Pakenham railway station

Pakenham railway station is a station located on the suburban electrified Pakenham line in Victoria, Australia. It serves the south-eastern Melbourne suburb of Pakenham, and opened on 8 October 1877.[4]

Pakenham
PTV commuter and regional rail station
Westbound view from former ground level
Platform 1, showing elevated station under construction, March 2024
General information
LocationRailway Avenue,
Pakenham, Victoria 3810
Shire of Cardinia
Australia
Coordinates38°04′49″S 145°29′09″E / 38.0803°S 145.4859°E / -38.0803; 145.4859
Owned byVicTrack
Operated byMetro Trains
V/Line
Line(s)
Distance58.19 kilometres from
Southern Cross
Platforms2 side
Tracks2
ConnectionsList of bus routes in Melbourne Bus
Construction
Structure typeElevated
Parking364 spaces
Bicycle facilitiesAvailable
AccessibleYes—step free access
Other information
StatusOperational, premium station
Station codePKM
Fare zoneMyki Zone 2
WebsitePublic Transport Victoria
History
Opened8 October 1877; 146 years ago (1877-10-08)
Rebuilt1970
3 June 2024 (LXRP)
ElectrifiedJuly 1954 (1500 V DC overhead)
Passengers
2005–2006372,581[1]
2006–2007418,935[1]Increase 12.44%
2007–2008465,357[1]Increase 11.08%
2008–2009566,307[2]Increase 21.69%
2009–2010600,056[2]Increase 5.95%
2010–2011646,991[2]Increase 7.82%
2011–2012642,952[2]Decrease 0.62%
2012–2013Not measured[2]
2013–2014562,129[2]Decrease 12.57%
2014–2015559,719[1]Decrease 0.42%
2015–2016597,746[2]Increase 6.79%
2016–2017586,421[2]Decrease 1.89%
2017–2018576,006[2]Decrease 1.77%
2018–2019489,255[2]Decrease 15.06%
2019–2020465,800[2]Decrease 4.79%
2020–2021280,300[2]Decrease 39.82%
2021–2022270,350[3]Decrease 3.54%
2022–2023398,000[3]Increase 47.21%
Services
Preceding station Railways in Melbourne Metro Trains Following station
Cardinia Road Pakenham line East Pakenham
Terminus
Cardinia Road
towards Sunbury
Sunshine–Dandenong corridor
(under construction)
Preceding station Railways in Victoria V/Line Following station
Dandenong Gippsland line
Bairnsdale express
Garfield
towards Bairnsdale
Gippsland line Nar Nar Goon
Berwick
1 weekday peak service
Nar Nar Goon
towards Traralgon
Track layout
1
2
Location
Pakenham is located in Melbourne
Pakenham
Pakenham
Location within Melbourne

The station is also served by V/Line trains to Traralgon and Bairnsdale.[citation needed]

Stabling facilities were located on the south side of the station, until their removal in 2022.[4]

History edit

Pakenham station opened when the railway line from Dandenong was extended.[4] Like the suburb itself, the station is named after Sir Edward Michael Pakenham, a major general who served in the Peninsular War.[5]

In 1938, flashing light signals were provided at the former Main Street level crossing, which was located at the up end of the station.[4]

Initially a single track, the line between Pakenham and Nar Nar Goon was duplicated in 1954.[4] In 1955, the line between Pakenham and Officer was duplicated[4] and an island platform was provided in 1959, when duplication occurred through the station.[6]

On 19 January 1975, electrified suburban services were extended to the station.[7] A crossover was also provided at the up end of the station around that time.[8] During 1979–1980, the former ground level pebbledash station building was constructed.[9]

On 16 April 1980, Pakenham was the scene of a collision between Hitachi carriage 353D and guards van 286ZL. The guards van was destroyed in the collision and the Hitachi carriage was later scrapped.[10]

In 1986, boom barriers were provided at the Main Street level crossing.[11][12]

On 15 March 1997, Pakenham was upgraded to a premium station.[13] Between 2001 and 2024, it was the terminus of the Melbourne electrified rail network.

