Top 10 Worst Melbourne Train Stations (Melbourne Railway Vlog 211)

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

I thought I might clarify a few things vis-a-vis why certain (very deserving stations) didn't make the top 10. 1) I arbitrarily decided that V/line-only stations in Melbourne and Stony Point line stations don't count as being in Melbourne. It would be a boring video if I just listed most of the Stony Point line stations one-by-one! 2) I excluded stations that are currently being rebuilt. Keon Park, Narre Warren and Pakenham are all candidates that could consider themselves fortunate as a result. Loving the discussions down here!

[@electro_sykes]

I feel bad for those who have to use Macaulay station on the upfield line. I used it one and it was a freaking joke. Absurdly located beneath a freeway and looks like skid row

[@electro_sykes]

Flinders street needs a new underpass similar to central walk

[@mattm.5968]

what's your least favourite Stony Point Line station?

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

I'm not so sure. It has been quite a while since I went on that line. Do you have one?

[@electro_sykes]

@@melbournerailwayvideos just google photos of the station and you will know exactly what I'm talking about. Its kinda sad actually, because with a level crossing, Bridge above and creek ajacent, it is sadly impossible to upgrade it

[@JackStavris]

One that was missing for me is Dandenong, the station itself isn't bad, and I like the teal colored glass, but you do not want to be stranded there at night lol.

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Yeah, Dandenong is definitely a good shout!

[@darrenmiles-morland8038]

I agree. I think that for a premium station and a major bus interchange and a V/Line stopping point and a spot where the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines branch off from one another that Dandenong Station needs to be a lot more user friendly. It has got to be right up there among the worst and most unsafe train stations on the entire Melbourne metropolitan train network. It needed to be on this list.

[@JackStavris]

@@darrenmiles-morland8038 yeah I pass through it daily, and more often than not there’s always a police event or something nasty going on. Thankfully I never have to get off there.

[@darrenmiles-morland8038]

@@JackStavrisDandenong along with Frankston, Sunshine, St. Albans, and Broadmeadows are among the roughest and most crime riddled suburbs in Melbourne.

[@emusaurus]

Dandenong station: where there's more piss on the platform than in the toilet. You can smell the filth when you step onto the platform

[@khausere7]

I recently visited Australia from the US, and spent a day in Melbourne, primarily visiting Elwood, West Footscray and St Albans where my parents were teachers back in the mid '60s. I thought the trains were nice and it was easy to get around, but West Footscray station looked like a lot of the stations on this list. I did get off at Broadmeadows/Craigieburn station to catch the bus to the airport, and it was just as confusing as you described. Definitely had an interesting...aroma, let's say. Cheers, mate.

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Sounds like you know the city quite well, and got to see some of the good, and some of the less flashy areas. Hope you enjoyed your stay!

[@jackchapo2011]

Sorry you had to spend a day in Melbourne.

[@luciusverus7697]

As a lifelong Broadie/Craigieburn liner, a picture of windswept Jacana involuntarily appeared in my mind when this vid appeared in my feed. Sure enough, it did not disappoint ❤

[@barrymcdonald9868]

the pedestrian overpass was a main route for dirt bikes during the 70;s minibike craze traveling to the track along the merri creek

[@michaelle407]

I agree! Worse station ever

[@AndreaJackson81]

Yep-Jacana served an important purpose when you’d run onto the station at Glenroy forgetting to sort your (back then paper) ticket out, a confident “the ticket machine wasn’t working at Jacana, I’m getting the ticket when I get to Flinders Street” was a get out of fine phrase. Roxy as the first one off the bat wasn’t a surprise either. Broady station has a special place in my heart and sad to see it on the list though memories of going through that underpass heading to school over 20 years ago do tell me he ain’t wrong haha. Though I’ve only gone out to Coolaroo a couple of times (Mum & Dad still live in Meadow Heights but I’ve moved SE) I’d have thought that was a chance too.

[@barrymcdonald9868]

was an interesting place for the catholic boys school students who either learnt to run fast or fight or both

[@AndreaJackson81]

@@barrymcdonald9868I started in the girls catholic school but was still at school when Therry/Sancta/Geoghan became Penola…interesting times

[@justanaverageguy1351]

Broadmeadows is my local station, and ever since I can remember, the underpass smells like piss and is really dodgy (especially at night). Even with the police station LITERALLY across the road, there are often brawls and bashings. FYI The corrugated sheets on the Jacana overpass aren't 'token chunks' to protect people from the weather, they're there to stop people jumping in front of trains or throwing objects onto them. Like you said, it's a low socio-economic area, life around here is pretty miserable for a lot of people.

[@KenL-037]

Ye id jump n throw shit around too if i had to frequent that station

[@helixator3975]

Used south Kensington for a few years. During peak hour there’s scores of people squeezed on to the narrow platforms, with only a couple of pebble-mix bus stops providing shelter from the rain and wind while the rains whizz by. It was notorious for being a stop that drivers would skip even when scheduled.

[@Kassie0ate0a0cow]

Why is this video everything I’ve ever wanted I love this please keep roasting out PT

[@adriaandeleeuw8339]

You might not like Boronia , but I remember the frequent five minute waits for the old crossing,

[@timothyjohns3561]

Ohhh yeah… I would say up to 15 minutes some mornings and evenings. It was a genuine godsend when they out the thing under the roads. Could even say it was a template and catalyst for the future LCR projects. Ugly for sure. But in a lovely Brutalist way. ❤

[@yetanotherbloke]

Brutalist ugly? That's saying something. And horrible in winter too

[@musicwelikemang]

High crime too even though thr coppers are less than 100m away. Lazy cops and confident crims in boznia.

[@zicomitchell]

Personally I always hated Tottenham Station. It was always so sketchy especially at night and it definitely didn't help that it was located in the middle of a train yard.

