Keon Park railway station, Melbourne
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Keon Park Railway Station (station code: KPK) opened in 1929 and is located on the border of Reservoir and Thomastown. It was initially named Keonpark, and renamed Keon Park by 1972. The part of Reservoir east of the railway line and south of Keon Parade is sometimes known as Keon Park, and many of the shops in Johnston Street (which runs parallel to the railway line) include Keon Park in their names.
This is an unmanned station with limited facilities approximately 35–40 minutes north of Melbourne by train. This station is the end of the continuous, double track that runs from the city as only a single track leads north towards Thomastown. The island platform runs approximately north/south parallel to High St with a single entrance at the south end on Keon Parade. Platform 1 (the west side) is exclusively for Epping bound trains while Platform 2 (the east side) is exclusively for city bound trains.
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Entrance
There is a single Metcard vending machine that takes Australian notes and EFTPOS payments as well as coins. There are two ticket validators at the entrance to the platform. The nearest, alternative ticket-purchasing point is the Keon Park Newsagency near the corner of Johnson St and Keon Parade, but this only stocks a limited range of tickets and does not offer credit card payment facilities for these tickets.
There is a Telstra Payphone which accepts smart phone card or coin payments near the ticket vending machines outside the area where tickets must be validated. There are also a number of notice boards in this area which display useful information such as timetables showing all scheduled services to and from the city with stopping times at all stations. Other posters show current events supported by Connex, who maintain the station, or advertising planned service alterations. Another use for this space is advertising monthly performance results. There is a single rubbish bin in this area which is emptied daily.
There is a building in this area that may once have held a ticket booth; however, the Metcard machines now block the space where a service window once would have been. There is a metal roller door (similar to a garage door) that can be lowered blocking access to the machines, but this is raised at all times when trains are running.
There is good wheelchair access to the station by a short ramp up from street level and no steps that must be traversed.
Waiting Area
Keon_Park_Safety_Zone.jpg
Immediately beyond the validators and to the left (west) there is a semi sheltered waiting area. This has walls on two and a half sides and a roof and offers limited protection from the wind and reasonable protection from the rain. This area has continuous bench seating along the length of the walls and is generally the best place to wait for trains — however, during the morning peak hour this area often has smokers, which can make the area unattractive to non-smokers.
Immediately beyond the validators to the right (east) there is an automated information board with two buttons — one red and one green — but there is no visual display at this station. The ground in front of this board is painted with bright yellow lines and marked as a "safety zone". It is monitored by several security cameras. Pressing the red button calls emergency services. Pressing the green button plays a recorded message advising when the next few trains in each direction are scheduled and how many minutes to their actual arrival.
Platforms
The platforms stretch to the north with a drain down their centre for most of their length. There are 4 seats on alternating sides of this drain along the length of the platform and a rubbish bin at the south end of each seat (these bins are emptied daily). There are no recycling facilities.
There are a series of numbered light poles along the length of the platform which also support signage and speakers which announce approaching trains. This public address system also announces delayed or cancelled train services.
There is a disused toilet block just north of the waiting area. This is always locked but still looks serviceable with separate men's and women's toilets. It is possible to walk completely around this building following the removal of a security fence that blocked access between the back of this building and the waiting area until 2004.
There is a set of metal steps at the far north end of the platform with a well worn trail leading to the High St footpath; however, signs state that heavy penalties apply to anybody leaving the platform this way.
Level Crossing
Immediately south of the station there is a major level crossing on Keon Parade, which is a major divided road. There are two gates on each side of the road and automated pedestrian gates on both sides of the road. On the north side of Keon Parade the gates operate independently so that you may cross the eastern track when the boom gates are down for an Epping bound train but not cross the western track, thus allowing access to the platform which lies between the tracks. On the south side of Keon Parade the pedestrian gates are linked so if one is closed then both are closed.
High St runs parallel to the railway line and there are good pedestrian lights for crossing in all directions a short distance from the platform exit.
Car Park
There is a 70-space, sealed car park on the east side of the station that is well lit at all times. This car park is generally full between morning and evening peak hours as a number of commuters drive to this station then catch a train to work. There is vacant railway land the width of the car park running the length of the platform and beyond which could be used for a future expansion of this facility if ever justified by future demand. This land is occasionally used to store piles of ballast before it is spread out beneath the tracks.
Limited wheelchair/disabled parking is available.
Connecting Services
The 560 bus service from Broadmeadows to Northland stops on the north side of Keon Parade a short distance to the east of the station, just beyond the car park. There is a stop for the return service from Northland to Broadmeadows almost directly opposite near the corner of Johnston St.
The 555 bus service from Northland to Epping Plaza runs north along high street and south west along Hughes Parade.
The Epping Nightrider bus travels along High St and stops at the 555 bus stops near Keon Park station following the last train on Friday night/Saturday morning and Saturday night/Sunday morning.
External links
- Station facilities (http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/station_info/station_info_station_res.php?STATION=103)
- Timetables (http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/timetables/landmark_search_results.php?LANDMARK=327)