On 9 March 2011, a Siemens train over-ran No. 5 road near the station, crashing into a stanchion.[14][15]

In March 2014, it was announced that a new train servicing facility would be built at Pakenham East, to maintain the new High Capacity Metro Trains.[16]

In May 2024, the Main Street level crossing was grade separated, as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project.[17] A rail bridge was built over the road, and included a new, rebuilt elevated station.[17] As part of the project, Pakenham line services were extended by approximately 2 km (1.2 mi) to a new station at East Pakenham.[17]

On 17 May 2024, McGregor Road, Main Street and Racecourse Road level crossings were eliminated, and the rebuilt Pakenham station and new East Pakenham station opened on 3 June 2024.[18][19][20][21][22]

Platforms and services edit

Pakenham has two side platforms. It is served by Pakenham line trains, and V/Line Traralgon and Bairnsdale line trains.[23][24][25]

Platform 1:

Platform 2:

By 2025, it is planned that trains on the Pakenham line will be through-routed with those on the Sunbury line, via the new Metro Tunnel.

Transport links edit

Ventura Bus Lines operates six routes via Pakenham station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

  •  840 : GembrookPakenham[26]
  •  925 : to Lakeside (Pakenham)[27]
  •  926 : to Westfield Fountain Gate[28]
  •  927 : to Pakenham North (via The Avenue)[29]
  •  928 : to Cardinia Road station[30]
  •  929 : to Pakenham North (via Army Road and Windermere Boulevard)[31]

Warragul Bus Lines operates one route to and from Pakenham station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

Westernport Roadlines operates one bus route to and from Pakenham station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

  • to Koo Wee Rup (unnumbered route and does not show on the relevant Public Transport Victoria local area map)[33][34]

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Estimated Annual Patronage by Network Segment Financial Year 2005–2006 to 2018–19 Archived 17 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine Department of Transport
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Railway station and tram stop patronage in Victoria for 2008–2021 Archived 17 December 2022 at the Wayback Machine Philip Mallis
  3. ^ a b Annual metropolitan train station patronage (station entries) Archived 6 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine Data Vic
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Pakenham". vicsig.net. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  5. ^ First, Jamie (7 January 2014). "The A-Z story of Melbourne's suburbs". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Way & Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). February 1975. p. 46.
  7. ^ "Improved Suburban Services". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). February 1975. p. 33.
  8. ^ "Works & Safeworking". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). June 1975. p. 127.
  9. ^ "Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). August 1979. p. 174.
  10. ^ "Pakenham Collision". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). May 1980. p. 97.
  11. ^ Waugh, Andrew. "VR History by Andrew Waugh – Pakenham" (PDF). vrhistory.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
  12. ^ Sinnatt, John (January 1990). "Level Crossing Protection". Somersault. Signalling Record Society Victoria. pp. 9–17.
  13. ^ "Upgrading Eltham to a Premium Station". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). October 1997. pp. 303–315.
  14. ^ "Operations". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). April 2011. p. 117.
  15. ^ Siemens sets 816M-2558T-815M-818M-2559T-817M after overrunning No.5 road at Pakenham Archived 29 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine Vicsig
  16. ^ "Victorian Government announces multi-billion dollar Cranbourne-Pakenham rail corridor project". Urbananalyst. 11 March 2014. Archived from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  17. ^ a b c "Main Street, Pakenham". Victoria's Big Build. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  18. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20240603014801/https://pakenham.starcommunity.com.au/news/2024-06-03/level-crossings-gone-new-stations-open/
  19. ^ "Seven level crossings to go this winter". Victoria’s Big Build. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Stations to open 3 June". Pakenham Gazette. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  21. ^ "New stations at Pakenham to open next month". Victoria’s Big Build. 13 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Packing in the works at Pakenham". Victoria’s Big Build. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  23. ^ "Pakenham Line". Public Transport Victoria.
  24. ^ Traralgon – Melbourne timetable Archived 24 January 2023 at the Wayback Machine Public Transport Victoria
  25. ^ Bairnsdale – Melbourne timetable Public Transport Victoria
  26. ^ "840 Gembrook - Pakenham via Pakenham Upper". Public Transport Victoria.
  27. ^ "925 Pakenham Station - Lakeside via The Avenue". Public Transport Victoria.
  28. ^ "926 Pakenham Station - Fountain Gate Shopping Centre via Lakeside & Beaconsfield". Public Transport Victoria.
  29. ^ "927 Pakenham Station - Pakenham North via Meadowvale". Public Transport Victoria.
  30. ^ "928 Pakenham Station - Cardinia Road Station". Public Transport Victoria.
  31. ^ "929 Pakenham Station - Pakenham North via Army Rd & Windermere Bvd". Public Transport Victoria.
  32. ^ Pakenham Station to Garfield Station Archived 18 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine Public Transport Victoria
  33. ^ "Koo Wee Rup - Pakenham". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  34. ^ "Cardinia bus network" (PDF). Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 14 February 2024.

External links edit