[@Jimmy009-st8mm]

Get off there everyday to go to work, you see the odd dodgy character but the next station Sunshine is one of the most dangerous there is,all sorts of Centrelink ferals gather there

[@PennyWise-mj3ow]

​@Jimmy009-st8mm the ferals aren't isolated to Centrelink recipients. There's a high rate of new Australians in Sunshine and surrounding suburbs, troubled kids from these migrant families are targeted and recruited by gangs. Myself, my parents and grandparents have seen the development of this area since the 60's and it's not just Centrelink recipients that are making Sunshine and surrounds unsafe, there's more to it.

[@mk098a]

I always felt like I’d fall off with how narrow the platform is at Tottenham

[@AusOpening]

It’s not the people but the station’s design that gives it the rough vibe. Tottenham and West Footscray are actually decent neighborhoods, but the station itself is a hazard in concrete. To reach the platform, you’re forced to squeeze along a narrow path through a loud obnoxious car tunnel, and the industrial train yard around it only adds to the feeling that this place is a mistake waiting to happen. Also odd that every neighboring station was renovated except itself

[@aidanthomas2510]

Living on the Werribee line no surprise South Kensington was mentioned, most would have put that #1. I would have also included Aircraft, the most dissapointing thing about that station too is it was literally upgraded. They put a whole new underpass in when the level crossing was removed, but seemingly forgot about the station itself. Still a crappy platform, next to no shelter and very few, uncomfortable seats. Could put Hoppers Crossing on the list too, as despite an upgrade the station itself was untouched. But it at least has some shelter and new seats. And as much as Werribee itself is nice, that underpass and the ramp up to the platforms need something done about them.

[@The_Jazziest_Coffee]

why on earth they couldn't have added shelter to aircraft station whilst they were renovating it is beyond me actually, most stations don't really have shelter across the metro lines, which is insanely infuriating given melbourne's infamous weather conditions.

[@ItzMiku3939]

I used to use aircraft all the time, living in point cook Never realised anything was wrong with it, but then again, I just wanted the train to arrive But yeah no shelter is some bs

[@Diode5]

I'm going to say this top 10 list is a win for the Werribee line. 😂 I think South Kensington is typically serviced more by Willamstown and Laverton services, with Werribee only picking it up when stopping all stations.

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Hahaha I guess you could view it that way. But I must say, the Werribee line is a bit lucky. Aircraft was close, as was Hoppers Crossing.

[@kirbstagoontheaxolotl]

Ngl I'm not a huge fan of Newport for a few practical reasons. I'd rather go to Altona and have a 10 minute longer train commute than spend nearly 40-50 minutes both waiting for the 432 and commuting on the 432 (Takes 23 minutes APPROXIMATELY for the bus to get from my local stop to Newport and the damn thing is notorious for being late, it takes 10 minutes to get up to my old school, a drive my stepdad did when picking me up some days in 5) Also Newport stations ramps are hella steep, it has MULTIPLE underpasses for the bus entrance and it feels hella dodgy

[@NewFalconerRecords]

Lalor is my local station and it certainly deserves its place on this list, it is truly shithouse. Another reason why it is doubly bad is the fact that it doesn't align with the local shopping strip, unlike most stations. Part of this is because of a lot of complicated history -- the post WWII Peter Lalor co-operative housing development had a temporary stop (for supplies) at what is now known as Mann's Crossing where they built the shopping strip, in anticipation of where they thought the eventual train station would be. Only they moved the station further north -- which actually made more sense 'cos it would've been way too close to Thomastown. Fun video, enjoyed it a lot.

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Wow, wish I knew this info before making the video as I definitely would have put it in. So insightful; thanks!

[@nguyenn99527]

I didn’t know Lalor had a station, I always go to Thomos. Weird.

[@kieranbullock02]

The worst part about South Kensington on the citybound platform is the outbound express trains hurtling past you on the other side of that chain fence. Very loud, firstly, and secondly the gust of wind could easily knock you off that tiny platform and onto the tracks. Genuinely dangerous. One redeeming feature it is does have a cracking city view

[@jazzeejax5816]

It's a shocking station

[@nathanw9770]

These stations remind me of a lot of national rail stations in South London where I'm from. A lot of them lack useful interchanges where they could be put in, shelter and poorly built entrances. All of which could be solved with cheap alternatives like better pedestrian crossings and, well, more shelters. And because of this a lot of stations south of the Thames are amongst the least used in all of London.

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Yeah, you're right. I spent a bit of time at Loughborough Junction (not sure if you're familiar with it), and it wasn't particularly nice. London has amazing public transport, but one thing I think it does really poorly is accessibility, probably because everything was constructed well before it was a consideration.

[@nathanw9770]

@@melbournerailwayvideos I'm somewhat familiar with Loughborough Junction I usually pass it when I use Thameslink to go to Central London. It's a really awkward station now being located in the middle of a junction. It used to be a much bigger station, hence the junction in the name, but the other platforms were abandoned some time ago probably during the beeching axe era. My local stations, Catford and Catford Bridge, are located on the South Circular road and have this really unpleasant underpass you have to walk through to access the station from the opposite side (if you're not brave enough to cross the road like me) and if Catford station wasn't located on a bridge you'd have no idea either station was there. That's the issue with having a bunch of old railways built when everything was about competition.

[@nathanw9770]

@@melbournerailwayvideos I'm somewhat familiar with Loughborough Junction I usually pass it when I use Thameslink to go to Central London. It's a really awkward station now being located in the middle of a junction. It used to be a much bigger station, hence the junction in the name, but the other platforms were abandoned some time ago probably during the beeching axe era. My local stations, Catford and Catford Bridge, are located on the South Circular road and have this really unpleasant underpass you have to walk through to access the station from the opposite side (if you're not brave enough to cross the road like me) and if Catford station wasn't located on a bridge you'd have no idea either station was there. That's the issue with having a bunch of old railways built when everything was about competition.

