Princes Bridge railway station, Melbourne
Encyclopedia
Princes Bridge was a Melbourne
railway station built in 1859 and was the terminus for all Epping line and Hurstbridge line trains. The station was named after the adjacent Princes Bridge
, which crosses the Yarra River
. Originally Princes Bridge station was isolated from Flinders Street Station
, even though it was adjacent to it, sited just on the opposite side of Swanston Street. Some years later the railway tracks were extended under the street to join the two stations, and Princes Bridge slowly became amalgamated into the larger Flinders Street Station.
line to Punt Road (Richmond) in 1859. Extended to Prahran in 1859 and Windsor in 1860, it formed today's Sandringham line. A small engine shed was built east of the station in 1859 by the company. A locomotive depot later replaced it on a new site, built in 1888 and demolished for the Jolimont Workshops
in 1917 as part of the electrification of the suburban network.
The Hobson's Bay
, Melbourne and St Kilda and Brighton railway companies merged in 1865, with the three systems connected in October 1865 and Princes Bridge closed. It was not until 2 April 1879 when the Railways Department
that it was reopened, to operate as the terminus of the newly opened Gippsland Railway. The City Morgue was located close to the station entry on Swanston Street, until acquired by the railways and demolished in 1890. The direct connection between Princes Bridge and Clifton Hill station was not opened until October 1901. Before this time trains from the north-eastern suburbs used the Inner Circle line via Fitzroy to reach Spencer Street Station.
By 1910 the two stations were joined together, the three platforms at Princes Bridge. One was an extension of Flinders Street platform 1 (number 1 east) while the other two were an island platform
with tracks numbered 15 and 16. Track 15 was a dead end, but track 16 (the northern-most track) had a traverser
between it and a parallel run around siding to allow steam locomotives to change ends. A footbridge provided pedestrian access to the east end of the island platform, with the 'Flinders Street D' signal box
located beyond it. Further north-east of the main lines to Jolimont was a locomotive siding and a coal stage, and carriage siding were located to the south-east. By 1957 the sidings had been rationalised, with the locomotive facilities and traverser removed. The sidings now formed part of Jolimont Yard
.
The original Princes Bridge station buildings were demolished and replaced with the Princes Gate Towers, also known as the Gas and Fuel Corporation towers, with new tracks and platforms commissioned in December 1964. The site retained the name "Princes Bridge Station" until it was integrated into Flinders Street Station as platforms
14, 15 and 16 on June 29, 1980. By 1975 the track had been simplified to only run into platform 14 / 15 / 16, and was further simplified by 1982 due to the construction of the City Circle portal of the City Loop nearby. The track layout remained the same in 1995.
From 6 December 1981 until 1993, a cross-city train service called "City Circle" originated at the station. This train serviced all of the City Loop stations before returning to Princes Bridge in a circle. The last City Circle train ran on 23 August 1993. It was replaced by the City Circle Tram
in mid-1994.
The State Government announced the Federation Square
project in 1996, with the Gas and Fuel towers demolished to make way. Piling works and crash walls for Federation Square were done by October 1998 with the deck was completed by mid 1999, with building works atop of it commencing in August 1999. The old platform space is now used as part of the Australian Centre for the Moving Image
.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
railway station built in 1859 and was the terminus for all Epping line and Hurstbridge line trains. The station was named after the adjacent Princes Bridge
Princes Bridge, Melbourne
Princes Bridge, originally Prince's Bridge, is an important bridge in central Melbourne, Australia that spans the Yarra River. It is built on the site of one of the oldest river crossings in Australia. The bridge connects Swanston Street on the north bank of the Yarra River to St Kilda Road on the...
, which crosses the Yarra River
Yarra River
The Yarra River, originally Birrarung, is a river in east-central Victoria, Australia. The lower stretches of the river is where the city of Melbourne was established in 1835 and today Greater Melbourne dominates and influences the landscape of its lower reaches...
. Originally Princes Bridge station was isolated from Flinders Street Station
Flinders Street Station
Flinders Street Station is the central railway station of the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets next to the Yarra River in the heart of the city, stretching from Swanston Street to Queen Street and covering two city...
, even though it was adjacent to it, sited just on the opposite side of Swanston Street. Some years later the railway tracks were extended under the street to join the two stations, and Princes Bridge slowly became amalgamated into the larger Flinders Street Station.
