Stony Point Line Duplication
The Stony Point line is currently the only railway line on the Mornington Peninsula that still serves passengers on a regular basis. The entire line is single-track, limiting service frequency on the line to one service every 100 minutes at best.
By duplicating the Stony Point line, service frequency can be increased tremendously, allowing the line to carry more people, more often. Furthermore, trains will regularly run to Melbourne for the first time since the 1950s.
This project will be completed across all 3 stages:
Stage 1
- Build 3 crossing loops:
- At Langwarrin station (1km long, station in middle)
- At Tyabb station (1km long, station in middle)
- Between Bittern and Morradoo stations
- Build Frankston Heights and Langwarrin stations
- Build a stabling yard at Crib Point for 20 carriages
- Build a maintenance facility at Kananook
- Upgrade Frankston station platform 1 to become a through platform that can carry suburban and Stony Point trains at the same time
Stage 2
- Full duplicate to Somerville (but keep Somerville 1 platform)
- Build a triangular junction at Baxter for transfer of carriages between Stony Point and Rosebud lines
- Build 1km crossing loop at Hastings station (start immiately north of station but keep station itself 1 platform)
Stage 3
- Full duplicate to Hastings (but keep Hastings 1 platform)
- Extend Bittern-Morradoo crossing loop to Crib Point
- Build a stabling yard at Hastings for 22 carriages
- Expand Crib Point stabling yard to stable 30 carriages
A number of other upgrades can also be introduced on the line to further create jobs and improve accessibility on the line.
Leawarra
Melway ref: 102 E4
Platforms: 2 (1 in Stage 1)
Carpark spaces: 20
Bike racks: 20
Bus terminal bays: 0
Staffed: No
Features: PSO facilities
Leawarra station serves the Frankston Power Centre and Monash University's peninsula campus, essentially Frankston's 2nd CBD. The upgrade of train services here is paramount for access for university students, adding to the project's national significance.
The station itself would be relocated between Moorooduc Highway and Clarendon Street to better serve the hospital while still providing access to the university and shopping centre.
Frankston Heights
Melway ref: 103 B7
Platforms: 2 (1 in Stage 1)
Carpark spaces: 0
Bike racks: 100
Bus terminal bays: 0
Staffed: No
Features: PSO facilities
Frankston City Council has proposed a new railway station near Ferndale Drive in the eastern section of Frankston, connected to Karingal Hub shopping Centre via it and the Peninsula Link walking trail. This will give local residents direct access to the train network as well as the shopping centre, and could encourage gentrification and development in between to maximise the area’s potential.
The area is inaccessible by bus or even car, but bikes and pedestrians will be able to access the station from both sides, using the Frankston-Baxter Trail in the north and the land above a water pipe in the south, atop which a shared use path could be built. Building bike sheds on both sides of the station would further encourage access to the station by bike.
Langwarrin
Melway ref: 103 C11
Platforms: 2
Carpark spaces: 200
Bike racks: 0
Bus terminal bays: 2
Staffed: No
Features: PSO facilities
Langwarrin station can be rebuilt on the northern end of Robinsons Road next to Bayside Christian College’s Northern campus, with 2 platforms, shade areas and PIDs. Its design would be similar to Frankston Heights station. In October 2014, PTV also discussed two other options with the public for the location of a potential new Langwarrin station: one on the former 1970s site, and one closer to Karingal Shopping Centre. The result of this consultation session is unknown.
Baxter
Melway ref: 107 B4
Platforms: 2 (1 in Stage 1)
Carpark spaces: 50
Bike racks: 100
Bus terminal bays: 4
Staffed: Yes
Features: PSO facilities
Baxter station will be the junction for the Rosebud and Stony Point lines. Two new platforms will be used by trains running to and from both Rosebud and Stony Point. These platforms wil form an island platform, and trains in both directions timetabled to arrive at the same time, to allow passengers to easily interchange between both lines. To alleviate congestion on the suburban line, trains from both lines heading towards Melbourne will couple together and form a single train at Baxter. Likewise, regional trains from Melbourne will split at Baxter, with half the train going to Rosebud, and the other half to Stony Point.
The current platform will be demolished, since side platforms are not adequate for the needs of interchanging passengers.
Somerville
Melway ref: 107 F12
Platforms: 2 (1 in Stages 1 and 2)
Carpark spaces: 100
Bike racks: 100
Bus terminal bays: 2
Staffed: Yes
Features: PSO facilities
Somerville is the biggest town served by the Stony Point line. Thus, it would see substantial upgrades, with a tripling of carpark spaces, a bike shed, a second platform and customer service facilities. The old customer service building still stands at the station; it needs only be restored and upgraded.
Tyabb
Melway ref: 148 H10
Platforms: 2
Carpark spaces: 40
Bike racks: 80
Bus terminal bays: 2
Staffed: No
Features: PSO facilities
With an expansion plan on the cards for Tyabb, the station needs to be expanded to accommodate the increased population. Such expansion includes a second platform and a small carpark.
Hastings
Melway ref: 154 H10
Platforms: 1
Carpark spaces: 100
Bike racks: 100
Bus terminal bays: 2
Staffed: Yes
Features: PSO facilities
The bare land around Hastings station is quite large, large enough that a stabling yard and possibly a small maintenance facility could be built there. This, combined with the restoration, upgrade and reopening of the customer service building on the platform, will allow for the creation of dozens of jobs at Hastings.
A second platform will also be necessary to accomodate peak hour traffic.
Bittern
Melway ref: 164 F7
Platforms: 1
Carpark spaces: 50
Bike racks: 50
Bus terminal bays: 2
Staffed: No
Features: PSO facilities, bike shop
The only upgrade expected to be needed to Bittern station will be the extension of its platform to accommodate 3-carriage trains, although a bike shop could also be built here to encourage cycling as a sustainable alternative to the car. The line through the station will remain single despite the provision of a crossing loop between Bittern and Hastings stations.
Morradoo
Melway ref: 164 H12
Platforms: 2 (1 in Stages 1 and 2)
Carpark spaces: 0
Bike racks: 50
Bus terminal bays: 0
Staffed: No
Features: PSO facilities
Morradoo station was originally built on November 7 1960 as a rail motor stopping place, numbered RMSP 15. in 1996 it was upgraded to a full station and renamed Morradoo (an Aboriginal word meaning "powder and shot", and the original name for Crib Point) by Crib Point Primary School student Bree Saunders as part of a local competition.
This stopping place was built to serve Crib Point Cemetery and the old Western Port Refinery, but other than that it is one of the least-used stations on the Stony Point line. Despite this, the platform would still require extension to accommodate 3-carriage trains.
Crib Point
Melway ref: 195 B3
Platforms: 1
Carpark spaces: 50
Bike racks: 100
Bus terminal bays: 1
Staffed: Yes
Features: PSO facilities, bike shop
Crib Point will be the primary terminus of the Stony Point line, with two thirds of trains terminating here. A stabling yard will built on the outbound end, with the siding track closest to the main line having a connection to Stony Point for use by services that originate and terminate at Stony Point.
Stony Point
Melway ref: 195 E5
Platforms: 1
Carpark spaces: 0
Bike racks: 0
Bus terminal bays: 0
Staffed: No
Features: None
Stony Point station, the terminus of the Stony Point line, is another seldom-used station, usually used by tourists travelling the line, catching the connecting ferry to/from Phillip Island, or using the nearby caravan park.