscray to St Kilda Road, and the second continuing to Caulfield. The need for a new rail corridor and stations through the CBD was identified in an effort to reduce congestion on the City Loop, enabling more frequent and reliable services across Melbourne's railway network.[2]

Following a change of State Government, in 2012/2013 the Baillieu and Napthine Ministries announced a revised plan with the tunnel instead running from South Kensington to South Yarra along a similar route to the original proposal.[3] The revised project included five underground stations, including one under the working title "CBD North" and was listed as the highest-priority infrastructure project in Melbourne by Infrastructure Australia.[4]

The project went unfunded due largely to tension between the state and federal governments. In February 2015 the proposal was revived by the newly elected Andrews Ministry with construction to commence in 2018 and the tunnel and stations planned to open in 2026. The total cost of the project is A$11 billion.[5]

 
Acoustic shed at a State Library station construction site on A'Beckett Street, 2019.

The Metro Tunnel project began in 2015, with early works commencing on the two central business district (CBD) station sites in 2017.[6][7] Major station works at State Library began in 2018.[8] Sections of A'Beckett and Franklin streets were closed off and acoustic sheds constructed to minimise noise and dust, while small commercial buildings on the corner of Swanston and La Trobe streets were demolished to construct an access shaft for excavation.[9]

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.[10] Updated designs were released in 2018, and major construction commenced on the station that year.[11][12]

In August 2017, the Government launched a naming competition for the five new railway stations to be constructed as part of the Metro Rail Project.[13] Following over 50,000 submissions, in November 2017 State Library was announced as the winning entry for the working-title CBD North station due to its proximity to the landmark State Library of Victoria building.[14]

In July 2019, road-headers broke through at State Library connecting two excavated caverns, with four road-headers used on the station in total.[15] The first Tunnel Boring Machine, named Joan, broke through to State Library station in December 2020 before continuing south to Town Hall station.[16] Tunneling was completed in April 2021.[17] After the laying of track, Platform Screen Doors began being installed at State Library in early 2023.[18]

In June 2023 the first above-ground structures of the main station entrance on the corner of Swanston and La Trobe streets were built, with large oversized beams craned in overnight to sit above the main bank of escalators.[19] Works began on the underground connection between State Library and the existing Melbourne Central station, including new escalators to the Melbourne Central platforms.[19] Excavation at the La Trobe street site was completed in July 2023, marking the end of excavation across the Metro Tunnel project, and the first State Library acoustic sheds were planned to be dismantled in August.[19][20]

Design edit

 
State Library main entrance construction site in 2018, where an access shaft was dug to allow excavation of the main mined station cavern. Aurora Melbourne Central adjoins the construction site.

The initial build method chosen for construction was cut-and-cover, however this was changed to a deeper, mined station in order to avoid significant disruption and to keep trams running along the world's busiest tram corridor, Swanston Street.[21][22] The station platforms sit 36 metres (118 ft 1 in) below Swanston Street, the city's deepest station, due to the need to sit below the existing four City Loop tunnels.[23]

Like Town Hall station, State Library is designed using a unique "trinocular" construction method involving three large, overlapping mined tunnels with vaulted ceilings.[24] Large arches will define the 230-metre (754 ft 7 in) long platforms.[25]

The station was designed by architects RSHP, Hassell and Weston Williamson.[26]

Art edit

Australian artist Danie Mellor has been commissioned to create a permanent artwork for the station as part of the Metro Tunnel's legacy artwork program.[27] In 2024 it was revealed that this artwork would be printed glass panels forming the station's large glass facade on its La Trobe Street entrance.[28] The artwork will be a collage of Mellor's photography and historical portraits of Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung women sourced from the nearby State Library of Victoria.[28]

State Library station precinct edit

 
Nearby State Library of Victoria, for which the station is named.

The railway station is located below Swanston Street between La Trobe and Streets in the northern edges of Melbourne's CBD.[29] The station will connect with Melbourne Central station via a pedestrian walkway, enabling transfer from other metropolitan lines and will have entrances at the corner of Latrobe/Swanston Street and Franklin/Swanston Street, enabling more convenient access to City Baths and Queen Victoria Market.[30] Tram services will be accessible on Swanston and La Trobe Streets.

