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{{Short description|
{{about|the underground railway line|the surface-level tram line|City Circle Tram|the "city loop" in Sydney|City Circle}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2022}}
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| name = City Loop
| logo = {{ric|Melbourne|City Loop|size=100px}}
| image = Melbourne Central
| image_alt = Platforms at Melbourne Central station on the City Loop,
| caption = Platform at [[Melbourne Central railway station|Melbourne
| yearcommenced = 1971
| open = 1981
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| connectinglines =
| electrification = {{1,500 V DC}} [[overhead line|overhead catenary]]
| map = {{
| map_state = collapsed
}}
The '''City Loop''' (originally called the '''Melbourne Underground Rail Loop''' or '''MURL''') is a piece of [[rapid transit|underground]] [[commuter rail]] infrastructure in the [[Melbourne central business district|central business district]] (CBD) of [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (
The
Eleven metropolitan lines of the [[Railways in Melbourne|Melbourne rail network]] run through the City Loop, organised into four separate groups, the Burnley/City Circle, Caulfield, Clifton Hill, and Northern groups. Each group has its own dedicated single-track tunnel, with trains running on balloon loops around the CBD. The Loop follows [[La Trobe Street|La Trobe]] and [[Spring Street, Melbourne|Spring Street]]s along the northern and eastern edges of the CBD's [[Hoddle Grid|street grid.]]
Although concepts for an underground railway had been raised since the 1920s, planning was not seriously progressed until the 1960s. The 1970 Melbourne Underground Rail Loop Act finalised the design and established an authority to oversee construction of the project. Tunnelling works began in 1972 and the Loop commenced operation in 1981 with the opening of Museum station, now Melbourne Central. The loop was fully complete in 1985 with the opening of Flagstaff station.
A new CBD rail tunnel, the [[Metro Tunnel]], is
==History==
Before the City Loop was constructed, Flinders Street and Spencer Street (now called [[Southern Cross railway station|Southern Cross]]) stations were connected only by the four track [[Flinders Street Viaduct]]
Several plans had been proposed over the preceding decades to alleviate the [[Bottleneck (traffic)|bottleneck]]. The one that was adopted was the building of a circular railway allowing trains to continue past
[[File:Plan of Proposed Melbourne Underground Railway c1930-50.jpg|alt=Map of the Melbourne Town Planning Commission's 1929 plan for a city rail tunnel, a precursor to the City Loop.|thumb|Melbourne Town Planning Commission's 1929 plan for a city rail tunnel, a precursor to the City Loop.]]▼
===Planning===
▲[[File:Plan of Proposed Melbourne Underground Railway c1930-50.jpg|alt=Map of the Melbourne Town Planning Commission's 1929 plan for a city rail tunnel, a precursor to the City Loop.|thumb|Melbourne Town Planning Commission's 1929 plan for a city rail tunnel, a precursor to the City Loop.]]
Plans for an underground city railway in Melbourne are almost as old as electrification of the network itself. In 1929, the [[Metropolitan Town Planning Commission]] released a report recommending an underground city bypass from [[Richmond railway station, Melbourne|Richmond]] to [[North Melbourne railway station|North Melbourne]] stations via [[Exhibition Street|Exhibition]] and [[Victoria Street, Melbourne|Victoria]] streets.<ref name=lf>{{cite web
|url=http://rtsa.com.au/assets/2008/03/rapid-transit-by-l-fouvy.pdf
Line 61 ⟶ 50:
|title=The Melbourne Region's Opportunity and need for Rapid Transit
|publisher=Railway Technical Society of Australasia
|access-date=
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080721025337/http://rtsa.com.au/assets/2008/03/rapid-transit-by-l-fouvy.pdf
|archive-date=21 July 2008
}}</ref> The 1940 [[Victorian Railways]] [[Ashworth Improvement Plan]] recommended a different approach, with additional platforms at the [[Flinders Street railway station|Flinders Street]]/[[Princes Bridge railway station|Princes Bridge]] station complex to be built over two levels, along with a connection to an underground City Railway.<ref name=elect32 >{{cite book | author = S.E. Dornan and R.G. Henderson | title = Electric Railways of Victoria | publisher = Australian Electric Traction Society | page = 32| year = 1979 | isbn = 0-909459-06-1 }}</ref> The Victorian Railways promoted another route in 1950 as part of the [[Operation Phoenix (railway)|Operation Phoenix]] rehabilitation plan, the line running from [[Richmond railway station,
