Melbourne’s busy South Yarra Station is to receive $12 million in upgrades including a layout change and upgrades to the nearby tram stops, with funding to be included in the Andrews Labor government’s 2018-19 state budget.
Focussed on improving accessibility, the upgrade will include widening the station entrance on Toorak Road and an expansion of the layout of the station building itself, with hopes that queueing can be reduced during the peak hours.
The tram stops opposite South Yarra Station will also receive upgrades, allowing people with a disability to move between the tram stop and the station safely and under cover.
“We know South Yarra is busy – that’s why we’re making it quicker and easier to get out of the station, particularly during the peak,” state transport minister Jacinta Allan said.
“These works, combined with the Metro Tunnel, will mean less queues and more trains for South Yarra Station to get people home faster and more comfortably.”
By unclogging the City Loop the Metro Tunnel is projected to enable more trains to run on Melbourne’s network, with 48 per cent increase in passenger capacity expected on the Sandringham line, and allow services to stop at South Yarra Station every two minutes during peak hours.
The South Yarra upgrade plan comes in lieu of a mooted integration of the station with the Metro tunnel project through a new interchange – an idea favoured by both the Greens and the Liberals but rejected by the Labor government.
Indeed, the government’s Melbourne Metro Rail Authority has rated the economic case for integrating South Yarra with the tunnel project as “very poor”, stating that the cost and the level of disruption would outweigh any benefits.
Planning for the upgrade project will reportedly get under right away, while the works themselves are expected to begin in early 2019 and finish by the end of that year.
Planners will also investigate long-term options for additional station access points, improved cycling facilities, and better integration with the surrounding area.
Consultations will be carried out with the City of Stonnington, as well as local businesses and residents.