[@FionaEm]

Agree about Boronia, though you forgot to mention the scary feral types who get on the train there. Never felt so unsafe on a train as when I had to travel through Boronia & Bayswater stations to see a friend.

[@Cobanaut04]

I live in Brisbane but visit Melbourne from time to time. I clicked on this video purely to see if Boronia was on the list. It's one of the only stations I've gotten on & off at, but I knew it had to be on the list. Being there just after dark, I definitely had to have my wits about me.

[@maximillianford9301]

Yeah it's not great. I get on before Boronia and always brace myself as the train pulls in to the station. The people waiting on the platform to embark are just such down-and-outers. Make eye contact with the wrong person, and you're in for an unpleasant journey

[@peterhill8398]

Agree about Boronia. As well as an ugly design, it’s adjacent to a Woolies car park with a Coles & Kmart nearby so there’s always plenty of abandoned shopping trolleys along with the graffiti & litter. My teenage kids catch public transport to school from there and they learnt a few survival skills very early on due to a number of creepy types that loiter there.

[@JustIn-mu3nl]

I used to have a friend who lived in Boronia about 25 years ago, I always liked the place. It sounds like it has changed and not for the better.

[@blackstar109910]

As you counted down to number one, I was crossing my fingers for Jacana at the top spot. You didn’t disappoint. I used the station in late 70’s to go to Therry college (now Penola) from Oak Park and now live less than 1km from it.

[@LyndonMain]

Likewise. I used to live just on the eastern side and described jacana as the black hole between the cesspools of Glenroy and broady. You spent the entire train trip avoiding eye contact (so you didn't get the 'what you looking at', and hoped like hell that there wasn't a group of guys waiting for you on the platform. Just so it's not all negative.... One time someone did say to me 'you might wanna move seets, I'm about to piss here' so chivalry isn't dead...

[@GoldCoastGuy82]

Boronia back in the 90’s was notorious for people being struck by trains. Amongst those killed there was a deaf nun that didn’t hear the boom gates and subsequently was trapped on the tracks. I only knew this because I was a local

[@adrianzmajla4844]

Wow.

[@meikahidenori]

Bayswater too. There were lots of hold ups due to them. Was awful.

[@JJRol.]

Completely agree with that take at the end. Regent is my local station on the Mernda line and you can see the station quality drop the more north you get. Keon Park which was arguably worse than Lalor is getting rebuilt so I'm happy about that. Ruthven is just neglected though, has always been.

[@JJRol.]

Also forgot to thank you for talking about how horrible Batman was. Definitely needs to be renamed, can't believe we still have stations named after people like that.

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Agreed. I only excluded Keon Park because it was being rebuilt as I was making the video, and I didn't want the video being outdated too quickly. But it was a shocker!

[@Dream_M1]

Gosh some of these stations are dreadful. Never gonna complain about Beaconsfield station again 😂. Great video 👍

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Thanks!

[@Karl-going-solo]

At least you see a few nice trees at Beaconsfield and Officer. Will the new bridge make Beaconsfield uglier? Time will tell

[@assuredaviation9116]

I used to use North Richmond station coming back from Kew, I have never felt more unsafe anywhere else in Victoria and I regularly go through the city at night.

[@ppTM-transport]

Broadmeadows is the ONLY station in Melbourne city with 3 single platforms. Not 1 island and 1 single

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

That's a great fact! What is platform 1 at the moment really should be an island platform, so they could run two standard gauge tracks through there!

[@JohnCitizenDU]

Because Platform 3 was built later than 1 and 2. Trains used to terminate at Platform 2, back in the days of the Broadmeadows Line.

[@nathanking6670]

It's designed to have you travel through the tunnel to increase robberies lol

[@lachlanholidayaccessibletr6758]

hymeandmumwentparstbrordmededosonthexptsoihavnevergotoffther

[@EvilEldrin]

Glad to see my (old) stomping ground of Batman being mentioned. It's a horrendous excuse for a station yes, ever time it rained it was get soaked or stand like a sardine at the very front. It's in dire need of an upgrade, given the local property around it isn't due for upgrading (ever) from Merri-bek I guess we'll just have to make due. I've moved out to Rockbank, before it's upgrade it was a horrendously small very little shelter single platform station, typical rural station if you will. the recent upgrades (2 years or so ago now) have certainly brought it up to snuff.

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Not sure if Merri-Bek is responsible for upgrading the station. I could be wrong, but I think it's a state government responsibility. Regardless, they should at least build some more shelter there!

[@EvilEldrin]

You'd think I'd listen to my wife more, she works at VicTrack and informed me its actually them that would perform the upgrades. They do work with council, ultimately its VT that manage the upgrades. @@melbournerailwayvideos

[@QJ89]

I should be disappointed that one of our city's founders was a murderous colonist, but... I'm not surprised. Sounds about right, too. But hey, we have a better Batman to attribute this station's name to!

[@AnimeReference]

Broadmeadows improved a lot with the new exits. The overpass is only used for bus replacements that dump you on the far side of Pascoe vale road. Honestly I just came here to double check before smack talking Jacana in the sequel.

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Hahahaha. The more bad things said about Jacana, the better!

[@danielpitt7835]

How did east Ringwood or Croydon stations not even make it on the list

[@ShatteredTrousers]

Ringwood East would definitely be one of my worst picks, but I never have any reason to disembark at that station because there is nothing to do or see in that suburb. No shelter, no way onto the platform except literally walking across the train track and the only exit is way down the far end of the platform. The perfect example of doing the bare minimum and nothing more. As for Croydon in March of 2024 - what station? The trains don't even stop there anymore due to the extensive renovation project. Hopefully the situation will improve as the new station takes shape, but right now the site is awful and best avoided unless you feel like taking a 20-25 minute walk around the outskirts of Croydon to get from the 670 bus stop to the rail replacement bus stop.

