Rockbank railway station

The station opened as Mount Atkinson on 2 April 1884, at the same time as the Serviceton line through it, and was renamed Rockbank in 1889. Being on a single track railway line, it provided a crossing loop for trains, and continued to do so until 2019.[2] By 1914, it had a three-road yard, a passenger platform on the southern track, a goods platform on the northern track, and an interlocked signal box.[3] The station served the local farming community. With a chaff mill established in the 1890s, and the recreation reserve and tennis club located nearby, the station became the focus of the Rockbank community.[4]

In 1960, the crossing loop was extended for longer trains of up to 730 metres, and a short platform was provided on the loop road. In 1976, Centralised Traffic Control was provided on the line from Sunshine to Rockbank. Also in that year, flashing light signals were provided at the Leakes Road level crossing,[2] located nearby in the up direction of the station.[2] By the 1970s, the mill was disused, and the station building was demolished circa 1985. In 1986, the yard was rationalised to a main line and crossing loop and, in 1990, the mechanical signals and points were removed, and replaced by remotely controlled signalling, operated from the Bacchus Marsh signal box. The former northern platform (was Platform 2, now Platform 1) was not provided until 1992,[5] replacing the former short platform.

In 2002, boom barriers were provided at the Leakes Road level crossing.[2][3] In 2005, control of the signals was transferred to the Ballarat signal box, as part of the Regional Fast Rail project.[3]

In March 2018, as part of the Regional Rail Revival project, work began on the reconstruction of the station.[6][7] The two side platforms were completely rebuilt to fit six-carriage VLocity trains, and an accessible pedestrian overpass was installed over the tracks, accessed by lifts, ramps and stairs. The upgraded station had a new sealed car park for over 350 cars, new bus and taxi bays, secure bike storage areas, and drop-off zones. On 26 August 2019, the rebuilt station was opened to passengers.[8] The project also involved 18 km of duplication of track between Deer Park West and Melton. It was provided in late 2019, coinciding with the opening of Cobblebank.[2][9][10]

First announced by the Andrews State Government in 2018, the station is set to be integrated into the metropolitan railway network, as part of the Western Rail Plan.[11]

Rockbank has two side platforms. It is served by V/Line Ballarat and Ararat line trains.[12]

Platform 1:

•  Ballarat line  services to Southern Cross
•  Ararat line  services to Southern Cross
•  Maryborough line  one daily service to Southern Cross

Platform 2:

•  Ballarat line  services to Melton, Bacchus Marsh and Wendouree
•  Ararat line  services to Ararat

Transit Systems Victoria operates two routes via Rockbank station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

•  444 : to Aintree
•  456 : Sunshine station – Woodgrove Shopping Centre (Melton)[13]

• Media related to Rockbank railway station, Melbourne at Wikimedia Commons
• Rail Geelong gallery
• Victorian Railway Stations gallery
• Melway map at street-directory.com.au