Bell railway station is located on the Mernda line in Victoria, Australia. It serves the northern Melbourne suburb of Preston, and it opened on 8 October 1889 as Preston-Bell Street. It was renamed Bell on 1 August 1905.[2]

Bell
PTV commuter rail station
Interior of Bell station, showing stained glass windows behind the city-bound (Down) staircase, in September 2022
General information
Location	Garnet Street, Preston, Victoria 3072 City of Darebin Australia
Coordinates	37°44′44″S 145°00′01″E
Owned by	VicTrack
Operated by	Metro Trains
Line(s)	Mernda
Distance	11.70 kilometres from Southern Cross
Platforms	2 side
Tracks	2
Connections	Bus
Construction
Structure type	Elevated
Parking	75
Bicycle facilities	6
Disabled access	Yes—step free access
Other information
Status	Operational, Premium Station
Station code	BEL
Fare zone	Myki Zone 1
Website	Public Transport Victoria
History
Opened	8 October 1889; 133 years ago (1889-10-08)
Rebuilt	5 September 2022[1] (Level Crossing Removal Project)
Electrified	1500 V DC overhead (July 1921)
Previous names	Preston-Bell Street (1889–1905)
Services
Preceding station Metro Trains Following station Thornbury towards Flinders Street Mernda line Preston towards Mernda

It was located adjacent to the former Bell Street level crossing, which was provided with boom barriers in 1969, replacing interlocked gates.[2] The platforms at the former ground level station were extended at the Up end of the station in 1973.[2]

The station once had a goods yard, which was removed in 1986, leaving only a siding at the Up end of the station.[3]

On 17 April 1988, the double line block signalling system between Bell and Reservoir was abolished, and replaced with automatic three position signalling.[4] Pedestrian gates were also provided at the former Bell Street level crossing during April 1988, in combination with the road boom barriers.[4]

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.[5]

There are crossovers 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.[6] The panel was abolished in 2012.[6]

In January 2016, it was announced by the Level Crossing Removal Project 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,[7] but the rail-over option was later chosen.[8] Major construction began in February 2021,[9] with the station closing from 30 May 2022 to allow demolition and construction of the new station. The station re-opened on 5 September 2022.[10]

Platforms and services

Bell has two side platforms. It is serviced by Metro Trains' Mernda line services.[11]

Platform 1:

•  Mernda line  all stations and limited express services to Flinders Street

Platform 2:

•  Mernda line  all stations services to Mernda

Transport links

Dysons operates four routes via Bell station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

•  513 : Eltham station – Glenroy station (via Lower Plenty)[12]
•  514 : Eltham station – Glenroy station (via Greensborough)[13]
•  552 : North East Reservoir – Northcote Plaza[14]
•  553 : Preston – West Preston[15]

Gallery

• 
  Northbound view from the former ground level Platform 2 in March 2007

References

External links

• Media related to Bell railway station, Melbourne at Wikimedia Commons
• Melway map at street-directory.com.au