[@slaybarbiegirlturqoise]

cuz croydon was nice

[@Theyadayada]

I'd like to add about the Kananook line is there was a serial killer named paul denyer in that area in the early 90s who killed 3 women around the kananook/seaford area. My parents lived in the area at the time and they said it was surreal, everyone was home by 5pm and nobody went out alone. One day they were at the Frankston market which used to be opposite the police station in an outdoor lot (now its an undercover carpark), and a divvy van drove past and apparently it had the killer in the back and the crowd started hurling abuse at the guy in the back. Not sure it was actually the killer but yeah. Imagine shoplifting or something and then getting taken to the police station and an entire market starts abusing you. Great videos dude.

[@djberryhardkore]

remember hearing that a few people got stabbed there circa 2000s lol

[@jimdale6001]

Moorabbin has missed out on upgrades for years. Its burnt down once and is difficult for disabled to use.

[@pete89111]

Moorabbin Station really is an eyesore in desperate need of an upgrade. Looks like a dungeon

[@isthatrubble]

at the very least it needs a damn lift or something, that ramp is awful to walk up and seems like it would suck with a wheelchair or walker. stairs and a lift would help a lot.

[@shanehansen3705]

Moorabbin has never been the same since they removed the painting of the cheech wizard from the overpass tunnel shame how the best part of a stations was graffiti

[@MrLESLO]

Fantastic informative video, state gov should hire you to review every station and put in recommendations. This video brought so much information, excellent production.

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Thank you so much :)

[@r2nce]

I wonder how many of the 100,000 views on this video are State Government employees, presumably scratching their heads at why those suburbs even have stations to begin with, followed quickly by taking minor umbrage at the idea that they should do literally anything about any of it. PT in Melbourne could be glorious, but instead we've got... whatever you could charitably describe as 'functional'. Loving your back catalogue of videos, thank you for all of your efforts! =)

[@fledermauseimglockenturm7655]

Jacana Station was basic but functional, staffed and relatively well maintained till the M80 ring road was built, cutting it's name sake suburb in two, demolishing housing and businesses near by, closing off roads and crossings, leaving it isolated and hard to access, forcing more business to close, creating a dead zone around it. Then we had the local government reform program that redrew council borders placing the station and what was left of the suburb of Jacana in two different councils.

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Interesting stuff. Thanks for the historical insight!

[@fledermauseimglockenturm7655]

​@@melbournerailwayvideos The satellite view should tell the story. The units to the south and the Shell servo to the north have been built since, to give you an idea of the kind of hole that was blown in the middle of the suburb. Bad planning or capricious disregard, it was like 'The Castle' but without the happy ever after.

[@antonvann2576]

I have noticed that the station upgrades thanks to Level Crossing Removals on the Frankston line, none of the new stations have escalators, just low capacity lifts and shallow ramps. Whereas the elevated "sky rail" Dandenong line stations, and lowered Springvale were all equipped with escalators.

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

I guess it's because a lot of them aren't actually that far below the ground, and not that well used. It seems a bit excessive putting an escalator in in those circumstances.

[@ondrejsedlak4935]

Good old Jacana. My go to station for when I want to walk to Melbourne Airport. Seriously, I've done that a few times and it feels like walking through something that used to be a warzone.

[@mikesiagian]

😮 You walked from Jacana Station to Melbourne Airport??? That would’ve been one hell of a long walk!

[@thatsimracer666]

@@mikesiagian Probs not that bad as you cutting through the valley no more than a hours walk I reckon

[@georgebronte840]

​@@thatsimracer666He'd have less to walk if he got off at the next station, Broady.

[@ondrejsedlak4935]

@@thatsimracer666 2 hours relaxed walk

[@the_failed_states]

I've gotta say, for me Southern Cross is hands down the worse station. Jacana et al... they will eventually get an upgrade (when Labor starts losing some outer west seats), but Southern Cross is the pits. The whole station is annoying, and seems to have been designed from ground up by someone who's seen a picture of a railway station, but never actually used one. We have platform access that's only available via unreliable spindly escalators that are constantly breaking down - there are subways, but they are reserved only for the important activities like topping up the coke machines. When the escalators do break down, you can bet on the working empty escalators operating in the opposite way depending on peak conditions. In the morning they will be descending, and in the afternoon peak, they will be ascending. The trick here seems to be to carry as few people as possible. Also this is another call to action for all those morons who like to stand two abreast on an escalator. The place stinks of diesel fumes, and must be just a massive looming worksafe class action. You can't hear the announcements, and when you're straining to hear an automated announcement that may be useful - some Metro dude on the PA blurts something out at rapid-fire so you can't hear his message and you can't hear the automated message either. They seem to do this on purpose. The passenger information displays are terrible - this isn't limited to Southern Cross though, though SC has the laughable 'next train' screens that cycle to display useless information just as you are accessing potentially useful. Whenever I need to catch a train to Bendigo VLine always makes it a bus, and you don't get to know this until you get to the station, y'know, it's like how they do it in the big European cities - they are all about slow inefficient rail and sudden bus replacements.

[@heatherhoward2513]

Oh yes, Southern Cross for sure. I acm on a walking stick, a little disabled, and finding platforms 15 and 16 is a nightmare, I can go up escalators but not down( too steep,too fast) and the single lift hidden away requires prayer and faith to find it and know it will actually stop on 15 as the indicator says ground and 1st. It was a nightmare. On vline, have a look at north shore,geelong. No shelter, nowhere.