A Parliamentary Committee on Public Works reported favourably on a city loop in 1954, and in 1958 a City Underground Railway Committee was appointed by the [[Transport Minister]]. It stated bluntly that the aim of the loop was not just to relieve crowding at Flinders Street, but to win back [[patronage (transportation)|patronage]] from [[private railroad car|private cars]], and if it did not then the project was a waste of time and resources.<ref name=lee190>{{cite book |author=Lee, Robert |title=The Railways of Victoria 1854–2004 |publisher=[[Melbourne University Publishing]] |year=2007 |isbn= 978-0-522-85134-2 |page=190}}</ref> The plan included four stations, being cut to the present three by the elimination of one under Latrobe Street.<ref name="elect92" />
Line 76 ⟶ 65:
[[File:Melbourne City Loop Museum Station, now Melbourne Central, under construction 1974 on the corner of La Trobe and Swanston Streets 1.jpg|thumb|Construction of Museum station in July 1974, showing cut and cover excavation of [[La Trobe Street]], with the [[State Library Victoria|State Library of Victoria]] in the background.|alt=Construction of Museum station in July 1974, showing cut and cover excavation of La Trobe Street, with the State Library of Victoria in the background.]]
Following the [[1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan]], the Melbourne Underground Rail Loop Act 1970 was introduced into parliament by Transport Minister [[Vernon Wilcox]], and the Melbourne Underground Rail Loop Authority (MURLA) was created on 1 January 1971 to oversee the construction and operation of the
The project was financed using [[debenture]]s, with the State Government paying 60% of the cost and a special city levy from 1963 funding the remainder. The levy was supposed to be in place for forty years (until 2003), but was ended in 1995.<ref name=lee191 /> A consortium of four engineering companies was established to construct the project: one from Australia, one from the United Kingdom, one from Canada and one from the United States of America. On 22 June 1971, the [[groundbreaking|first sod]] of the project was turned by Wilcox in the middle of the [[Jolimont Yard|Jolimont rail yards]].<ref>Melbourne Undergrund Loop: Construction Work Inaugurated ''[[Railway Transportation]]'' August 1971 pages 19-22, 36</ref><ref>Melbourne's underground takes shape ''[[Network (periodical)|Network]]'' September 1971 page 1</ref><ref name="elect93" >{{cite book | author = S.E. Dornan and R.G. Henderson | title = Electric Railways of Victoria | publisher = Australian Electric Traction Society | page = 93 | year = 1979 | isbn = 0-909459-06-1 }}</ref>
[[File:Melbourne City Loop Museum Station, now Melbourne Central, under construction 1974 with Coop's Shot Tower 1.jpg|thumb|Construction of Museum station in July 1974 looking towards [[Coop's Shot Tower]].|alt=Construction of Museum station in July 1974 looking towards Coop's Shot Tower.]]
Line 84 ⟶ 73:
[[Tunnel]]ling works under the city streets commenced in June 1972, using a [[tunnel boring machine]] built by Richmond engineering firm [[Jaques Limited]].<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/key-role-in-digging-rail-loop-20100523-w3zf.html ''The Age'' 24 May 2010, 'Key role in digging rail loop' Obituary GEOFFREY KEEGAN, AM, ENGINEER, CONSULTANT 20-10-1924 – 22-4-2010]</ref> as well as conventional boring methods. At North Melbourne, Spencer Street and Jolimont Yard, [[cut and cover]] tunnelling was used to build the access ramps, with the above ground running lines being slewed from time to time as work proceeded. The first completed [[tunnel]] was the [[Burnley, Victoria|Burnley]] Loop, with the final [[Tunnel hole-through|breakthrough]] made on 8 June 1977 near the Museum station site.<ref name="elect93" />
The
The total length of tunnels in the
[[File:Promotional poster for Museum Station, Melbourne, now Melbourne Central - Beginning a new era - Stage 1 of the City Loop, c. 1981.jpg|alt=Promotional poster to celebrate the opening of Museum station, now Melbourne Central, in 1981, with illustration of station platform.|thumb|Promotional poster to celebrate the opening of Museum station, now Melbourne Central, in 1981.]]
