Donnybrook railway station is a regional railway station on the Tocumwal line. It serves the northern suburb of the same name, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Donnybrook is a ground-level unstaffed station, with two side platforms. It opened on 14 October 1872, and the current station was provided in 2020.[1]
History
Donnybrook station opened with a single platform on the west side of the line. The railway had opened a few months earlier, as far as School House Lane.[2]
In 1882, a second platform was provided, but duplication of the track in both directions did not occur for a few more years. A goods shed was erected in 1888, while the current station building on Platform 2 dates to 1900.[2] The last siding was abolished in 1989.[3]
In 1961, flashing light signals replaced hand gates at the Donnybrook Road level crossing, located at the up end of the station.[1] In 1998, boom barriers were provided.[3]
In 1962, the Melbourne-Albury standard gauge line was opened, running behind Platform 1, along with the 800-metre Donnybrook Loop, 300 metres to the north. In 2011, the loop was lengthened to 2 kilometres, as part of the upgrade to the Melbourne–Sydney railway by the Australian Rail Track Corporation.[4] In 2011, the passing loop was further extended to become a 6.8-kilomatre passing lane.[5]
In early 1976, the goods platform was abolished.[6]
In 2016, Platform 2 was extended at the down end of the station, to accommodate 6-car VLocity trains, allowing northbound passengers to enter and exit the train by any door. However, southbound passengers had to use the first three carriages of a VLocity to board or alight, because of the shorter Platform 1.[9]
On 23 April 2020, upgrades to the station were completed as part of the Regional Rail Revival project. They included 150 new car parking spaces, better pedestrian and bus access, upgraded CCTV and the extension of Platform 1 at the down end.[10]
The former Beveridge, now demolished, was located between Donnybrook and Wallan stations.
