| Bell | |
| Type: | PTV commuter rail station |
| Style: | Melbourne |
| Address: | Garnet Street, Preston, Victoria 3072 |
| Borough: | City of Darebin |
| Country: | Australia |
| Coordinates: | -37.7456°N 145.0003°W |
| Distance: | 11.70 kilometres from Southern Cross |
| Other: | Bus |
| Structure: | Elevated |
| Platform: | 2 side |
| Tracks: | 2 |
| Parking: | 75 |
| Bicycle: | 6 |
| Rebuilt: | 5 September 2022 (LXRP)[1] |
| Electrified: | July 1921 (1500 V DC overhead) |
| Accessible: | Yes—step free access |
| Code: | BEL |
| Owned: | VicTrack |
| Operator: | Metro Trains |
| Zone: | Myki Zone 1 |
| Status: | Operational, premium station |
| Former: | Preston-Bell Street (1889–1905) |
| Website: | Public Transport Victoria |
| Map State: | expanded |
Bell railway station is a commuter railway station on the Mernda line, which is part of the Melbourne railway network. It serves the north-eastern suburb of Preston, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Bell station is an elevated structure premium station, featuring two side platforms. It opened on 8 October 1889, with the current station provided in 2022.[2]
Initially opened as Preston-Bell Street, the station was given its current name of Bell on 1 August 1905.[3]
Bell station opened on 8 October 1889, when the Inner Circle line was extended from North Fitzroy to Reservoir,[2] Bell station is named after nearby Bell Street, itself named after Francis Bell, a landowner in Coburg who had a property named Bell Manor.[4] [5]
It was located adjacent to the former Bell Street level crossing, which was provided with boom barriers in 1969, replacing interlocked gates.[6] In 1973, the platforms at the former ground level station were extended at the up end of the station.[2]
The station once had a goods yard, which was removed in 1986, leaving only a siding at the up end of the station.[7]
On 17 April 1988, the double line block signalling system between Bell and Reservoir was abolished, and replaced with automatic three position signalling.[8] Also in that month, pedestrian gates were provided at the former Bell Street level crossing, in combination with the road boom barriers.[8]
On 31 March 1999, the former ground level station building on Platform 1 was damaged by fire.[2]
On 25 August 2008, Bell was upgraded to a premium station.[9]
There were crossovers located at both ends of the station, and a signal box was located on the former ground level Platform 1, which had a signal panel to control lights and switches in an emergency.[10] In 2012, the panel was abolished.[10]
In January 2016, the Level Crossing Removal Project announced that the Bell Street level crossing would be removed by grade separation. At the time, it had not been decided how the separation would be achieved,[11] but the rail-over option was later chosen.[12] In February 2021, major construction began.[13]
On 17 May 2022, Oakover Road and Bell Street level crossings and equipment were eliminated and on the same night, the ground level station were closed and demolished.[14] [15] On 30 May 2022, the first part of the new elevated railway opened with only a single track while the second track was under construction. This was temporary until 5 September 2022 when the rebuilt station opened.[16] [17]
Bell has two side platforms. It is serviced by Metro Trains' Mernda line services.[18]
Platform 1:
Platform 2:
Dysons operates four bus routes via Bell station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria: