Re: How did Flinders Street cope?

["Translib Pty. Ltd." <enquiry@translib.com.au>]

J-P Wispelaere wrote:
> 
> Looking at an old map of the Victorian rail network of 1946, I am struck
> by the extraordinary number of lines radiating from regional centres.
> The north-west, in particular, must have been very rich in rail services
> around this time, with at least four lines running parallel on either
> side of the Mildura line to other rural centres.
> 
> My question is that, given that Flinders Street was Melbourne's only
> central station at this time, how on earth was it able to cope with this
> volume of traffic?  It had but twelve platforms at this time.  I assume
> there must have been at least half a dozen night trains, and many more
> day trains.  Where was all this rolling-stock stored?
> 
> Many thanks
> 
> Jean-Philippe.

Although Flinders Street is regarded as Melbourne's "only central
station", majority of the country and all interstate trains don't depart
from there, but at Spencer Street.  This means all suburban electric
trains utilise Flinders Street as the hub.  As well, Flinders Street
actually had 16 platforms (including 3 under now demolished Gas and Fuel
Tower), prior to the Jolimont Rationalisation/Federation Square Project
Stage 1.  By the way, platform 14 is connected with platform 1, which is
now only used at special occasions.

Finally, as far as stabling of rollingstocks is concerned, country
trains now mainly stored at Spencer Street (though in the past, a few
were stabled in the Jolimont Yard).  With the Federation Square project,
suburban trains will eventually stabled at suburban sidings, including:

Epping, Hurstbridge, Eltham, Macleod, Kensington (Flemington line),
Burnley, Camberwell, Ringwood, Lilydale, Upper Ferntree Gully, Belgrave,
Glen Waverley, Bayswater, Westall, Dandenong, Pakenham, Carrum,
Frankston, Sandringham, Upfield (?), Broadmeadows, St. Albans, Newport
Workshop, and Werribee.

I.C.

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