Bell railway station, Melbourne

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Bell
PTV commuter rail station
Eastern facade, exterior and landscaping of Bell station, August 2024
General information
Location	Garnet Street, Preston, Victoria 3072 City of Darebin Australia
Coordinates	37°44′44″S 145°00′01″E / 37.7456°S 145.0003°E / -37.7456; 145.0003
Owned by	VicTrack
Operated by	Metro Trains
Line(s)	Mernda
Distance	11.70 kilometres from Southern Cross
Platforms	2 side
Tracks	2
Connections	Bus
Construction
Structure type	Elevated
Parking	75
Bicycle facilities	6
Accessible	Yes—step free access
Other information
Status	Operational, premium station
Station code	BEL
Fare zone	Myki Zone 1
Website	Public Transport Victoria
History
Opened	8 October 1889; 135 years ago (1889-10-08)
Rebuilt	1973 5 September 2022 (LXRP)[1]
Electrified	July 1921 (1500 V DC overhead)
Previous names	Preston-Bell Street (1889–1905)
Passengers
2005–2006	307,030[2]
2006–2007	355,959[2]  15.93%
2007–2008	393,114[2]  10.43%
2008–2009	508,278[3]  29.29%
2009–2010	549,773[3]  8.16%
2010–2011	532,537[3]  3.13%
2011–2012	523,225[3]  1.75%
2012–2013	Not measured[3]
2013–2014	433,148[3]  17.2%
2014–2015	422,536[2]  2.45%
2015–2016	462,990[3]  9.57%
2016–2017	477,003[3]  3.02%
2017–2018	541,111[3]  13.44%
2018–2019	530,900[3]  1.88%
2019–2020	444,100[3]  16.35%
2020–2021	170,000[3]  61.7%
2021–2022	132,450[4]  22.08%
2022–2023	262,500[5]  98.19%
Services
Preceding station Metro Trains Following station Thornbury towards Flinders Street Mernda line Preston towards Mernda
Track layout Legend to Thornbury 1 2 to Preston

Bell railway station is a commuter railway station located in the north-eastern suburb of Preston in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.^[6] The station opened on 8 October 1889, with the former ground level station closed and demolished in May 2022 and the current elevated station provided in September 2022 by the Level Crossing Removal Project.^[7] The station initially opened as "Preston-Bell Street" upon its opening in 1889, then it was given its current name of "Bell" on 1 August 1905.

Bell is an elevated premium station, consisting of two side platforms connected by staircases, lifts and a ground level concourse. The station fully complies with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and is accessible as there is a lift connecting to the ground level concourse and the station platforms on either side.^[8]

The station is owned by VicTrack, a state government agency and the station is operated by Metro Trains Melbourne. Preston station is currently served by the Mernda line, part of the Melbourne railway network.^[6] Additionally, the station is also served by four bus routes, it includes Dysons bus routes 513, 514, 552 and 553. The station is approximately 9 km (5.6 mi) or around a 23 minute train ride to Flinders Street.^[9]

The elevated railway leading up to Bell station and the northern entrance (top), the station features a concourse and landscaping area.

Bell railway station is located in the north-eastern suburb of Preston in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The station is owned by VicTrack, a state government agency and the station is operated by Metro Trains Melbourne.^[6] The station is 9 km (5.6 mi) or around a 23 minute train ride to Flinders Street.^[9] The adjacent stations are Thornbury station up towards Flinders Street and Preston station down towards Mernda.^[9]

The station consists of two side platforms with two edges. As is standard in Melbourne, the platform has an asphalt surface with concrete on the edges. The island platform is approximately 160 m (524 ft 11 in) long, long enough for a 7 car High Capacity Metro Train.^[10] The station features a ground level concourse, accessible from the elevated station platform via a lift and stairs.^[8]

The station building, concourse and platform largely stayed the same since the station was rebuilt in 2022.^[6] The station is listed as fully accessible on the Metro Trains website, as there are lifts and accessible features available at the station.^[8]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2024)

Bell station opened on 8 October 1889, when the Inner Circle line was extended from North Fitzroy to Reservoir, Bell station is named after nearby Bell Street, itself named after Francis Bell, a landowner in Coburg who had a property named Bell Manor.^[11][12]

It was located adjacent to the former Bell Street level crossing, which was provided with boom barriers in 1969, replacing interlocked gates.^[13]

The station once had a goods yard, which was removed in 1986, leaving only a siding at the up end of the station.^[14]

On 17 April 1988, the double line block signalling system between Bell and Reservoir was abolished, and replaced with automatic three position signalling.^[15] Also in that month, pedestrian gates were provided at the former Bell Street level crossing, in combination with the road boom barriers.^[15]

On 25 August 2008, Bell was upgraded to a premium station.^[16]

The western facade (top), The station entrance, building and landscaping (middle), Interior of the station building leading out to the northern entrance (bottom)

The station rebuilt by the LXRP in 2022 features colour glass stained windows on the western and eastern sides of the facade, the station has lighting and staircases on both sides

In January 2016, the Level Crossing Removal Project announced 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,^[17] but the rail-over option was later chosen.^[18] In February 2021, major construction began.^[19]

On 17 May 2022, Oakover Road and Bell Street level crossings and equipment were eliminated and on the same night, the ground level station were closed and demolished.^[20][21] On 30 May 2022, the first part of the new elevated railway opened with only a single track while the second track was under construction. This was temporary until 5 September 2022 when the rebuilt station opened.^[22][7]

An X'Trapolis 100 train on a Flinders Street-bound service idle at Platform 1, July 2023 (top), Platform 1 at Bell station looking southbound (middle), Platform 2 at Bell station looking northbound (bottom)

Bell has two side platforms. The station is currently served by the Mernda line, part of the metropolitan railway network.^[9] The Mernda line runs from Mernda station, north-east of Melbourne, joining with the Hurstbridge line at Clifton Hill station before travelling through Flinders Street station and back through the City Loop.^[9]

Platform 1:

•  Mernda line  all stations and limited express services to Flinders Street

Platform 2:

•  Mernda line  all stations services to Mernda

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2024)

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

•  513 : Eltham station – Glenroy station (via Lower Plenty)^[23]
•  514 : Eltham station – Glenroy station (via Greensborough)^[24]
•  552 : North East Reservoir – Northcote Plaza^[25]
•  553 : Preston – West Preston^[26]

• Media related to Bell railway station, Melbourne at Wikimedia Commons
• Melway map at street-directory.com.au