Richmond railway station, Melbourne

Richmond station (station code: RMD) is a suburban railway station in Melbourne, Australia. It is located in the suburb of Richmond, and is built on an embankment immediately east of Punt Road with platforms extending west across the Punt Road railway bridge. It has ten platforms connected by three subways. It is the junction of all of Melbourne's eastern and southeastern rail lines with trains on the Frankston, Glen Waverley, Pakenham, Sandringham, Cranbourne, Belgrave, Lilydale and Alamein lines passing through the station.

Related Topics:
Railway station - Melbourne - Australia - Suburb - Richmond - Frankston - Glen Waverley - Pakenham - Sandringham - Cranbourne - Belgrave - Lilydale - Alamein

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Located 2.4km from Flinders Street Station, Melbourne's central railway station, Richmond station is located close to the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Melbourne Park, so is often busy during sporting and other special events.

Related Topics:
Flinders Street Station - Melbourne Cricket Ground - Melbourne Park

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Richmond station has been relocated and rebuilt four times. The first station in Punt Road was at ground level and opened on 8 February, 1859. It closed on 12 December the same year. On the same day, the new station, also at ground level, opened in Swan Street.

Related Topics:
8 February - 1859 - 12 December

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In 1885, an elevated station just north of Swan Street was opened with six platforms. For a period, both the old and new stations operated, before the original Swan Street station finally closed.

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By the 1940s the station had deteriorated to the point that it was condemned by the local council. Despite this, it was not until 26 March, 1960, that the present elevated station opened slightly west of the existing one. The bridges at each end of the station across Punt Road and Swan Street were also rebuilt to accommodate the ten tracks. The old station was demolished.

Related Topics:
1940s - 26 March - 1960

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The condition of Richmond station was criticised again in 2005. Melbourne is to host the 2006 Commonwealth Games and Richmond station is the gateway to the main venues. The station's bleak appearance and poor access to these venues lead the Victorian Government to consider redeveloping the station. These plans were considered too expensive and upgrades will be limited to a new coat of paint and some new signage.

Related Topics:
2005 - 2006 Commonwealth Games

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Richmond station was the filming location for the opening scene of Romper Stomper, although in the film it was credited as Footscray station.

Related Topics:
Romper Stomper - Footscray station

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