[@JackStavris]

Yeah Southern Cross is pretty terrible. Platform 15 and 16 are especially terrible, as they were just tacked on when the regional rail link was built, so the glass divider from the outer structure cuts between the platform and leaves no seats on the Platform 16 side even though there are seats facing 16, they're behind the glass on the 15 side so you can sit behind the window facing 16, and not hear the announcements as the loudspeakers for 16 are on the outer side of the glass divider. At least being on 16 is the only chance to get some fresh air as it's not totally covered. Another problem is the "A" and "B" designations for the V/Line platforms, though the problem is most apparent on 15 and 16, as these are the only platforms that carry the one eastbound V/Line service, the Gippsland line, which always departs from 15A/16A. This wouldn't be a problem if the majority of services going to Traralgon didn't also depart only a minute or two after a service going to Tarneit on the B side of the platform, causing confusion as the PIDs on both the A and B side show the exact same thing, the next departing train on the entire platform, not the ones departing on the specific side of the platform. Literally daily there's always some group of people who board the Traralgon service thinking it was the Tarneit one, and then being shocked they're being taken in the exact opposite direction they needed to go.

[@robvegas9354]

Southern Cross is a work of art now compared to the old Spencer Street station before the rebuild back in the early 2000's. it was always an interesting experience there in the 80s and 90's.

[@nataliatheweirdo]

i dont use southern cross often but it sucks when i have to mostly bc 1, suck at directions and southern cross is huge to navigate, and 2, im disabled and the only way to get out is ESCALATORS?!? or a lift if ur lucky xD

[@willsshepherd2976]

& a section of the roof collapsed when a pylon fell. & they forgot the country platforms which is what the station is and thus up to four platforms on each side of a platform thrown up but not under the roof. 1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 2 2a, 2b, 2c along one side and 8 more along the other. lol…. It was a fabulous station with throughways great access, quiet, safe, reliable went deep underground was replaced with a pyramid so it’s now a mercaba but it’s faulty.

[@Melbourne-Trains]

Another addition to South Kensington is the constant 24/7 alarm that I thought to be a a pedestrian crossing but it is just some factory that is extremely annoying

[@clawscrab3497]

Ruthven is pretty bad too. My local is Oak Park and it's a pain if you're getting off at platform 1 because the underpass is quite steep, as is the one at Ascot Vale...

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Yeah, Ruthven would have been on it if it wasn't for the recent resurfacing it had. Tbh it was a toss up between it and Lalor.

[@RabbitBusters]

This is a great video. I subscribed so I can learn a bit more about the city and its surroundings in which I live. Fantastic work!!

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Thanks :)

[@simont6337]

Love your work, MRV. Let's face it, very few of us on here have been to all of Melbourne's 222 railway stations (I certainly haven't). In an ideal world there'd be funding to modernize all these dreadful stations, but there's just too many of them. Removing level crossings, duplicating single-track and upgrading signalling to increase frequency are all higher-priority items. It's certainly fascinating to see some of these stations on lines I've never used, if somewhat depressing to realise they'll never be fixed up - at least, not in my lifetime.

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Thanks Simon. I completely agree with everything you have said. I even controversially think that perhaps the Level Crossing Removal Project, as good as it has been and will continue to be, should have some of its funding reallocated towards things like track duplication. It obviously won't happen, because of how politically successful the LXRP has been, but it would be nice!

[@bigdude101ohyeah]

I drive past Jacana station almost daily. It's genuinely surprising - almost funny - that PTV bothered to upgrade the signage there. At Pascoe Vale, they gave up after just one sign. The less said about Boronia, the better.

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Haha. Yeah they actually upgraded the signage while I was making this video. It's like they sensed my presence!

[@electro_sykes]

​@@melbournerailwayvideos I personally dislike Melbourne Central. True it is a pretty cool station, but its just too busy and the fact you have to go through a busy shopping centre just to access the station entrance is just annoying. I wish one day, you can enter it from the street again. I think State Library station may partially fix this issue, but Melbourne Central itself is too busy. If I am going to anywhere near that end of La-Trobe Street, I prefer to get off at the nearby Flagstaff station. Nowhere near the crowding chaos that is Melbourne Central. True, Melbourne Central is not as bad as any of the stations that you have talked about on here, but I hate it for different reasons. My least favourite line meanwhile has got to be the Frankston Line. Whenever you decide to daytrip to Frankston by Train, be prepared for any absurd thing that can possibly happen. My experience of it has been quite an interesting & questionable one. Honestly, if you do decide to daytrip down to Frankston, then you're extremely brave & stupid.

[@kristianbeamish6940]

Tourists aren’t welcome in Broadmeadows area so stay on the train if you would prefer.

[@JohnCooperCre8]

but it's the public transport gateway to the airport, with it's snazzy 901 bus interchange@@kristianbeamish6940

[@yesbeautyfly]

Electric Tilt trains between Brisbane & Rockhampton started in 1998 & the record of 210km/hour during testing maybe still the fastest in Australia. Mel & Syd have more people than Brisbane but what did VIC do to update the rail network?

[@parisfiorito]

There’s at least two stations that clearly need an upgrade 1. Regent (Preston/Reservoir) I find it unsafe to have to go over the tracks and walk all the way around to platform 1 coming off the 567 bus! 2. Jolimont (MCG) I cannot stand the ramp going onto platform 2 especially if a train is approaching! Cut the ramp shorter, if anything…

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

They should definitely phase out stations where you have to physically cross the tracks. It's unforgivable that they maintained that arrangement at Montmorency! I think Jolimont is okay as it is, but that's just my opinion. The long length of the ramp is probably necessary to keep it DDA compliant. Lots of stations have stations, but the ramps are actually too steep for disabled people to use, defeating the point.

[@MichaelsMusicMix]

Surely Heyington makes it purely cos its the only stairs-only station on the Network.

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Good point! Also because it backs onto a scandal-ridden, notorious private school!

