Riddells Creek railway station

Riddells Creek
PTV regional rail station
Eastbound view from Platform 1, showing station buildings, October 2012
General information
Location	Hamilton Street, Riddells Creek, Victoria 3431 Shire of Macedon Ranges Australia
Coordinates	37°27′54″S 144°40′47″E / 37.4649°S 144.6798°E / -37.4649; 144.6798
Owned by	VicTrack
Operated by	V/Line
Line(s)	Bendigo Echuca (Deniliquin)
Distance	56.90 kilometres from Southern Cross
Platforms	2 side
Tracks	2
Connections	Bus
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Parking	50
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Status	Operational, staffed part-time
Station code	RCK
Fare zone	Myki Zone 2
Website	Public Transport Victoria
History
Opened	8 July 1861; 163 years ago (1861-07-08)
Rebuilt	2010 2014
Previous names	Riddell (1904-1976)
Services
Preceding station V/Line Following station Clarkefield towards Southern Cross Bendigo line Gisborne towards Bendigo, Epsom or Eaglehawk Echuca line Gisborne towards Echuca
Location Riddells Creek Location within Victoria

Riddells Creek railway station is a regional railway station on the Deniliquin line, part of the Victorian railway network. It serves the north-western suburb and town of Riddells Creek, in Victoria, Australia. Riddells Creek station is a ground level unstaffed station, featuring two side platforms. It opened on 8 July 1861, with the current station provided in 2014.^[1]

Initially opened as Riddells Creek, the station was renamed to Riddell on 9 May 1904. It then was renamed back to its current name of Riddells Creek on 12 October 1976. ^[1]

Riddells Creek opened with the line on 8 July 1861.^[1] The station, like the township itself, was named after local settler John Riddell, who acquired property in the area in 1841.^[2] Riddell later became a member of the Victorian Legislative Council and the Victorian Legislative Assembly.^[2]

In 1864, a goods shed and goods platform was provided on the down platform (Platform 2).^[3] By 1879, the station had a signal box and was a block post, using the telegraph instruments, with Winter's instruments provided by 1890.^[3]

The station was renamed Riddell on 9 May 1904, as part of a policy by the Victorian Railways to adopt short station names.^[1][3] By this time, there was two sidings to the south of Platform 2.^[3]

On 12 October 1976, the station was renamed back to Riddells Creek.^[1][3][4][5]

A six lever frame was provided in 1927, to control the signals, until it was closed as a block post in April 1993.^[1][3] After this, the signals and interlocking were abolished, and a crossover at the up end of the station was spiked.^[1]

As part of the Regional Fast Rail project in 2005, the station received a refurbishment, including new platform facings and new fencing.^[3] In 2010, the goods shed was refurbished into a waiting room and ticket office.^[3] In January 2014, the platforms were extended to accommodate longer trains.^[6]

Riddells Creek has two side platforms. In the morning, trains to Melbourne depart from Platform 2, and trains to Bendigo depart from Platform 1, with this arrangement reversing in the afternoon. This is to allow services in the peak direction of travel to use the single 160 km/h track that was upgraded in 2006, as part of the Regional Fast Rail project.

It is serviced by V/Line Bendigo and Echuca line services.^[7][8]

Platform 1:

•  Bendigo line  services to Southern Cross, Kyneton, Bendigo, Eaglehawk and Epsom
•  Echuca line  services to Echuca and Southern Cross

Platform 2:

•  Bendigo line  services to Kyneton, Bendigo, Eaglehawk, Epsom and Southern Cross
•  Echuca line  services to Echuca and Southern Cross

Dysons operates one route via Riddells Creek station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

• Lancefield – Gisborne^[9]

• Media related to Riddells Creek railway station at Wikimedia Commons
• Victorian Railway Stations gallery
• Melway map at street-directory.com.au