ck_stations

= __​__ __​Flinders St and Southern Cross Stations__ =

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 * Flinders St Station**[[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9f/Reallyoldfindersstreetstation1.jpg/180px-Reallyoldfindersstreetstation1.jpg width="233" height="183" align="right" caption="Melbourne Terminus" link="http://mcscbd2009.wikispaces.com/wiki/File:Reallyoldfindersstreetstation1.jpg"]]

Flinders St Staion has a very long and proud history. Located in the heart of Melbourne's CBD, near iconic land marks such as Federation Square, St Paul's Cathedral and the Young and Jacksons Hotel, it has to be one of Melbourne's most recognisable places. Flinders St Station was originally known as Melbourne Terminus. It was Australia's first city railway station, and the site where Melbourne's first steam train travelled from. Back then it had only one platform, but this was in 1854 and the station has evolved enormously over the past 155 years.

Melbourne Terminus, as it was known back then, was officially completed in 1854, the same year the first steam train travelled in the city. It had a 30 metre long platform, and was located next to the fish market. Many people don't know that it was originally planned for India, but instead built in Melbourne. The station remained the same until 1877 when another platform and two bridges were added, as well as signal boxes. Flinders St Station is one of the most interesting train stations on Earth, and was actually designed by the winner of a world - wide competition! James Fawcett and H.P.C Ashworth won £500 just before the turn of the century. That was a small fortune back then, and their design was, and still is, an amazing feat. The outline for the building said that it was to have a clock tower, a giant dome and be 3 stories high. Most of the suggestions were put in place, however some were dismissed by the Railway Commision. The station had more redevelopment plans in 1900. The first part was to rearrange the tracks, while the front of the station was still being built. A pedestrian subway was started a year later, and by 1903 the start of the main building had been completed. By 1907 there were 11 platforms and 2 more being constructed. In the same year platform 1 was extended. An original platform from Melbourne Terminus was disamantled and used for Hawthorn Railway Station, in the suburbs. Within the next eight years Melbourne's Flinders Street Station was completed.

In 1919, the first electric train departed from Flinders St Station and travelled to Essendon. In 1926 the station was the busiest in the world. It carried record numbers of people, so they were forced to build another subway. Surprisingly no major reconstructions took palce for the next 55 years. In the 1960s the minister annouced a £30 million project which would see the clock tower removed and an office building up to 60 storeys high being built. But instead a gas and fuel building was constructed on Princess Bridge. Later, a company purchased the option to make the station a shopping plaza and two ofice towers, but luckily the dome and clock tower being kept as the original design. This was because of strong public opposition. There were several more plans to turn the station into shopping malls, movie theatres and other shops but obviously none of these were put into action. The 80s and 90s saw Flinders Street Station have its second major refurbishment at a cost of $7 million. Escalators were put on all the platforms, and replaced the old rusty ramps. A small food court was put in place and a Tabaret shop was also opened.

Today's Flinders Street Station consists of 14 platforms, 1 concourse, a 3 storey office building and a clock tower. The following list shows what lines are on which platforms: ** Southern Cross Station **
 * **Train Line** || **Weekday Platform** || **Weekend Platform** ||
 * Epping || 1 and 14 || 1 ||
 * Hurstbridge || 1 and 14 || 1 ||
 * Lilydale || 2,3,6 and 7 || 2 and 3 ||
 * Belgrave || 2,3,6 and 7 || 2 and 3 ||
 * Alamein || 2,3,6 and 7 || N/A ||
 * Glen Waverley || 2 and 3 || 2 and 3 ||
 * Cragieburn || 4 and 5 || 4 and 5 ||
 * Upfield || 4 and 5 || 4 and 5 ||
 * Sydneham || 4 and 5 || 4 and 5 ||
 * Werribee || 4,5 and 10 || 4 and 5 ||
 * Pakenham || 6 and 7 || 6 and 7 ||
 * Cranbourne || 6 and 7 || 6 and 7 ||
 * Frankston || 8 and 9 || 6 and 7 ||
 * Williamstown || 10 || N/A ||
 * Flemington Racecourse || N/A || N/A ||
 * Sandringham || 12 and 13 || 8 and 9 ||

Southern Cross Station, or Spencer St as it was known back then, opened in 1859. As well as Flinders St which was opened 4 years before, it only had one platform, and was known as a dead end terminus. The station was the CBD's second, and ran parallel to Spencer St, so that's were the name comes from. The second platform was added 15 years later, in 1874. Five years later, the two were joined (Flinders and Spencer St), by a line, though trains that carried people weren't allowed. These trains operated at night. As the city was continuely evolving, the Railway Commission thought about pulling down the station, but the plans were never put in place. Country platforms were then put in place, with trains going to many regional cities throughout Victoria. By the late 1800s there were two tracks between Spencer and Flinders St, with trains that carried passengers now being allowed, running day and night. An additional platform was also added, to allow passengerts to travel to Williamstown and Essendon.

Spencer St Station, along with all the railway lines in Melbourne, was electrified in 1915. Between 1918 and 1924 platfroms 11 to 14 were constructed, as well as a pedestrian subway which let commuters access the platform. The station remained roughly the same for around 40 years, until late in 1960 when the new, modern Spencer St Station construction started. A railway that went to Sydney and again more platforms were added to accompany the newly built City Loop. A brand new station was built at the same site, which had a 413 metre platform. The subway was also extended to the country train platforms. Some platforms and tracks were also rebuilt and cleaned up.

By the 21st century, Spencer St Station needed a new, more modern look. Though it had a major refurbishment in the 1960s, this was now out of date and stuck in the past. It was 2002 when construction of the newly named Southern Cross Station began, after months of planning. The cost was ment to be $700 million but two years into the project, it was already approaching $1 billion. Despite these costs and setbacks, the station was completed just in time for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The amazing new design featured a wave shaped roof, new food court, a bar and restaraunt and a shopping complex. The design looks amazing, and is one of the best looking stations in the world. Though now it is a success, at the time there were concerns from the public. Many complained about the access to platforms, the construction company who were builfing the station, and many didn't think the station would be ready for the games. Amongst other nominations, the design won the Royal Institute of British Architects' building outside Europe.

Southern Cross Station is a great transport hot spot in Melbourne. It is on the edge of the CBD (next to Collins and La Trobe), and very close to Docklands. It has the most V/Line services in Melbourne.The Myki discovery centre, were we found our information for the new network, is aslo located there.