Pakenham railway station

Pakenham station opened 8 October 1877, when the railway line from Dandenong was extended.[4] Like the suburb itself, the station is named after Sir Edward Michael Pakenham, a Major General who served in the Peninsular War.[5]

In 1938, flashing light signals were provided at the Main Street level crossing, located at the up end of the station.[4]

Initially single track, in 1954, the railway line between Pakenham and Nar Nar Goon was duplicated.[4] In 1955, the line between Pakenham and Officer was duplicated[4] and, in 1959, the current island platform was provided, when duplication occurred through the station.[6]

On 19 January 1975, electrified suburban services were extended to the station.[7] A crossover was also provided at the up end of the station around this time.[8] During 1979–1980, the current pebblestone station building was provided.[9]

On 16 April 1980, Pakenham was the scene of a collision between Hitachi carriage 353D and guards van 286ZL. The guards van was destroyed in the collision, and the Hitachi carriage was later scrapped.[10]

In 1986, boom barriers were provided at the Main Street level crossing.[11][12]

On 15 March 1997, Pakenham was upgraded to a premium station.[13] Since 2001, it has been the extremity of the electrified network.

On 9 March 2011, a Siemens train over-ran No. 5 road near the station, crashing into a stanchion.[14][15]

In March 2014, it was announced that a new train servicing facility would be built at Pakenham East, to service the High Capacity Metro Trains.[16]

The Main Street level crossing is scheduled to be grade separated by 2023–2024, as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project.[17] A rail bridge will be built over the road, and will include a brand new rebuilt station.[17] As part of this project, two other crossings in Pakenham are scheduled to be removed, and the line extended approximately 2 km (1.2 mi) to a new station at East Pakenham.[17]

Pakenham has one island platform with two faces. It is serviced by Metro Trains' Pakenham line services, and V/Line Traralgon and Bairnsdale line services.[18][19][20] Suburban services generally use Platform 1, with westbound V/Line services often crossing to Platform 2 to pass any suburban service.

Platform 1:

•  Pakenham line  all stations and limited express services to Flinders Street
•  Gippsland line  V/Line services to Southern Cross

Platform 2:

•  Pakenham line  all stations and limited express services to Flinders Street
•  Gippsland line  V/Line services to Southern Cross, Traralgon and Bairnsdale

By late 2025, it is planned that trains on the Pakenham line will be through-routed with those on the Sunbury line, via the new Metro Tunnel.

Ventura Bus Lines operates seven routes via Pakenham station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

•  840 : Gembrook – Pakenham[21]
•  925 : to Lakeside (Pakenham)[22]
•  926 : to Westfield Fountain Gate[23]
•  927 : to Pakenham North (via The Avenue)[24]
•  928 : to Cardinia Road station[25]
•  929 : to Pakenham North (via Army Road and Windermere Boulevard)[26]
• to Koo Wee Rup (unnumbered route and does not show on the relevant Public Transport Victoria local area map)[27][28]

Warragul Bus Lines operates one route to and from Pakenham station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

• to Garfield station[29]

• 
  Eastbound view of Platform 2 in December 2006

• Media related to Pakenham railway station, Melbourne at Wikimedia Commons
• Melway map at street-directory.com.au