Southern Cross railway station

The 1880s saw the first of several grand but unrealised plans for the station. The first accepted design, drafted by Albert Charles Cook in 1883, was a fanciful Palladian palazzo design of two and three storeys, with a central portico.[10]

From 1888 to 1894, the layout of the platforms was altered, with new country platforms being built on an angle to Spencer Street itself. The current coach terminal location was the site of a number of new platforms built for suburban services.[7]

In 1891, further plans were made for a significant new station complex, including three-storey office complex and dominant clock tower, reminiscent of the later Sydney Central station,[11] but the 1890s Depression put an end to such expensive schemes.

In 1888, work started on the double track Flinders Street Viaduct linking the station to Flinders Street station. The line was initially only used by freight trains, with passenger train operations commencing in 1894.[12] It was at that time that the first through platform was provided at the station, used by suburban trains from Essendon and Williamstown.[9] The viaduct to Flinders Street was expanded to four tracks in 1915,[12] and, in conjunction with the electrification works on the suburban network, today's platforms 11 to 14 were opened between 1918 and 1924, along with a pedestrian subway providing access to them.[9]

In 1938, it was announced that construction of an improved station entrance and new car park had been approved, designed by architects Messrs Stephenson and Meldrum, costing £2,000.[13] Once again however, no construction took place.

In October 1960, work on a new Spencer Street station commenced, sparked by the construction of the interstate standard gauge line to Sydney.[9] A station building was constructed which largely replaced the 1880s iron sheds, and a new 413-metre (1,355 ft) platform number 1 was built. The passenger subway which had been constructed as part of the 1918 works was extended to include access to country platforms.[9] In connection with the construction of the underground loop, platforms 9 and 10 were rebuilt as part of the suburban section of the station, and a new double-track viaduct was constructed between Spencer Street and Flinders Street station, alongside the original one, bringing to six the number of tracks connecting the two stations. At the same time, the four older tracks were resignalled for bi-directional operation.

In 1962, a separate subway network was constructed to carry mail between the station and what was then the Melbourne General Post Office and main postal sorting office, situated on the other side of Spencer Street.[14]

The mechanically interlocked signal box at the station opened in 1887,[15] and was decommissioned in June 2008. Originally built with 120 levers, it had 191 when it closed, making it the world's largest.[16]

Work on the station in 2004

Work on the roof in January 2005

Construction work inside the station in late 2005

Southern Cross was redeveloped by the Civic Nexus consortium, following an innovative design by Grimshaw Architects and Jackson Architecture which features an undulating roof.[17] Construction began in October 2002 and was completed in late 2006, with the majority of the transport facilities finished in time for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The central features of the design include a wave-shaped roof, a new entrance and concourse on Collins Street, a new coach interchange, a new food court, a bar/restaurant, separate retail outlets inside the station and a separate shopping complex between Bourke and La Trobe Streets.

This new shopping complex originally comprised a Direct Factory Outlets centre, a Virgin Megastore, along with food courts. This opened on 30 November 2006, although not all tenancies were occupied, and stage 2 was opened in March 2007. In 2009 the DFO relocated to a new site at South Wharf, the shopping centre being refitted by owner Austexx and rebranded simply as "Spencer Street fashion station".[18] In 2013 the shopping complex was rebranded as "Spencer Outlet Centre".

In addition to the physical modifications, the station was renamed from Spencer Street to Southern Cross on 13 December 2005.[19]

By July 2004, the project had fallen behind schedule and over budget by $200 million.[20] This was covered extensively in the media. As a result of over-runs and design issues, some elements of the original design, including an additional proposed footbridge connecting Lonsdale Street with Docklands Stadium, were scrapped.[21]

Complaints about access to platforms, empty trains occupying space during the day and lack of government support were raised by Leighton Contractors, the construction firm overseeing the project. This led to concerns that the station might not be ready in time for the Commonwealth Games, and the government arranged with the railway operators to provide more access to the work site.

The station's redevelopment is part of the wider Melbourne Docklands development. The architect responsible for the design is Nicholas Grimshaw. The structural engineering design was performed by WSP Global. The station has been awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects' Lubetkin Prize for most outstanding building outside the European Union.[22] The other buildings nominated were the Des Moines Public Library and the Hearst Tower, New York City.[23]

The redevelopment has meant that passengers take more time to get to the suburban network platforms than before. The pedestrian subway access was removed in favour of street level and elevated concourses. The subway also continued underneath Spencer Street, and its closure means it is necessary for all pedestrians to wait for traffic lights to cross Spencer Street at street level. For all suburban and some country services, passengers using the main entrance on the corner of Collins and Spencer Streets have to ascend two escalators to a shopping concourse and then enter the paid area of the station, before descending again to the metropolitan platforms. There have been some accidents in which people have fallen from this elevated level.[24][25] The eight-meter ascent and descent is more than necessary to clear the height of trains, and more than the three-meter descent and ascent of the previous subway.

