Ballan railway station


Ballan railway station is located on the Serviceton railway line, in Victoria, Australia, serving the town of Ballan. It opened on 22 December 1886, as the terminus of a short line from Ballarat. On 4 December 1889, the line was extended to Bacchus Marsh, meaning that trains could then run from Melbourne to Ballarat via Ballan.

History

Before the line via Ballan and Bacchus Marsh was constructed, Ballarat was only indirectly linked to Melbourne via the Melbourne-Geelong and Geelong-Ballarat lines.
Being on a single track section of track, the station served as a crossing loop, with an interlocked signal box erected in 1890. In 1893, a turntable was added and by 1908, the station had a four road yard, a passenger platform, a goods shed and goods platform.
In 1967, the turntable was removed. In early 1973, a dead-end siding at the Up end of the station was removed. More tracks in the yard were removed during 1987 and 1988, leaving only the platform road and a loop remaining. In 1996, the loop was abolished and the signal box closed, meaning that Ballan was no longer available for crossing trains. In 2004, as part of the Regional Fast Rail project, the track at the eastern end of the station was realigned in order to permit an increase in the maximum speeds of trains though the curve.
The closed stations Ingliston and Rowsley were located between Ballan and Bacchus Marsh. Between Ballan and Ballarat, closed stations include Gordon, Millbrook, Wallace, Bungaree, Warrenheip and Ballarat East.

Platforms & services

Ballan has two platforms. It is served by V/Line Ballarat, Ararat and Maryborough line trains.
Platform 1:
Platform 2
The Victoria Government's Regional Rail Revival Ballarat Line Upgrade includes an additional track and platform at Ballan, which will deliver two side platforms, an accessible pedestrian overpass and improved parking.