Wikipedia

Keon Park railway station

Keon Park railway station is a commuter railway station on the Mernda line, which is part of the Melbourne railway network. It serves the northern suburb of Reservoir, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Keon Park station is an elevated premium station, featuring an island platform with two faces. It opened on 16 December 1929, with the current station provided in 2024.[6]

Keon Park
PTV commuter rail station
Southbound view from Platform 1, July 2024
General information
LocationHigh Street,
Reservoir, Victoria 3074
City of Whittlesea
Australia
Coordinates37°41′41″S 145°00′42″E / 37.6946°S 145.0118°E / -37.6946; 145.0118
Owned byVicTrack
Operated byMetro Trains
Line(s)Mernda
Distance17.54 kilometres from
Southern Cross
Platforms2 (1 island)
Tracks2
ConnectionsList of bus routes in Melbourne Bus
Construction
Structure typeElevated
Parking154
AccessibleYes—step free access
Other information
StatusOperational, unstaffed
Station codeKPK
Fare zoneMyki Zone 2
WebsitePublic Transport Victoria
History
Opened16 December 1929; 94 years ago (1929-12-16)[1]
Rebuilt1983
1988
21 June 2024 (LXRP)
ElectrifiedDecember 1929
(1500 V DC overhead)
Previous namesKeonpark (1929–1972)
Passengers
2005–2006200,689[2]
2006–2007245,581[2] Increase 22.36%
2007–2008274,090[2] Increase 11.6%
2008–2009310,119[3] Increase 13.14%
2009–2010318,443[3] Increase 2.68%
2010–2011382,641[3] Increase 20.16%
2011–2012369,430[3] Decrease 3.45%
2012–2013Not measured[3]
2013–2014293,580[3] Decrease 20.53%
2014–2015309,138[2] Increase 5.29%
2015–2016365,848[3] Increase 18.34%
2016–2017367,137[3] Increase 0.35%
2017–2018409,816[3] Increase 11.62%
2018–2019396,950[3] Decrease 3.14%
2019–2020313,250[3] Decrease 21.1%
2020–2021178,750[3] Decrease 42.9%
2021–2022174,750[4] Decrease 2.23%
2022–2023279,100[5] Increase 59.71%
Services
Preceding station Railways in Melbourne Metro Trains Following station
Ruthven
towards Flinders Street
 Mernda line Thomastown
towards Mernda
Track layout
Legend
to Ruthven
1
2
Settlement Road
to Thomastown

Initially opened as Keonpark, the station was given its current name of Keon Park on 29 February 1972.[6]

History

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Keon Park station opened on 16 December 1929. It was named after Keon Park Pty Ltd., a land development company formed in 1924. Among the directors was Henry Isaac Cohen, a Barrister, M.L.C. and later a King's Counsel, Minister of Education and Minister for Water Supply, who married Ethel Mary Keon in 1901 and whose children adopted the surname of "Keon-Cohen".[7]

The station opened at the same time as the extension of suburban services and electrification from Reservoir to Thomastown. In November 1959, the line from Reservoir was duplicated, in conjunction with the extension of suburban services to Lalor.[8] However, the duplicated line converged at the up end of the former Keon Parade level crossing,[9] and it was not until 1988 that the current Platform 2 was provided.[10][11][12] The crossover, located at the upper end of the station and just past the level crossing, was also provided around this time.[12] It remained the northern extremity for the double line until November 2011, when the line from Keon Park to Epping was duplicated.[6][13]

In 1963, flashing light signals were provided at the former Keon Parade level crossing,[6] with boom barriers provided later on in 1971.[14][15] On 15 April 1972, a small fire damaged the interior of the station building.[16] On 1 September 1973, the station was again damaged by fire, as well as damage occurring to the signal box.[17][18] It was also around this time that the former City of Preston and former local member for the now abolished District of Reservoir, Jim Simmonds, asked the Victorian Railways for opinions on relocating the station to the up side of the level crossing, to allow better access from nearby residential areas.[19][17]

In 1983, the former ground-level station building was provided, replacing an older timber structure.[20] In 1986, a number of sidings that were located at the down end of the station were abolished.[6]

On 29 July 2021, the Level Crossing Removal Project announced that the level crossing will be grade separated by 2025, with the railway line to be built over the road, and will include a rebuilt station.[21][22][23] On 28 March 2022, the LXRP announced that the station would be rebuilt to the south of the current level crossing.[24] In December 2022, final designs were released,[25] with construction on the project beginning in early 2023.

On 12 January 2024, Keon Park Station was closed and demolished.[26] The first elevated train bridge opened on 21 January 2024. The Flinders Street-bound way used the bridge as the Mernda-bound used the level crossing until April 2024, as a solution to keep trains running on the Mernda line.[27]

On 30 April 2024, the Keon Parade level crossing and equipment were eliminated.[28] The elevated train bridge for Mernda-bound way opened on 8 May 2024,[29] and the rebuilt station opened to passengers on 21 June 2024.[30][31]

Platforms and services

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A PID on Platform 2 displaying a Mernda-bound service

Keon Park has one island platform with two faces. It is serviced by Metro Trains' Mernda line services.[32]

 
An X'Trapolis train on a down Mernda service, bound for Reservoir arrives at Platform 1, July 2024

Platform 1:

Platform 2:

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The westbound bus stop for routes 555 and 902 beneath the elevated railway, July 2024