[@petertrezise4545]

No wheelchair access yet there is a ramp into the shelter shed.

[@jackypurts]

@@melbournerailwayvideos I was a student at St Kevin's from 2003-2008, and I can recall boys who had injuries (broken legs/ankles etc) having to basically be carried up the overpass stairs to get to the city-bound platform. It was shithouse back then, and it sounds like nothing has changed! (same can be said of the school itself, probably)

[@h0ustonwehaveaproblem]

It makes me so mad that so many stations have just been rebuilt with little to no thought of daily usage mainly being shelter, such poor overly large and boring designs. Never sure why someone would build any place that people have to wait at without shelter… clearly the designers have never used a train station 🙄

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

It's so frustrating, and it wouldn't have even cost much to install them in the scheme of the high cost of rebuilding these stations!

[@isthatrubble]

they have thought about it - they've thought about how it could encourage "loitering" and give homeless people somewhere to rest. and we can't have that, now, can we?

[@Duchess_of_Cadishead]

I’m surprised to see Boronia in this list as I don’t find it too bad. Travelling from Ballarat to visit my son in Boronia, I have used this station many times.

[@footy2rock]

Yeah i get off at Boronia station when i visit my brother I dont see why its rated Number 2.I dont find that station that bad

[@MrBCorp]

The worst station is actually Officer station. Until recently it didn't even have a carpark. I only discovered how bad this station is because I had a friend move out to Pakenham. A few years ago there was no shelter or anything of any kind. It was just a platform.

[@Karl-going-solo]

You would think Officer would get an upgrade within a decade with the number of new houses continually being built there.

[@lachlanholidayaccessibletr6758]

@@Karl-going-solo ililivonthatlinewotisitlikeforwealchers

[@russell_beddyoisken]

I was in Melbourne a few months ago, and the bleakest, ugliest, most depressing station I had the pleasure of going to was Sandown Park.

[@aidanthomas2510]

Yeah that along with Dandenong could have made it.

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Sandown Park definitely isn't great. At least it's served by shiny new HCMT trains!

[@NoManDetected]

thank god for that@@melbournerailwayvideos

[@ZinelandEnterprises]

An expose on the airport rail project is definitely long overdue... the plans for that "work in process" consist of several station sites that were planned in Melbourne's northwest since the 1960s, but just never built (if you go to them today, they're still pretty much empty, as it is government reserved land). As someone who lives in the northwestern suburbs, a half-hour car trip to the city takes me an average of 90 minutes on PT. Plus, there's the rumoured dodgy deals Tulla airport signed with Skybus, but that's just a "rumour"

[@JamesJoyceJazz]

4:56 As someone who regularly uses this train there is no risk of there being people on the benches because no one ever uses this station. The only issue with the station is that the train stops there at all.

[@Techno-Universal]

Broadmeddows station was also rebuilt in 1989 and there’s also an old video of the station on KZbin from 1989 and there was a metal sign there with information about the rebuild project.

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Interesting stuff! If you could dig up the link to that video and put it here, I'm sure many would like to see it.

[@Techno-Universal]

@@melbournerailwayvideos It’s definitely on KZbin but I couldn’t find it just now! It’s definitely still here on KZbin somewhere! :)

[@fledermauseimglockenturm7655]

@@melbournerailwayvideos If you peer into the signal box, it's very apparent that it's actually the original that you'll see in the old videos/photos. It's just been re clad to match the monstrosity that was built around it.

[@Thetiersofmadness]

I would nominate Darling and middle Footscray stations, Darling is right next to a freeway, and middle Footscray has very little passenger facilities and the platform narrows at lot at the end. Great video btw, keep up the great work!

[@harshilgupta6652]

you could say the same about hoppers crossing, Williams landing & newport. similar to some of the stations mentioned here

[@jamieb8112]

I was half expecting Yarraman to make the list. Mainly because of the isolation someone could feel at this station. It’s not as isolating as it once was because of all the appartments that have been built across the road. But Yarraman and Sandown Park are a bit creepy late at night. You wouldn’t know who’s hiding behind all the trees at Sandown Park. No surprises Kananook made the list. I can still clearly remember that incident in 1990. R.I.P. Sarah.

[@showstealer1829]

Honestly from what I rememember travelling those lines, you could make a case for almost any station on the Dandenong/Pakenham line. Yarraman is depressing. Hallam/Narre Warren were dangerous. Beaconsfield/Officer didn't exist. Noble Park was always 50-50 on whether a rock would get thrown through the window. Sandown Park was dark and scary Westall was literally just a platform. Huntingdale was deadly after dark Oakleigh was drug central Hughesdale at least once a week had someone jump in front of a train And Dandenong never had so many ways to die

[@danaarfuso7949]

I've only taken the Broadmeadows train to the city once and walking down the ramp too the platform even at daytime it is so unsafe with the high fences on both sides I wouldn't walk there alone

[@yesbeautyfly]

Even Perth has trains to connect airport, what the 'help' does VIC do?

[@Chook181]

Sunshine totally missed out on this list! The station isn't necessarily the worst aesthetically (even though it isn't nice at all) - the real issue is the safety and people at Sunshine. Every single time I find myself at Sunshine after the sun sets, something terrible is happening with an unruly passenger/passerby harrassing people or the safety officers. Definitely the most dangerous feeling station at night.

[@smitajky]

My vote is for Box Hill. From the days when I could wait outside in the fresh air the station is now completely hidden. If you don't know where it is you simply can't find it. Then you descend into the bowels of the earth. Deprived of any sight of the sun or sky. And wait underground in a cold windswept tunnel. Not only that but the design is the exact opposite of good planning. Downhill entering the station making more severe braking needed and uphill leaving the station requiring more power to get started. And all this being on top of a hill that used to achieve the opposite. As an "improvement" it must rank as the worst improvement on the entire system. Although Southern Cross is a strong competitor.