A "double sleeper" floating track system was used to solve the problem of ground-transmitted vibration and track noise, and the loop has some of the best-designed and quietest underground stations in the world.<ref name="lee191" /> At the time of its construction, Parliament station had the Southern Hemisphere's longest escalators.<ref name="murlbook">{{cite web |author=Metropolitan Transport Authority |title=MURL Booklet |url=http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/doi/doielect.nsf/2a6bd98dee287482ca256915001cff0c/44507f9d12a4406cca25700c0012fe36/$FILE/MURL%20booklet.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090628211644/http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/doi/doielect.nsf/2a6bd98dee287482ca256915001cff0c/44507f9d12a4406cca25700c0012fe36/$FILE/MURL%20booklet.pdf |archive-date=28 June 2009 |access-date=
Traction power was turned on in October 1980,<ref name="doi">{{cite web |url=http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/Doi/Internet/transport.nsf/AllDocs/74164766E0CEAF95CA25700500122952?OpenDocument |title=Public transport – City Loop history |author=Department of Infrastructure|publisher=doi.vic.gov.au |access-date=
===Opening===
[[Elizabeth II
===Recent===
In 2021, seven-car [[High Capacity Metro Train]]s were introduced to the City Loop on the Caulfield tunnel.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Hui |first=Jin |date=24 February 2021
In January 2023, the City Loop and its three stations were closed for two weeks to allow for major safety upgrades to the stations and tunnels.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Department of Transport |first=Victorian |date=2022 |title=City Loop upgrade powering ahead |url=https://transport.vic.gov.au/about/transport-news/news-archive/city-loop-upgrade-powering-ahead}}</ref> The works will upgrade smoke detection systems, extraction systems, fire detection, fire hydrants, CCTV, and intruder-detection systems.<ref
==Future==
Line 106 ⟶ 95:
{{Main|Metro Tunnel}}
[[File:Melbourne Metro Rail Tunnel route map blue.svg|thumb|A map of the under-construction [[Metro Tunnel]], showing two CBD interchange stations with the City Loop.]]
Construction began in 2017 on the Metro Tunnel, a new heavy rail tunnel through the [[Melbourne
This Metro Tunnel will create a new cross-city rail corridor, upgrading and connecting the [[Pakenham railway line|Pakenham]] and [[Cranbourne railway line|Cranbourne]] lines in Melbourne's south-east to the [[Sunbury railway line|Sunbury line]] in Melbourne's north-west.<ref name=":7" /> Once complete the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines will be taken out of the City Loop, allowing for an increase in services on the [[Craigieburn railway line|Craigieburn]] and [[Upfield railway line|Upfield]] lines.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Cowburn |first=Brodie |date=7 December 2020
===Reconfiguration===
[[File:Network Development Plan Metropolitan Rail stage 4 map.png|thumb|Diagram of stage 4 of the [[Network Development Plan – Metropolitan Rail]], including the reconfigured City Loop.]]
The [[Network Development Plan – Metropolitan Rail]] in 2012 proposed reconfiguring the City Loop. Once complete, the reconfiguration would help the network to run seven independent lines with dedicated access in the CBD.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=PTV Network Development Plan Metropolitan Rail Overview |url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/PTV-default-site/footer/legal-and-policies/growing-our-rail-network-2018-2025/PTV_Network-Development-Plan_Metropolitan-Rail_Overview_2016update.pdf |access-date=18 December 2012 |website=Public Transport Victoria}}</ref> The proposal was again included in the 30-year Infrastructure Strategy for 2021–2051 from the independent government advisory body [[Infrastructure Victoria]], as recommendation 60.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=Victoria's Infrastructure Strategy 2021–2051 |url=https://www.infrastructurevictoria.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/1.-Victorias-infrastructure-strategy-2021-2051-Vol-1.pdf |website=Infrastructure Victoria}}</ref>
The project would see up to