Updated precinct designs for State Library were released in 2022, which included the installation of separated bike lanes on Franklin Street.[31] In July 2023 plans were released by the City of Melbourne for a redesign of Franklin Street between the northern entrance to State Library and a new public square at the Queen Victoria Market.[32] The plans include a narrowing of Franklin Street and the creation of separated bike lanes and 1,250 square metres of linear park, a continuation of the Franklin Street works being delivered by the Metro Tunnel project.[32]

Services from 2025 edit

Platform 1:

Platform 2:

References edit

  1. ^ Lucas, Clay (9 December 2008). "Brumby transport plan adds billions to Eddington price tag". The Age. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Frequently asked questions". metrotunnel.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Will Napthine's new route ruin Melbourne's Metro? - The Urbanist". The Urbanist. 7 May 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Infrastructure Australia positively assesses Melbourne Metro and Murray Basin Rail business cases". Infrastructure Australia. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  5. ^ Lucas, Clay (16 April 2015). "$9-11b Melbourne Metro Swanston Street project to go ahead: Daniel Andrews". The Age. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  6. ^ "Work Begins On The Melbourne Metro Rail Project | Premier of Victoria". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  7. ^ Dow, Aisha; Lucas, Clay (16 January 2017). "CBD roads to be closed for years as Melbourne Metro Tunnel construction begins". The Age. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  8. ^ "Station Construction Underway On The Metro Tunnel | Premier of Victoria". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  9. ^ Lucas, Aisha Dow, Clay (16 January 2017). "CBD roads to be closed for years as Melbourne Metro Tunnel construction begins". The Age. Retrieved 16 June 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Lillebuen, Steve (16 July 2017). "Metro Tunnel: Melbourne's changing face revealed as consortium named for $11 billion project". The Age. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  11. ^ "Sweeping archways, open spaces for Melbourne's new 'landmark' stations". ABC News. 30 May 2018. Archived from the original on 30 May 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  12. ^ Turbet, Hanna Mills (30 May 2018). "Melbourne Metro Tunnel station designs revealed". The Age. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  13. ^ "Make Your Mark – Name Our Five New Stations". Premier of Victoria. 27 August 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  14. ^ Jacks, Steve Lillebuen, Timna (29 November 2017). "Metro Tunnel: New train station names revealed". The Age. Retrieved 27 July 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Build, Victoria’s Big (28 January 2021). "Breakthrough at State Library Station". Victoria’s Big Build. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  16. ^ Build, Victoria’s Big (3 November 2021). "TBM Joan arrives at State Library Station". Victoria’s Big Build. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  17. ^ Build, Victoria’s Big (14 April 2021). "Tunnel boring machines Joan and Millie complete their work on the Metro Tunnel". Victoria’s Big Build. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  18. ^ Build, Victoria’s Big (2 February 2023). "Victorian-first platform screen doors installed in Metro Tunnel". Victoria’s Big Build. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  19. ^ a b c "Monthly construction update: State Library Station" (PDF). Big Build: Metro Tunnel. July 2023.
  20. ^ "Works notice: Scrubber and acoustic shed removal at La Trobe Street site" (PDF). Big Build: Metro Tunnel. 27 July 2023.
  21. ^ Willingham, Richard; Carey, Adam (21 October 2015). "Melbourne Metro rail: Tunnels to go deeper underground to keep trams running". The Age. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  22. ^ Carey, Adam (5 November 2015). "Melbourne Metro to close busy city streets for up to three years, including Domain Road". The Age. Archived from the original on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  23. ^ Build, Victoria’s Big (3 November 2021). "Metro Tunnel taking shape deep below Swanston Street". Victoria’s Big Build. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  24. ^ Build, Victoria’s Big (3 March 2022). "Exploring State Library Station's trinocular design". Victoria’s Big Build. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  25. ^ "Town Hall Station shaping as a new city landmark". www.cbdnews.com.au. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  26. ^ "Updated Melbourne Metro Tunnel station design unveiled". Architecture Australia. 10 August 2021.
  27. ^ Build, Victoria’s Big (2 August 2022). "Artists selected for permanent Metro Tunnel station artworks". Victoria’s Big Build. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  28. ^ a b Build, Victoria’s Big (3 February 2024). "Danie Mellor – State Library Station". Victoria’s Big Build. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  29. ^ "CBD stations construction plans". Metro Tunnel. Melbourne Metro Rail Authority. Archived from the original on 21 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  30. ^ "CBD North Station location and access". Metro Tunnel. Melbourne Metro Rail Authority. Archived from the original on 21 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  31. ^ Build, Victoria’s Big (24 March 2022). "Latest plans unveiled for State Library Station and surrounds". Victoria’s Big Build. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  32. ^ a b Wikramanayake, Marisa (11 July 2023). "Queen Victoria Market's Square and Street Go Public". The Urban Developer. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  33. ^ a b "Network Development Plan" (PDF).
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