Local architects have cited some of the Southern Cross Station's shortcomings: the building's poor connection to the surrounding streets; its awkward juncture at the pedestrian bridge that links Spencer Street to Docklands Stadium; and the baffling manner in which the grand architectural gesture of Southern Cross Station tapers off into an uninspired homage to the boxy 1980s shopping mall — Spencer Outlet Centre, which houses department store Harris Scarfe along with Witchery, Cotton On, Starbucks and many more outlets.[26]

As part of the Regional Rail Link program an extra two platforms (15/16) were constructed and opened in December 2013. These are divided into 15a, 15b, 16a and 16b. They are often used for Gippsland Services, And the lines that use the RRL tracks to Sunshine (Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo lines). These platforms allow trains to avoid the North Melbourne Flyover, which is an inconvenience for trains as it has a maximum speed of 15 km/h, and has shown to cause abnormal wheel wear on Vlocities.

In May 2014, the historic Water Tower Clock was installed in the concourse of the station.[27] The clock had originally been erected in 1882 at Flinders Street station, opposite the end of Elizabeth Street, atop a lattice tower about 60 feet (18 m) high. In 1902 the clock was moved to Princes Bridge station, and in 1910 it was relocated again, to Spencer Street station, where it remained until it was removed as part of the station's redevelopment in the mid-1960s. The clock mechanism was given to Museum Victoria, but the characteristic turret that housed the clock was sold to a scrap metal merchant. It was later rescued by private collectors, and the clock was returned to public ownership, being put on display in 1999 at the Scienceworks Museum, Spotswood. The clock was extensively restored before its return to Southern Cross, but the original mechanism remains in the collection of Museum Victoria.[28][29]

The main concourse of Southern Cross station

Shops in the concourse

Concourses are provided at Bourke and Collins Streets. Platform 1 is north of Bourke Street, while Platform 8 South is south of Collins Street. The remainder of platforms are located between Bourke and Collins Streets, with access from both concourses, with regional services from platforms 1 to 8, and suburban services from platforms 9 to 16 (platform 8 can also accommodate suburban services if necessary).

Platform 15-16 Northern Concourse

Interior of Southern Cross station in rush hour

Platforms 2 to 7, as well as platforms 15 and 16 are numbered as two sections: section A from the Collins Street concourse to the Bourke Street Footbridge, and section B beyond the Bourke Street Footbridge. These sections were previously known as the "Central" (2C to 8C) and "North" (2N to 8N) platforms, respectively. Platform 8 has these two sections and also a "South" section (8S) underneath Collins Street used commonly for Seymour services.

Platforms 1 and 2 are fitted with dual gauge track, permitting both standard gauge interstate trains and V/Line broad gauge trains. The remainder of the platforms are solely broad gauge. A motorail dock is located at the northern end of the platform, with standard gauge access only.

Platforms 1 & 2:

•  Albury line  V/Line services to Albury (3 per day)
•  NSW TrainLink Southern  NSW TrainLink XPT services to Sydney (2 per day)
•  The Overland  Journey Beyond services to Adelaide (2 per week)

Platforms 1–7:

•  Ballarat line  V/Line services to Ballarat
•  Ararat line  V/Line services to Ararat
•  Maryborough line  V/Line services to Maryborough
•  Bendigo line  V/Line services to Bendigo, Epsom and Eaglehawk
•  Echuca line  V/Line services to Echuca
•  Swan Hill line  V/Line services to Swan Hill
•  Geelong line  V/Line services to Wyndham Vale, Geelong & Waurn Ponds
•  Warrnambool line  V/Line services to Warrnambool
•  Seymour line  V/Line services to Seymour
•  Shepparton line  V/Line services to Shepparton

Platform 8:

Broad gauge V/Line services departing Platforms 1-7 also depart from Platform 8

•  Gippsland line  V/Line services to Traralgon & Bairnsdale
•  Flemington Racecourse line  express services to Showgrounds and/or Flemington Racecourse (special event days only)

Platform 9:
Destinations via City Loop – Clifton Hill Group:

•  Hurstbridge line  all stations and limited stop services to Hurstbridge
•  Mernda line  all stations and limited stop services to Mernda

Platform 10:
Destinations via City Loop – Burnley Group:

•  Belgrave line  all stations and limited stop services to Belgrave
•  Lilydale line  all stations and limited stop services to Lilydale
•  Glen Waverley line  all stations and limited stop services to Glen Waverley
•  Alamein line  weekday all stations and limited stop services to Alamein

Platform 11:
Destinations via City Loop – Northern Group:

•  Craigieburn line  all stations and limited stop services to Craigieburn
•  Upfield line  all stations and limited stop services to Upfield
•  Sunbury line  all stations and limited stop services to Watergardens & Sunbury

Platform 12:
Destinations via Flinders Street – Caulfield Group:

•  Pakenham line  express services to Pakenham
•  Cranbourne line  express services to Cranbourne

Platform 13:
Destinations via Flinders Street:

•  Werribee line  services to Flinders Street (trains run through to the Frankston line)
•  Williamstown line  services to Flinders Street (trains run through to the Frankston line)
•  Flemington Racecourse line  services to Flinders Street (special event days only)

Platform 14:
Destinations via North Melbourne:

•  Werribee line  all stations and limited stop services to Laverton & Werribee
•  Williamstown line  all stations services to Williamstown
•  Flemington Racecourse line  express services to Showgrounds and/or Flemington Racecourse (special event days only)

Platforms 15 & 16:

Broad gauge V/Line services departing Platforms 1-8 also depart from Platforms 15 & 16.