The main purpose of reconfiguring the City Loop is to allow more services to operate across the network using existing infrastructure.<ref name=":5" /> Infrastructure Victoria in its 30-year strategy argued the [[Craigieburn railway line|Craigieburn metropolitan line]], the [[Tocumwal railway line, Victoria|Shepparton regional line]] and the [[Seymour V/Line rail service|Seymour regional line]] would reach capacity in the 2030s, and the City Loop would be heavily congested by 2036.<ref name=":6" /> After the Metro Tunnel opens, services would still be constrained by the Craigieburn line sharing a single City Loop track with the [[Upfield railway line|Upfield line]].<ref name=":6" /> Reconfiguration would allow both lines to run more services, and allow more frequent services on the [[Glen Waverley railway line|Glen Waverley]] and [[Frankston railway line|Frankston]] lines.<ref name=":6" />
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==Layout==
[[File:City Loop interior.jpg|thumb|Inside a section of bored tunnel in 2004.|alt=City Loop Melbourne tunnel interior, 2004.]]The City Loop consists of four independent single-track tunnels, and services operate as four [[
==Services and direction of travel==
[[File:
All metropolitan lines on the [[Railways in Melbourne|Melbourne rail network]] except for the [[Stony Point railway line|Stony Point]] line serve [[Flinders Street railway station|Flinders Street station]], but not all of these lines serve the City Loop.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Victorian Train Network Map |url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/PTV-default-site/Maps-and-Timetables-PDFs/Maps/Network-maps/Victorian-train-network-map.pdf |access-date=16 January 2023 |website=Public Transport VictoriA}}</ref> Trains on the Frankston line operate to Werribee and Williamstown via Flinders Street while Sandringham services operate directly to Flinders Street in both directions.<ref name=":0" />
The eleven remaining metropolitan lines serve the City Loop and are organised into four separate groups: Burnley, Caulfield, Clifton Hill, and Northern. Each group has its own dedicated single track tunnel, and carries several lines. The Alamein, Belgrave, Craigieburn, Cranbourne, Glen Waverley, Hurstbridge, Lilydale, Mernda, Pakenham, Sunbury, and Upfield lines all run through the
Stopping patterns alternate during weekdays on the Northern and Burnley Groups, with trains switching directions during the day, whereas on the Clifton Hill and Caulfield groups stopping patterns remain consistent all day.<ref name=":0" />
===Burnley group===
{{Main|Alamein railway line|Belgrave railway line|Glen Waverley railway line|Lilydale railway line}}
The Burnley group consists of the Belgrave, Lilydale, Alamein, and Glen Waverley railway lines. The line is one of two that change operations in the middle of the day. Trains operate anti-clockwise through the loop during weekday mornings and clockwise during weekday afternoons and weekends.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Guide to navigating the City Loop {{!}} Public Transport Users Association (Victoria, Australia) |url=https://www.ptua.org.au/tips/loop/ |access-date=
Prior to 2011, Glen Waverley trains operated via the City Loop during morning peak, while Alamein and Blackburn services operated direct to Flinders Street.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 March 2011
===Caulfield group===
{{Main|Cranbourne railway line|Pakenham railway line}}
[[File:
The Caulfield group consists of the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines. The line operates anti-clockwise through the City Loop all day, entering the Loop at Parliament and leaving at Flinders Street.<ref name=":0" />
Major changes were made to the Northern and Caulfield group tunnels in 2021. Previously, the Frankston and Sandringham lines also operated via the Caulfield tunnel. Services also operated clockwise during weekday afternoons while running anti-clockwise during weekday mornings and weekends.<ref>{{Cite web |title=280 extra Metro services coming in January |url=https://www.metrotrains.com.au/280-extra-metro-services-coming-in-january/ |access-date=
When the Metro Tunnel opens in 2025, Pakenham and Cranbourne services will be pulled out of the
===Clifton Hill City circle group===
{{Main|Hurstbridge railway line|Mernda railway line}}
The Clifton Hill/City
Prior to 2008, services operated anti-clockwise during weekday mornings similar to the Burnley Group. From 2008 to 2013 services ran clockwise on weekdays and anti-clockwise on weekends.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 August 2022
There Is also the City circle group the City circle Line runs from Flinders Street to Southern Cross then to
flagstaff to Melbourne Central to parliament and then back to Flinders Street
The city circle Line is only used when the city loop is closed off to the other rail lines for works or for major events.it runs only anti-clockwise.