History
Originally known as Prince's Bridge (as was the bridge itself), the station was opened as the city terminus of the Melbourne and Suburban Railway CompanyMelbourne and Suburban Railway Company
The Melbourne and Suburban Railway Company was a railway company in Victoria, Australia. The company opened a line from Princes Bridge railway station in Melbourne, Australia to Punt Road and South Yarra in 1859, Prahran in 1859 and Windsor in 1860, connecting with the St Kilda and Brighton...
line to Punt Road (Richmond) in 1859. Extended to Prahran in 1859 and Windsor in 1860, it formed today's Sandringham line. A small engine shed was built east of the station in 1859 by the company. A locomotive depot later replaced it on a new site, built in 1888 and demolished for the Jolimont Workshops
Jolimont Workshops
Jolimont Workshops was a railway workshop operated by the Victorian Railways beside Jolimont Yard in inner city Melbourne, Australia. Opened in 1917 and dedicated to the maintenance and repair of electric multiple units and locomotives, it was the first part of the yard to be closed and relocated,...
in 1917 as part of the electrification of the suburban network.
The Hobson's Bay
Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company
The Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company was a railway company in Victoria, Australia. The company was founded on 20 January 1853 to build Australia's first railway broad gauge line from Melbourne to the port of Sandridge...
, Melbourne and St Kilda and Brighton railway companies merged in 1865, with the three systems connected in October 1865 and Princes Bridge closed. It was not until 2 April 1879 when the Railways Department
Victorian Railways
The Victorian Railways operated railways in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companies failed or defaulted, the Victorian Railways was established to take over their operations...
that it was reopened, to operate as the terminus of the newly opened Gippsland Railway. The City Morgue was located close to the station entry on Swanston Street, until acquired by the railways and demolished in 1890. The direct connection between Princes Bridge and Clifton Hill station was not opened until October 1901. Before this time trains from the north-eastern suburbs used the Inner Circle line via Fitzroy to reach Spencer Street Station.
By 1910 the two stations were joined together, the three platforms at Princes Bridge. One was an extension of Flinders Street platform 1 (number 1 east) while the other two were an island platform
Island platform
An island platform is a station layout arrangement where a single platform is positioned between two tracks within a railway station, tram stop or transitway interchange...
with tracks numbered 15 and 16. Track 15 was a dead end, but track 16 (the northern-most track) had a traverser
Traverser
A traverser may be a*Traverser an American progressive/alternative band* Transfer table in railway terminology* Container crane in marine/shipping terminology...
between it and a parallel run around siding to allow steam locomotives to change ends. A footbridge provided pedestrian access to the east end of the island platform, with the 'Flinders Street D' signal box
Signal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
located beyond it. Further north-east of the main lines to Jolimont was a locomotive siding and a coal stage, and carriage siding were located to the south-east. By 1957 the sidings had been rationalised, with the locomotive facilities and traverser removed. The sidings now formed part of Jolimont Yard
Jolimont Yard
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,...
.
The original Princes Bridge station buildings were demolished and replaced with the Princes Gate Towers, also known as the Gas and Fuel Corporation towers, with new tracks and platforms commissioned in December 1964. The site retained the name "Princes Bridge Station" until it was integrated into Flinders Street Station as platforms
Railway platform
A railway platform is a section of pathway, alongside rail tracks at a train station, metro station or tram stop, at which passengers may board or alight from trains or trams. Almost all stations for rail transport have some form of platforms, with larger stations having multiple platforms...
14, 15 and 16 on June 29, 1980. By 1975 the track had been simplified to only run into platform 14 / 15 / 16, and was further simplified by 1982 due to the construction of the City Circle portal of the City Loop nearby. The track layout remained the same in 1995.
From 6 December 1981 until 1993, a cross-city train service called "City Circle" originated at the station. This train serviced all of the City Loop stations before returning to Princes Bridge in a circle. The last City Circle train ran on 23 August 1993. It was replaced by the City Circle Tram
City Circle (tram route)
The City Circle is a zero-fare tram running around the central business district of Melbourne, Australia. Aimed towards tourists the route passes many Melbourne attractions while running along the CBD's outermost thoroughfares, as well as the developing Docklands waterfront precinct.- History :The...
in mid-1994.
The State Government announced the Federation Square
Federation Square
Federation Square is a civic centre and cultural precinct in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
project in 1996, with the Gas and Fuel towers demolished to make way. Piling works and crash walls for Federation Square were done by October 1998 with the deck was completed by mid 1999, with building works atop of it commencing in August 1999. The old platform space is now used as part of the Australian Centre for the Moving Image
Australian Centre for the Moving Image
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image, or ACMI, is dedicated to the moving image in all its forms. It is located in Federation Square, in Melbourne, Australia, across four levels of the Alfred Deakin Building...
.