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

You make valid points. I do like that the changes at Box Hill allowed them to utilise the space above the line well with a shopping centre though.

[@Kaha-ow1xt]

Box Hill has been under the shopping centre since at least the late 1980s when I went through it to get to school, so you may as well cite times when the whole area was orchards and quarries

[@harryricochet8134]

The line at Box Hill is only uphill for 'down' trains (from Melbourne) on their departure and is downhill for 'up' trains (to Melbourne) only on their approach so the entire premise of your point about the incline is without any logical foundation whatsoever. The original station was on a hill requiring all trains in both directions to approach uphill and depart downhill, (which is of zero consequence either way as the trains are electric with both air and rheostatic brakes), with the 'up' line approach not at all requiring the 'severe' braking which you claim and to which I can attest as I often drove trains into the station when I worked for the railways 30-odd years ago. There are far steeper inclines genuinely requiring serious braking on the approach to stations throughout the suburban network than the comparatively moderate 'up' ramp on the approach to Box Hill. Additionally, the Station St level crossing caused total gridlock during peak hour so the underground station with the bus interchange and shopping centre above is far better, safer and functional all round.

[@HardstylePete]

I'll take a fully covered station any day over a empty open platform.

[@nuggnugg8464]

It was quite nice of you to describe Boronia as a "hell hole". I wouldn't have been as lenient on it. ;)

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Hahahahaha

[@mvfc7637]

Kudo’s to Broadmeadows/Cragieburn line having three out of the ten worst stations in Melbourne and thank god I don’t have to get off at Jacana, I never realised it was that awful.

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Yeah I think the Craigieburn line deserved to be called out!

[@mvfc7637]

it’s an accurate assessment of the neglect displayed towards the Northern Group of Lines by successive State Govt’s, shit trains and ahit stations.

[@sarahchan-reeves8829]

Stations like Jacana, although 'functional' are still very, very hard for seniors & mobility challenged people to use. And coming from that, dangerous. Making it worse, there's literally no way to get help if something happens to you on 'The Journey to the Platform' (bearing in mind that in itself is a massive journey before you even start your actual journey to wherever you're going). No matter which stations I thought would get #1, I absolutely also agree with Jacana getting the #1🏆 too. I suppose that's the absolute saddest part, that for the "World's Most Livable City" we have so many stations that are totally worthy of being ripped down tomorrow if real concerns were acted upon 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@shrikelet]

Oh wow, South Kensington doesn't have chain-link fence from the 1960s anymore? We're in the future now, boys!

[@LiLindi19]

Tecoma station on Belgrave line, only one track so holds up trains between Upwey and Belgrave. No real car parking and shelter.

[@BTW...]

There is shelter, there is a lousy car park, but you can blame the very dodgy Yarra Ranges Council for that. If it's lousy weather I get on the first train that arrives, even if that is headed to Belgrave, and sit in the AC carriage at Belgrave.. being the next train to City. There is no 'bottle neck' along that section of the single line from Upper Ferntree Gully. If anything, the single line from UFTG to Upwey, being a longer stretch, would be a more significant bottle neck (which it isn't anyway) Trains are scheduled to pass at the dual track Upwey.... where there is even less parking than Tecoma. Car Park at Belgrave if you need to. Plenty of commuter parking there nowadays.

[@rjfaustralia2653]

Tfs; I found this very interesting/enlightening. Grew up using the Frankston line in the 70s and 80s. Now use the Lilydale Line. Very interested to hear feedback about Boronia Station. Will check out your Top 10 best stations too. Best Wishes.

[@satyrec0001]

A station that I was surprised to see here was the Morrabin station. the platform is ok but the surroundings are awful. boarded up shops. needles and litter. one of the worst

[@xymaryai8283]

the Jacana station overpass is very iconic to me, but i've never used it before, so i don't know how bad it is. i'd miss it, but wouldn't mind it going before i have to use it XD

[@thatsimracer666]

trust me when I say I only use jacana if I've missed my last bus from glenroy station and the worst part is I have to walk through a dark empty bike path if I do miss my last bus

[@paulorocky]

Flinders Street and Southern Cross deserve honourable mentions. Flinders Street is effectively Melbourne’s answer to Skid Row, and Southern Cross is only loved by those with a fetish for inhaling diesel fumes. Neither have any meaningful amenities, unless vending machine pizza is your idea of meaningful.

[@aidanthomas2510]

Yeah I have always thought that was weird. You're going to rent out a shop only to use the front of it? Build a pizza shop if you want, but I don't see how that's sustainable especially in a place like SCS that no doubt has high rents.

[@simont6337]

I'm at Southern Cross most days and have never been particularly bothered by diesel fumes. But it is annoying that from any of the suburban platforms, the nearest rest rooms are about 10 mins walk away, and that you have to go upstairs, then downstairs, to reach them.

[@hifivaliant8937]

Spencer street should never have been renamed.

[@HardstylePete]

@@simont6337 Private ownership is amazing right?

[@Thetrucky69]

You left out middle Footscray. Not a good stop to get off at night. The escalators are also ridiculously steep at Parliament station.

[@mk098a]

West Footscray also gave me the willies, then having to walk home because there was no way for me to get home at night

[@janetrussell3288]

Good list. Another angle on bad stations is the gap between the doors and the platform- which can make things unsafe for especially the elderly, people with vision issues and mobility issues. Here the otherwise pretty nice station Canterbury gets a black mark, I know people have fallen here.

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Very good and valid point!

[@rozaj2002]

they'd have to get up the non-compliant ramps first

[@lachlanholidayaccessibletr6758]

iagreewithwotyouarsayinganditisagoodlist

[@lachlanholidayaccessibletr6758]

iemgladyousedthat

[@SportsReplays]

Not surprised North Richmond is on this list. I have seen junkies there once. Plus if you drop any of your belongings you have to walk all the way down to pick it up.