Dysons operates one bus route via Keon Park station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

  •  555 : Pacific Epping – Northland Shopping Centre[33]
 
The eastbound bus stop for route 902 beneath the elevated railway, July 2024

Kinetic Melbourne operates one SmartBus route via Keon Park station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

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  •  
    Southbound view from former ground level Platform 1, May 2014
  •  
    Former level crossing at Keon Parade during LXRP Grade separation works with Flinders Street-bound bridge active and Mernda-bound using level crossing, January 2024
  •  
    Southbound view from Platform 1, June 2024
  •  
    The stairs, PIDS and the green tile work at the concourse, June 2024
  •  
    The Keon Park station signage at the concourse, June 2024
  •  
    Keon Parade after grade separation works,
    July 2024
  •  
    The main station concourse from Keon Parade,
    July 2024
  •  
    The stairs leading up to the mid-level concourse taken from the main concourse, with green tile works around the walls, July 2024
  •  
    The mid-level concourse with the stairs leading to the platforms and main concourse, looking north, July 2024
  •  
    The mid-level concourse with the stairs leading to the forecourt closed off and the stairs opened to the platforms, July 2024
  •  
    The Myki readers, lift, main concourse and the curved metal fence around the Myki readers,
    July 2024
  •  
    The two stairs leading to the platforms, mid-level concourse and the ground level main concourse, July 2024
  •  
    The staircase from the platforms leading down to the mid-level concourse, July 2024
  •  
    The staircase from the mid-level concourse leading up to the platforms, July 2024
  •  
    The western side of the new elevated railway at Keon Parade looking south, taken from the High Street/Keon Parade signalised intersection,
    July 2024
  •  
    The nearly completed landscaping and the new rebuilt elevated railway, July 2024
  •  
    The nearly completed landscaping with finishing touches placed in, July 2024
  •  
    The platform shelters at the new rebuilt elevated station, July 2024
  •  
    The two platform signage's 1 meter away from each other, July 2024
  •  
    Northbound view towards Thomastown station, July 2024
  •  
    Southbound view towards Melbourne CBD and the southern car park under construction,
    July 2024
  •  
    Original ground level station site, with the northern car park nearly completed, July 2024

References

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  1. ^ "KEONPARK STATION TO BE OPENED ON MONDAY". The Herald. No. 16, 405. Victoria, Australia. 13 December 1929. p. 5. Retrieved 10 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ a b c d Estimated Annual Patronage by Network Segment Financial Year 2005–2006 to 2018–19 Archived 17 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine Department of Transport
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Railway station and tram stop patronage in Victoria for 2008–2021 Archived 17 December 2022 at the Wayback Machine Philip Mallis
  4. ^ Annual metropolitan train station patronage (station entries) Archived 6 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine Data Vic
  5. ^ Annual metropolitan train station entries 2022-23 Data Vic
  6. ^ a b c d e "Keon Park". vicsig.net. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Keon Park". 2 June 2021. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  8. ^ SE Dornan & RG Henderson (1979). Electric Railways of Victoria. Australian Electric Traction Society. p. 67. ISBN 0-909459-06-1.
  9. ^ "Keon Park 12-9-1982". Flickr – Robert Aquilina Photostream. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. July 1986. p. 217.
  11. ^ "Keon Park, down Lalor about to depart 7-10-1987". Flickr – Robert Aquilina Photostream. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. July 1988. p. 220.
  13. ^ South Morang Rail Extension, Australia Archived 29 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine Railway Technology
  14. ^ "Way and Works". Divisional Diary. Australian Railway Historical Society. November 1971. p. 6.
  15. ^ John Sinnatt (January 1990). "Level Crossing Protection". Somersault. Signalling Record Society Victoria. pp. 9–17.
  16. ^ "Way and Works". Divisional Diary. Australian Railway Historical Society. June 1972. p. 7.
  17. ^ a b "Way & Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. November 1973. p. 219.
  18. ^ "Way & Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. January 1974. p. 16.
  19. ^ "Items of Interest". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. September 1973. p. 183.
  20. ^ "Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. February 1983. p. 26.
  21. ^ "Keon Parade, Reservoir". Victoria's Big Build. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  22. ^ "10 more level crossings to go by 2025". Victoria's Big Build. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  23. ^ "Mernda line level crossing removal fact sheet". Victoria's Big Build. Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  24. ^ "New station and rail bridge for Keon Parade". Victoria's Big Build. Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  25. ^ "Final designs released for Keon Parade". Victoria's Big Build. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  26. ^ "Keon Parade kicks off for 2024". Victoria’s Big Build. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  27. ^ "Trains returned to the Mernda Line this week". Victoria’s Big Build. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  28. ^ "More gates meet their fates at Keon Parade". Victoria’s Big Build. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  29. ^ "Trains return to the Mernda Line". Victoria’s Big Build. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  30. ^ "77 level crossings gone as Keon Parade reopens". Victoria’s Big Build. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  31. ^ "New Keon Park Station open to passengers". Victoria’s Big Build. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  32. ^ "Mernda Line". Public Transport Victoria.
  33. ^ "555 Epping - Northland via Lalor & Thomastown & Reservoir". Public Transport Victoria.
  34. ^ "902 Chelsea Railway Station – Airport West Shopping Centre (SMARTBUS Service)". Public Transport Victoria. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
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