Bell railway station, Melbourne

Bell railway station is located on the Mernda line in Victoria, Australia. It serves the northern Melbourne suburb of Preston, and it opened on 8 October 1889 as Preston-Bell Street. It was renamed Bell on 1 August 1905.[1]

Bell
PTV commuter rail station
Northbound view from Platform 2 in March 2007
General information
LocationGarnet Street,
Preston, Victoria 3072
City of Darebin
Australia
Coordinates37°44′44″S 145°00′01″E
Owned byVicTrack
Operated byMetro Trains
Line(s)Mernda
Distance11.70 kilometres from Southern Cross
Platforms2 side
Tracks2
ConnectionsBus
Construction
Structure typeGround
Parking75
Bicycle facilities6
Disabled accessYes
Other information
StatusOperational, Premium Station
Station codeBEL
Fare zoneMyki Zone 1
WebsitePublic Transport Victoria
History
Opened8 October 1889 (1889-10-08)
Electrified1500 V DC overhead (July 1921)
Previous namesPreston-Bell Street (1889–1905)
Services
Preceding station Metro Trains Following station
Thornbury
towards Flinders Street
 Mernda line Preston
towards Mernda

It is located adjacent to the Bell Street level crossing. There are crossovers at both ends of the station, and a former signal box on Platform 1, which had a signal panel to control lights and switches in an emergency.[2] The panel was abolished in 2012.[2]

Boom barriers replaced interlocked gates at the Bell Street level crossing in 1969.[1] The platforms were extended at the Up end of the station in 1973.[1]

The station once had a goods yard, which was removed in 1986, leaving only a siding at the Up end of the station.[3]

On 17 April 1988, the double line block signalling system between Bell and Reservoir was abolished, and replaced with automatic three position signalling.[4] Pedestrian gates were also provided at the Bell Street level crossing during April 1988, in combination with the road boom barriers.[4]

On 31 March 1999, the station building on Platform 1 was damaged by fire.[1]

On 25 August 2008, Bell was upgraded to a Premium Station.[5]

In January 2016, it was announced by the Level Crossing Removal Authority that the Bell Street level crossing would be removed by grade separation. At the time, it had not been decided how the separation would be achieved,[6] but the rail-over option was later chosen.[7] Major construction began in February 2021.[8]

Platforms and services

Bell has two side platforms. It is serviced by Metro Trains' Mernda line services.[9]

Platform 1:

Platform 2:

Dysons operates three routes via Bell station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

  •  513 : Eltham station – Glenroy station[10]
  •  552 : North East Reservoir – Northcote Plaza[11]
  •  553 : Preston – West Preston[12]

References
  1. Bell Vicsig
  2. "Bell Signal Box". Vicsig. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  3. "General News". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. July 1986. p. 213.
  4. "Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. July 1988. p. 220.
  5. "Bell Station Becomes a Premium Stop for Commuters". Media Release: Premier of Victoria, Australia. premier.vic.gov.au. 25 August 2008. Retrieved 27 August 2008.
  6. Carey, Adam (31 January 2016). "End of the line for older Melbourne stations being torn down and rebuilt". The Age. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  7. "Bell Street, Preston". Level Crossing Removal Project. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  8. Full steam ahead at Preston – Level Crossing Removal Project
  9. "Mernda Line". Public Transport Victoria.
  10. "513 Eltham - Glenroy via Greensborough or Lower Plenty". Public Transport Victoria.
  11. "552 North East Reservoir - Northcote Plaza via High Street". Public Transport Victoria.
  12. "553 Preston - West Preston via Reservoir". Public Transport Victoria.
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