▲Prior to 2008, services operated anti-clockwise during weekday mornings similar to the Burnley Group. From 2008 to 2013 services ran clockwise on weekdays and anti-clockwise on weekends.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-07 |title=Were there more trains 100 years ago? (Part three) |url=https://www.danielbowen.com/2022/08/07/timetables-100-years-3-mernda-hurstbridge/ |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=Daniel Bowen |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-07-20 |title=Train timetable changes – first stage effective 27 April 2008 – Metlink – Your guide to public transport in Melbourne and Victoria |url=http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/news/media_releases/metropolitan_trains/train_timetable_changes_first_stage_effective_27_april_2008 |access-date=2023-01-15 |archive-date=20 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720064336/http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/news/media_releases/metropolitan_trains/train_timetable_changes_first_stage_effective_27_april_2008 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> The main reason for the current operational direction is because of the flat junction at [[Jolimont railway station|Jolimont]], which prevents inbound trains from running anti-clockwise without crossing the outbound tracks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-04-06 |title=How many trains in peak compared to the past? And how full are the tracks? |url=https://www.danielbowen.com/2015/04/07/how-many-trains-in-peak/ |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=Daniel Bowen |language=en-AU}}</ref>[[File:City-loop-exit-spencer-street.jpg|thumb|[[Comeng (train)|Comeng]] train exiting the Caulfield Group tunnel at Southern Cross|alt=Train exiting the City Loop in Melbourne near Southern Cross station.]]
The Clifton Hill tunnel is the only tunnel able to operate as a full loop as the tunnel breaks off towards both Jolimont and Flinders Street after Parliament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=VICSIG |url=https://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/Clifton-Hill-Loop |access-date=
===Northern group===
{{Main|Craigieburn railway line|Sunbury railway line|Upfield railway line}}The Northern group consists of the Craigieburn, Sunbury, and Upfield lines. Services operate clockwise on weekday mornings and weekends and operate anti-clockwise during weekday afternoons and evenings.<ref name=":0" />
On 31 January 2021, there were major changes to the Northern and Caulfield group tunnels. Prior to this, Werribee services also operated through the loop during weekends, but the line was rerouted to operate to Frankston to increase service reliability on both the Cross-City and Northern groups.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Building A Train Network For The Future {{!}} Premier of Victoria |url=http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/building-train-network-future |access-date=
In 2025, Sunbury services will cease operation in the City Loop and will instead connect with the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines via the new Metro Tunnel, allowing greater service frequency on the Craigieburn and Upfield lines.<ref name=":10" />
Line 166 ⟶ 162:
===Summary table===
{| class="wikitable"
! width="12%" |Platform number
! width="22%" |1
! width="22%" |2
! width="22%" |3
! width="22%" |4
|-
! rowspan="2" |Lines
|'''[[Metro Trains Melbourne#Clifton Hill City circle Group|Clifton Hill
City circle group]]''' |'''[[Metro Trains Melbourne#Caulfield Group|Caulfield group]]'''
|'''[[Metro Trains Melbourne#Northern Group|Northern group]]'''
|'''[[Metro Trains Melbourne#Burnley Group|Burnley group]]'''
|-
|{{RouteBox|Hurstbridge|Hurstbridge
|{{RouteBox|Cranbourne|Cranbourne
|{{RouteBox|Craigieburn|Craigieburn
|{{RouteBox|Alamein|Alamein
|-
!Weekday mornings
Line 197 ⟶ 194:
|-
!Notes
|
For the Clifton Hill group there is also the City circle loop that runs from Flinders Street through the city loop and back to Flinders Street but it only runs when the city loop is closed for construction work or for major city events it runs only anti-clockwise.
|In 2025, Cranbourne & Pakenham services will cease operation in the City Loop▼
|In 2025,
|Alamein trains only operate via the City Loop weekdays. ▼
▲|Alamein trains only operate via the City Loop on weekdays.
|}
==Stations==
[[File:
The City Loop has three underground railway stations at Parliament, Melbourne Central, and Flagstaff. The stations were opened in the 1980s, with Melbourne Central being the oldest, opening in 1981, and Flagstaff the last to open in 1985.<ref name=":12" /> Each railway station features four tracks with two island platforms stacked on top of each other.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bZZdDwAAQBAJ |title=Australia's Railways |publisher=Alison Hideki |year=2018 |pages=21|isbn=9781925630763 }}</ref>
===Parliament===
{{Main|Parliament railway station}}Parliament station opened in 1983 and serves the eastern end of the CBD. The station has entrances on [[Lonsdale Street]] and on Macarthur Street.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pedestrian access changes at Parliament Station |url=https://www.metrotrains.com.au/planned-works/pedestrian-access-changes-at-parliament-station/ |access-date=
===Melbourne Central===
{{Main|2 = Melbourne Central railway station}}▼
[[File:Melbourne Central Station Entrance 2017.jpg|alt=Melbourne Central Station fare gates in 2017.|thumb|Melbourne Central Station fare gates in 2017.]]
