Wendouree railway station is located on the Ararat line in Victoria, Australia. It serves the north-western suburb of Wendouree, in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, and opened on 12 June 2009.[2]

Wendouree
PTV regional rail station
Eastbound view from Platform 1, with a Southern Cross-bound VLocity train departing,
December 2021
General information
LocationGillies Street North,
Wendouree, Victoria 3355
City of Ballarat
Australia
Coordinates37°32′30″S 143°49′48″E / 37.54167°S 143.83000°E / -37.54167; 143.83000
Owned byVicTrack
Operated byV/Line
Line(s)Ballarat Ararat
(Ararat)
Distance123.13 kilometres from
Southern Cross
Platforms2 side
Tracks2
ConnectionsRegional bus Bus
Construction
Structure typeGround
Parking200 bays
Bicycle facilitiesYes
AccessibleYes
Other information
StatusOperational, staffed
Station codeWED
Fare zoneMyki Zone 8
WebsitePublic Transport Victoria
History
Opened12 June 2009; 15 years ago (2009-06-12)
Passengers
2013–201485,508[1]
2014–2015101,117[1]Increase 18.25%
2015–2016116,143[1]Increase 14.86%
2016–2017131,407[1]Increase 13.14%
2017–2018Not measured[1]
2018–2019158,150[1]Increase 20.35%
2019–2020108,050[1]Decrease 31.67%
2020–202143,550[1]Decrease 59.69%
Services
Preceding station Railways in Victoria V/Line Following station
Ballarat Ballarat line Terminus
Ararat line Beaufort
towards Ararat
Ballarat
Terminus
Ararat line
One daily shuttle service
Beaufort
One-way operation
Location
Wendouree is located in Victoria
Wendouree
Wendouree
Location within Victoria

History

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20th century

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The original Wendouree station opened on 9 December 1901 as Ballarat Gardens, and was renamed Wendouree on 1 August 1905.[3] It was located just west of the Forest Street level crossing, 750 metres east of the present station, and was closed to passenger traffic on 4 October 1981, as part of the New Deal for Country Passengers timetable.[4] Prior to its closure, the only train timetabled to stop at Wendouree was a Horsham service on Sundays.[4]

In 1992, boom barriers replaced interlocked gates at the Gillies Street level crossing, in the up direction from the present station.[5]

At Gillies Street, near the site of the current station, there was a 19th-century signal box, which controlled the Ballarat Cattle Yards junction. After falling into disrepair, the Public Transport Corporation was approached by Kim Lynden, who successfully tendered to move the building to Blampied in 1998, where it is used as a bed and breakfast facility.[6]

21st century

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On 8 September 2006, then Victorian Premier, Steve Bracks, announced a new station would be built to relieve congestion at Ballarat, following a passenger boom after the completion of the Regional Fast Rail project.[7][8]

The station was the subject of a naming competition, which closed in April 2007.[9] Construction work started in May 2008,[10][11] with the station originally due for completion in that year.[12]

On 11 June 2009, the station was opened by the then Minister for Public Transport, Lynne Kosky, with services commencing on 14 June.[13] The cost of the station and associated works was initially projected to be $11 million, but eventually cost $18.7 million.[14]

In 2021, as part of the Regional Rail Revival project, Platform 2 and its refuge siding was opened opposite Platform 1,[2] allowing terminating Ballarat trains to not block Ararat trains that use Platform 1, with a footbridge, lifts, ramps and stairs connecting the platforms. There was also an upgrade to the station forecourt.[15]

Platforms and services

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Wendouree has two side platforms, and is served by Ballarat and Ararat line trains.[16][17]

Platform 1:

Platform 2:

  •  Ballarat line  terminating services; services to Southern Cross
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CDC Ballarat operates four bus routes via Wendouree station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

  •  10 : Ballarat stationAlfredton[18]
  •  11 : to Ballarat station[19]
  •  12 : to Ballarat station[20]
  •  31 : to Miners Rest[21]
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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Railway station and tram stop patronage in Victoria for 2008-2021 Philip Mallis
  2. ^ a b "Wendouree". vicsig.net. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Wendouree [1st]". vicsig.net. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Attachment A: Other historical notes on the Ballarat - Ararat line". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. April 2007. p. 117.
  5. ^ "Linton Junction". vicsig.net. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Sweet slumber signals change". The Courier. 16 November 1998. p. 9.
  7. ^ Ballarat to Get a Second Train Station Premier of Victoria 8 September 2006
  8. ^ Banger, Chris (April 2007). "Notes on the Ballarat - Ararat Rail Corridor". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society: 106–115.
  9. ^ Ballarat Station Naming Competition Closes Soon Minister for Public Transport 11 April 2007
  10. ^ "Wendouree train station contract set, work started". Ballarat Courier. 20 May 2008.
  11. ^ Major Milestones for New Wendouree Station Premier of Victoria 19 May 2008
  12. ^ "Train station runs late". Ballarat Courier. 3 June 2008.
  13. ^ "Ballarat's new train station to officially open". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 June 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  14. ^ Rail Service Upgrade: Costs increase more than $7m, 8 November 2008, retrieved 8 September 2014
  15. ^ "Wendouree Station". Victoria's Big Build. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  16. ^ Ballarat – Melbourne timetable Public Transport Victoria
  17. ^ Ararat – Melbourne Public Transport Victoria
  18. ^ 10 Ballarat Station - Alfredton via Wendouree Public Transport Victoria
  19. ^ 11 Ballarat Station - Wendouree Station via Howitt St Public Transport Victoria
  20. ^ 12 Ballarat Station - Wendouree Station via Forest St Public Transport Victoria
  21. ^ 31 Wendouree Station - Miners Rest Public Transport Victoria
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