Kangaroo Flat railway station

Kangaroo Flat is a railway station on the Deniliquin line in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. It opened on 1 February 1874,[2] and serves the southern suburb of Kangaroo Flat.

Kangaroo Flat
PTV regional rail station
Southbound view in January 2010
Location2B Short Street
Kangaroo Flat, Victoria 3555
Australia
Coordinates36°47′42″S 144°14′55″E
Owned byVicTrack
Operated byV/Line
Line(s)Deniliquin
Distance157.36 kilometres from Southern Cross
Platforms2
Tracks2
Train operatorsV/Line
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
Disabled accessYes
Other information
StatusOperational, staffed
Station codeKFG
Fare zone12
WebsitePublic Transport Victoria
History
Opened1 February 1874 (1874-02-01)
ElectrifiedNo
Previous namesKangaroo (1904–1916)
Services
Preceding station   V/Line   Following station
Castlemaine
Bendigo line
Bendigo
towards Bendigo, Swan Hill or Echuca
Closed station navigation
Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Ravenswood   Deniliquin line   Golden Square
Official nameKangaroo Flat Railway Station Complex
Designated20 August 1982
Reference no.H1565[1]

History

The contract for the construction of Kangaroo Flat was let in 1862. In 1904, it was renamed Kangaroo, resuming its original identity in 1916. By 1926, facilities included a signal frame, a pair of side platforms on the double track, a goods siding and shed on the eastern side of the line, and a crossover between tracks. In 1938, the stationmaster was withdrawn, with the station being worked by the porter-in-charge, under "caretaker" conditions.[3]

From 1889, the station was a block point, under the Winters Block system, but it could be 'switched out' in times of quieter traffic. That status remained until 1980, when the signal box was only 'switched in' when required. In 1987, the signal box was closed, and all points and signals removed.[3][4]

After a fire in 1990 that caused extensive damage, the station building was left unused, and only two trains per weekday stopped at the station.[5] In 2002, the exterior of the station building and former goods shed were restored.[6] The Regional Fast Rail project, in 2005, saw the line towards Melbourne singled south of the station.[7]

Following a community-led campaign for better services in Bendigo's southern growth corridor, an upgrade of the station was announced in February 2008, involving the construction of a new booking office, a 50-bay car park and bus interchange, and the refurbishment of the waiting room.[8] In January 2014, the platforms were extended, to accommodate longer trains.[9]

Disused stations Ravenswood and Harcourt are located between Kangaroo Flat and Castlemaine, whilst disused station Golden Square is located between Kangaroo Flat and Bendigo.

Accidents and incidents
  • On 15 February 2017, V/Line VLocity set VL34 collided with a vehicle that had been abandoned on the line near Kangaroo Flat and was derailed. Two people were taken to hospital.[10]

Platforms & services

Kangaroo Flat has two side platforms. Platform 1 is used by almost all Bendigo, Echuca and Swan Hill V/Line services travelling in both directions. Platform 2 is used by one Bendigo service towards Eaglehawk every weekday.[11]

References
  1. "Kangaroo Flat Railway Station Complex". Victorian Heritage Database. Government of Victoria. Archived from the original on 15 May 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  2. Kangaroo Flat Vicsig
  3. Kangaroo Flat Victorian Station Histories
  4. "Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. January 1988. p. 27.
  5. Kangaroo Flat is back V/Line Voice issue 35 April 2008
  6. "Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. June 2002. p. 186.
  7. Locals may lose services due to Fast Rail project ABC News 11 June 2004
  8. Liberals say petition prompts Kangaroo Flat train station revamp ABC News 13 February 2008
  9. Plan to extend V/Line platforms Bendigo Advertiser 8 January 2014
  10. "Bendigo train, car collide near Kangaroo Flat". Bendigo Advertiser. Fairfax Media. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  11. Bendigo - Melbourne timetable Public Transport Victoria
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