▲{{Main|2 = Melbourne Central railway station}}
Melbourne Central opened in 1981 as Museum Station. The station received its original name from the [[Melbourne Museum]], which was located within the [[State Library Victoria|State Library of Victoria]]. The station's name was change in 1997 to Melbourne Central following the 1991 redevelopment of the site above the station to [[Melbourne Central Shopping Centre]] and the relocation of the Melbourne Museum to a new building in [[Carlton Gardens]].<ref name=":33">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bZZdDwAAQBAJ |title=Australia's Railways |publisher=Alison Hideki |year=2018 |pages=20|isbn=9781925630763 }}</ref> Melbourne Central station is unique as it has only one direct street-facing entrance to the station on [[Elizabeth Street, Melbourne|Elizabeth Street]], with a second entrance located inside of the shopping centre. The station interchanges with 15 bus routes on Lonsdale Street, three tram routes on Elizabeth street, eight tram routes on [[Swanston Street]] and two tram routes on [[La Trobe Street]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Victoria |first=Public Transport |title=Melbourne Central/Lonsdale St |url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/stop/ |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=Public Transport Victoria |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Victoria |first=Public Transport |title=Melbourne Central Station/Elizabeth St #5 |url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/stop/ |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=Public Transport Victoria |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Victoria |first=Public Transport |title=Melbourne Central Station/Swanston St #8 |url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/stop/ |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=Public Transport Victoria |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Victoria |first=Public Transport |title=Swanston St/La Trobe St #6 |url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/stop/ |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=Public Transport Victoria |language=en-GB}}</ref>▼
Melbourne Central opened in 1981 as Museum Station. The station received its original name from the [[Melbourne Museum]], which was located within the [[State Library Victoria|State Library of Victoria]]. The station's name was changed in 1997 to Melbourne Central following the 1991 redevelopment of the site above the station to [[Melbourne Central Shopping Centre]] and the relocation of the Melbourne Museum to a new building in [[Carlton Gardens]].<ref name=":32"/>
▲
===Flagstaff===▼
{{Main|3 = Flagstaff railway station}}[[File:Xtrapolis-train-flagstaff-station-melbourne.jpg|thumb|Flagstaff Station platform in 2006.|alt=Flagstaff Station platform in 2006.]]Flagstaff station opened in 1985 and serves the Western end of the CBD.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |title=What year did your railway station open? {{!}} Public Transport Users Association (Victoria, Australia) |url=https://www.ptua.org.au/2018/08/03/railway-stations-years-opened/ |access-date=2023-01-16 |language=en-AU}}</ref> The station owes its name because of its proximity to [[Flagstaff Gardens]], which is just north of the station.<ref name=":32">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bZZdDwAAQBAJ |title=Australia's Railways |publisher=Alison Hideki |year=2018 |pages=20|isbn=9781925630763 }}</ref> The station features two entrances on the [[William Street, Melbourne|William]]/[[La Trobe Street|La Trobe]] street intersection. The station interchanges with two tram routes on Latrobe Street and two tram routes on William Street<ref>{{Cite web |last=Victoria |first=Public Transport |title=Flagstaff Railway Station/William St #7 |url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/stop/ |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=Public Transport Victoria |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Victoria |first=Public Transport |title=William St/La Trobe St #3 |url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/stop/ |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=Public Transport Victoria |language=en-GB}}</ref>▼
▲===Flagstaff===
[[File:Flagstaff station platform 1 on Melbourne City Loop, July 2023.jpg|alt=Flagstaff station platform in 2023.|thumb|Flagstaff station platform in 2023.]]
▲{{Main|3 = Flagstaff railway station}}
{{-}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
Line 234 ⟶ 238:
[[Category:Tunnels completed in 1981]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Melbourne]]
[[Category:Railway tunnels in Victoria (
[[Category:Railway loop lines]]
[[Category:Underground commuter rail]]
[[Category:Melbourne City Centre]]
[[Category:Public transport routes in the City of Melbourne (LGA)]]
[[Category:1500 V DC railway electrification]]
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