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Merri
PTV commuter rail station
Northbound view from Platform 2, July 2024
General information
Location	Railway Street, Northcote, Victoria 3070 City of Darebin Australia
Coordinates	37°46′40″S 144°59′35″E / 37.7778°S 144.9931°E / -37.7778; 144.9931
Owned by	VicTrack
Operated by	Metro Trains
Line(s)	Mernda
Distance	8.04 kilometres from Southern Cross
Platforms	2 side
Tracks	2
Connections	[REDACTED] Bus [REDACTED] Tram
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Parking	6
Accessible	Yes—step free access
Other information
Status	Operational, unstaffed
Station code	MER
Fare zone	Myki Zone 1
Website	Public Transport Victoria
History
Opened	8 October 1889; 135 years ago (1889-10-08)
Rebuilt	1910
Electrified	July 1921 (1500 V DC overhead)
Previous names	Northcote (1889-1906)
Passengers
2005–2006	192,755
2006–2007	202,653  5.13%
2007–2008	211,789  4.5%
2008–2009	220,480  4.1%
2009–2010	242,520  10%
2010–2011	246,079  1.46%
2011–2012	222,770  9.47%
2012–2013	Not measured
2013–2014	176,555  20.75%
2014–2015	181,403  2.74%
2015–2016	185,671  2.35%
2016–2017	194,309  4.65%
2017–2018	208,180  7.14%
2018–2019	196,550  5.59%
2019–2020	153,450  21.93%
2020–2021	70,400  54.1%
2021–2022	72,550  3.05%
Services
Preceding station [REDACTED] Metro Trains Following station Rushalltowards Flinders Street Mernda line Northcotetowards Mernda
Track layout Legend to Rushall 12 Charles Street to Northcote

Merri railway station is a commuter railway station on the Mernda line, which is part of the Melbourne railway network. It serves the north-eastern suburb of Northcote, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Merri station is a ground level unstaffed station, featuring two side platforms. It opened on 8 October 1889, with the current station provided in 1910.

Initially opened as Northcote, the station was given its current name of Merri on 10 December 1906.

History

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (June 2024)

Merri station opened on 8 October 1889, when the Inner Circle line was extended from North Fitzroy to Reservoir. The original conception of the station was to act as a major junction in a planned "North Suburban Railway System. The Argus reported in 1887 that; "The Station at Union-street, as shown on our plan, must necessarily be the most important in the Northern System, as lines branch from this point to Preston and Whittlesea on the north ; Heidelberg, Kew, &.c., on the east; Carlton, Royal-park, North Melbourne, and Spencer-street on the south-west; Fitzroy, East Melbourne, and Flinders-street on the south; and if the alternative route is adopted, Clifton-hill, Collingwood, Richmond, and Flinders street on the south east.", while land sale plans advertised the upcoming construction of the Grand Central Junction Station".

In 1910, the station building was rebuilt to accommodate an increased population in the area.

The nearby level crossing at Charles Street had hand-operated gates until 1924, when they were replaced with interlocked gates, operated from the nearby signal box, following several serious traffic accidents. In 1986, these gates were replaced with boom barriers. In 1987, the signal box was abolished.

In 1973, both platforms were extended at the down end of the station.

During October 1987, the double line block system between Merri – Northcote was abolished, and replaced with three position signalling, with all two position signals between Merri – Thornbury also abolished.

Announced as part of a $21.9 million package in the 2022/23 Victorian State Budget, Merri, alongside other stations, will receive accessibility upgrades, the installation of CCTV, and platform shelters. The development process will begin in late 2022 or early 2023, with a timeline for the upgrades to be released once construction has begun.

Platforms and services

Merri has two side platforms. It is served by Mernda line trains.

Platform 1:

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

Platform 2:

•  Mernda line  all stations services to Mernda

Transport links

Dysons operates one bus route via Merri station:

•  506 : Moonee Ponds Junction – Westgarth station

Yarra Trams operates two routes via Merri station:

• : West Preston – Victoria Harbour (Docklands)
• : Bundoora RMIT – Waterfront City (Docklands)

Gallery

• Station building on Platform 1, May 2014
• Northbound view from Platform 1,
  November 2022

References

1. ^ Estimated Annual Patronage by Network Segment Financial Year 2005-2006 to 2018-19 Department of Transport
2. ^ Railway station and tram stop patronage in Victoria for 2008-2021 Philip Mallis
3. Annual metropolitan train station patronage (station entries) Data Vic
4. ^ "Merri". vicsig.net. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
5. The Argus 9 December 1887
6. "Fitzroy Junction Estate" land sale advertisement 1887
7. Darebin Heritage Study 2000 - Merri - Northcote
8. The Argus, 13 Nov 1924
9. "Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. March 1987. p. 89.
10. John Sinnatt (January 1990). "Level Crossing Protection". Somersault. Signalling Record Society Victoria. pp. 9–17.
11. ^ "Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. January 1988. p. 27.
12. "Improving transport accessibility across the state". Retrieved 7 September 2022.
13. "Mernda Line". Public Transport Victoria.
14. "506 Moonee Ponds - Westgarth Station via Brunswick". Public Transport Victoria.
15. "11 West Preston - Victoria Harbour Docklands". Public Transport Victoria.
16. "86 Bundoora RMIT - Waterfront City Docklands". Public Transport Victoria.

External links

• Melway map at street-directory.com.au

• Railway stations in Australia opened in 1889
• Railway stations in the City of Darebin