Arden
Commuter rail station
The entrance to the station almost fully completed, December 2023.
General information
LocationLaurens Street, North Melbourne
Victoria, Australia
Coordinates37°48′07″S 144°56′25″E / 37.8019305°S 144.9403105°E / -37.8019305; 144.9403105
Owned byVicTrack
Operated byMetro Trains
Line(s)Sunshine–Dandenong
Platforms2
Tracks2
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
AccessibleYes—step free access
Other information
StatusUnder construction
Fare zoneMyki Zone 1
WebsiteArden station
History
ElectrifiedYes
Services
Preceding station Railways in Melbourne Metro Trains Following station
Footscray
towards Sunbury
 Sunshine–Dandenong corridor
(under construction)		 Parkville
towards East Pakenham or Cranbourne
Track layout
to South Kensington
1
2
to Parkville

Arden railway station is a railway station In Melbourne, constructed as part of the Metro Tunnel project. When opened, it will be served by the Sunbury, Pakenham and Cranbourne lines. Located in North Melbourne, below Laurens and Arden Streets, it was constructed using the cut-and-cover method.[1][2][3] Major construction commenced in April 2018, and was completed in January 2024.[4][5]

The station sits in a major inner-city urban renewal area for Melbourne, and will anchor the new high-density suburb of Arden.[6] A structure plan for the former industrial area was gazetted in 2022.[7]

Location

Arden Street was chosen as the site for a new railway station to support the expansion of the central city and provide a focus for the development of a new commercial, residential and activity centre in North Melbourne.[8]

The Victorian government has stated that Arden station will support job creation by improving public transport access to inner-west Melbourne, an area which has been earmarked for urban renewal. Fifty-six hectares of land around the proposed Arden station, much of which is owned by the State Government, is earmarked for revitalisation as part of the project.[8][9] The new suburb is expected to house around 15,000 people and provide 34,000 jobs.[10]

The Arden Station location will also play a key role in supporting the construction of the western section of the Metro Tunnel, as it houses many important facilities such as a concrete batching facility, offices, and storage areas for concrete segments.[11] Tunnel boring machines were launched towards the western tunnel entrance in Kensington from this location in 2019.[12]

Naming

Following a state government-led naming competition, it was announced that the new station was to be named North Melbourne upon its completion, with the existing North Melbourne railway station to be renamed West Melbourne.[13] However, after a number of security and logistical concerns relating to renaming the existing North Melbourne station became apparent, the government announced that it had decided to retain the station's working name of Arden.[14]

Station layout

G Street level Entrance/Exit, customer service, retail
B1 Concourse
B2
Platforms		 Platform 1  Sunshine Dandenong Line  towards Sunbury (Footscray) →
Island platform, doors will open on the right
Platform 2 ←  Sunshine Dandenong Line  towards Pakenham or Cranbourne (Parkville)

[15]

Design

Arden station platforms under construction in 2022.
Arden station platforms under construction in 2022.

The station's external design, made out of clay brick, will reflect the area's industrial heritage.[16] A café will be included in the station, with areas for outdoor dining. New public gathering space will provide space for locals and passengers to enjoy. As the station may be prone to flooding, drainage at the station has been designed to capture the natural flow of rainwater and distribute it into nearby garden beds.[17]

The central gateway feature of the design is set of 15 large brick archways above the station entrance.[18] The concrete arches are lined with 104,000 locally manufactured bricks, and were made offsite then craned onto site in 2022.[17] The station entrance area is raised 150 centimetres (4 ft 11 in) to prevent flooding of the tunnel from the nearby Moonee Ponds creek.[17] The station was designed by RSHP, Hassell and Weston Williamson.[18]

A permanent artwork is being created for the station by Abdul Abdullah as part of the Metro Tunnel project's legacy artwork program.[19]

Arden Precinct

The back of the station, showing space for future development opportunities in the Arden precinct.

The Metro Tunnel is set to transform the Arden precinct, with around 6,000 square metres (65,000 sq ft) of public gathering space likely to be created. As the area is also prone to flooding, the flood-resistant “urban sponge” landscape strategy will be used to absorb stormwater. This will include rain gardens, tree planters and permeable paving.[20] Nearby streets such as Laurens and Barwise Street will be upgraded to be more pedestrian-oriented.

References

  1. ↑ "Dozens of homes to make way for Melbourne Metro project". ABC News. 20 October 2015. Archived from the original on 19 January 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  2. ↑ Carey, Adam (5 November 2015). "Melbourne Metro to close busy city streets for up to three years, including Domain Road". The Age. Archived from the original on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  3. ↑ "Arden Station construction plans". Metro Tunnel. Melbourne Metro Rail Authority. Archived from the original on 21 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  4. ↑ "Ar-Done | Premier of Victoria". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  5. ↑ Jacks, Timna (24 April 2018). "North Melbourne station work begins, booming new suburb set to follow". The Age. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  6. ↑ Hatch, Patrick (27 July 2022). "Affordable housing, animal shelter lose out in North Melbourne's Arden precinct plan". The Age. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  7. ↑ "Arden Precinct Structure Plan and Planning Scheme Amendment". Victorian Planning Authority. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Renewing Arden Macaulay". Participate Melbourne. City of Melbourne. Archived from the original on 21 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  9. ↑ Lucas, Clay; Preiss, Benjamin (1 September 2016). "Metro Tunnel to help revitalise huge chunk of North Melbourne's 'Arden' precinct". The Age. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  10. ↑ "Plans for new suburb in Melbourne's inner north unveiled". ABC News. 1 September 2016. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  11. ↑ "Building Arden Station". Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  12. ↑ "Massive Boring Machine Ready To Build The Metro Tunnel". Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  13. ↑ Oaten, James (29 November 2017). "Meet me at Anzac: No 'Station McStation face' for Melbourne's new train stations". ABC News. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  14. ↑ Rooney, Kieran (25 January 2020). "New North Melbourne Metro Tunnel station renamed due to emergency fears". Sunday Herald Sun.
  15. ↑ "Network Development Plan" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 December 2021.
  16. ↑ "Melbourne Metro Tunnel project: Design unveiled for five new underground train stations". ABC News. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  17. 1 2 3 Build, Victoria’s Big (29 November 2022). "Arden Station design and location". Victoria’s Big Build. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  18. 1 2 "Updated Melbourne Metro Tunnel station design unveiled". Architecture Australia. 10 August 2021.
  19. ↑ Build, Victoria’s Big (3 August 2022). "Abdul Abdullah – Arden Station". Victoria’s Big Build. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  20. ↑ Hunn, Patrick (17 July 2017). "Hassell and Weston Williamson appointed to design Melbourne Metro Tunnel stations". Architecture AU. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
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