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.[4]
Initially opened as Northcote, the station was given its current name of Merri on 10 December 1906.[4]
Merri station opened on 8 October 1889, when the Inner Circle line was extended from North Fitzroy to Reservoir.[4] 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.",[5] while land sale plans advertised the upcoming construction of the Grand Central Junction Station".[6]
In 1910, the station building was rebuilt to accommodate an increased population in the area.[7]
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.[8] In 1986, these gates were replaced with boom barriers.[9][10] In 1987, the signal box was abolished.[4]
In 1973, both platforms were extended at the down end of the station.[4]
During October 1987, the double line block system between Merri – Northcote was abolished, and replaced with three position signalling,[11] with all two position signals between Merri – Thornbury also abolished.[11]
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.[12] The development process will begin in late 2022 or early 2023, with a timeline for the upgrades to be released once construction has begun.
Merri has two side platforms. It is served by Mernda line trains.[13]
Platform 1:
Platform 2:
Dysons operates one bus route via Merri station:
Yarra Trams operates two routes via Merri station:
: West Preston – Victoria Harbour (Docklands)[15]
: Bundoora RMIT – Waterfront City (Docklands)[16]