[@kupokuporay]

I was bracing for Dandenong to make an appearance here but was surprised it missed the list, it's just the unfortunate melting pot of crazies, panhandlers or people looking for trouble on the best of days that does it in. Aside from that, the next station towards the city from there is Yarraman which I think was included in one of the shots at the start of the video, very barren single ramp access island design. Someone also attempted to steal my parked car when I was at work, fortunately they were dumb enough to only break the locks but not smart enough to actually break in. Also lucky I missed Lalor just recently when I was buying a CRT TV from some guy at the station before it (Thomastown).

[@mikespike2099]

Ummm are talking purely about aesthetics or about security? Because yeah! After dark dandelong station shiv needs protection! 😅

[@yesbeautyfly]

ABC disclosed the air quality of Southern Cross Station. VIC loves diesel trains. How can Melbourne surpass Sydney or Brisbane in terms of trains.

[@nickzoic]

Jacana Station is also one of the weirdest and wildest moments of the M80 cycle trail. Up, over, around, down, this is the only way for one of Melbourne's biggest cycle trails to get across the train line! A separate pedestrian / cycle bridge would surely make sense for everyone.

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Thanks for highlighting that. I forgot about how important the M80 trail is!

[@wikiprion]

imagine being a blind person living in south kensington and having to use a cane on that platform at a busy hour!!! it's all i could think about, so so so badly designed accessibility-wise.

[@naviledreamweaver3219]

Kanny mentioned!!!! To this day, Kananook's main stated purpose is "skip the franga barriers" lol

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Hahaha that's gold!

[@kirbstagoontheaxolotl]

I remember seeing Jacana voted off early as a participant in the train station game and it was like 'Wow, worse than South Kensington? Impressive' I'm suprised Heyington, the only station without wheelchair access, DIDN'T make it on here. Another candidate that is going to be a VERY unpopular opinion from me is Newport. I have to go into Williamstown a fair amount (my nearest stations are Newport, Seaholme and Altona) and every time I have to interchange there to get the 432, 471 or a Werribee line train to get home, the underpasses make me feel unsafe and the ramps are fairly steep and it feels dodgy for an interchange station. I like the library and op shop there, but... yeah. The bus services there aren't *the best* when it comes to my suburb, two bus routes, one of which only comes EVERY HALF HOUR ON WEEKDAYS AND IS NOTORIOUS FOR BEING LATE and the other that goes directly up to Williamstown but is a bit of a walk to get to, compared to every 15 minutes at least for Altona, sure the commute's a little longer on the train when I'm going places but I prefer the bus that, yk, DOESN'T TAKE HALF AN HOUR TO REACH ME AND ANOTHER NEARLY HALF AN HOUR TO GET TO THE STATION DUE TO IT'S WINDING ROUTE

[@musicwelikemang]

Have they funded an upgrade to Tecoma station? I remember it being consistently the worst station in melbs for about 2 decades.

[@richarda2248]

Remember when the Southern Aurora pub was in the car park of Dandenong station?

[@randomperson5579]

the two stations i always feel like i'm gonna get stabbed at are Dandenong and Clifton Hills, that underpass in Clifton Hills screams murder tunnel.

[@gellibrandrail-australia4038]

i got mugged at Broady Station twice,,,,,,,,. i totally agree with your list, especially Jacana being #1

[@Mattube1983]

Just a heads up, the Albion station is in Sunshine not Sunbury.

[@JohnKean-d2r]

What happened to the days when they had waiting rooms with open fireplaces, ladies and gents lavatories, station masters and attendants, and highly polished taps above the gully traps? Oh, of course. Silly me. That was Victorian Railways.

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

The good old days!

[@louisebb4183]

I was surprised that you missed Dandenong?

[@sandcrab461]

this is actually a very interesting list! You've clearly done your research, though now i found myself increasingly surprised that Glen Iris (my local station, unfortunately) dodged the top 10. I guess the joke's on me though lol, i still pick it over Gardiner so i can actually get a park.

[@pichualterreal]

Got a huge jumpscare from seeing Roxburgh Park at 10. Was not expecting to see my local station but I do agree it is a bit of a shitter, I never even noticed the spot missing for an elevator, why would they do that haha.

[@michaelhart3410]

This is such a good video!! 🚆Keep up the great work

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Thanks Michael! Much appreciated!

[@campbellmcdonald1819]

What about aircraft on Werribee line

[@MadDogAdventures]

Haven't watched yet but I'm going to say Dandenong is up there. I was wrong, I'm very surprised

[@peachiedb]

Kinda surprised Werribee wasn't on the list. Especially with the crickets jumping off walls. I counted 51 crickets one night

[@victorianvlogzooooooo]

0:11 what station is that? cave hill💀

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

Hahaha. That's Glen Iris!

[@bigmatty50]

Yep, but I rate Jacana #1, South Kensington #2 & Kananook #3. You've been a bit harsh on Albion. Newmarket & Kensington have the same old mill / factory feel. South Kensington bypassed on Sunbury line. One poor shelter and fenced off transport yards. North Richmond #4 for me as station dodgy, but good eats below.

[@EmmaLiza]

Gotta say, this video has been a real eye opener for me re: what a bougie little South-Easterner I am, as unlike the best stations video, I can't say I'm terribly familiar with any of these stations 😅

[@Doodlebirds1]

I live near the peninsula and sometimes have to commute to the city on the train. I’m all too familiar with Frankston line and its “characters” that frequently board the train. Honestly, that entire line could on this list some nights from the violence and drug deals I see nearly all the time. It’s fucking nuts.

[@CptnWolfe]

Not sure how I feel for a lack of Pakenham/Cranbourne stations, was hoping to see one or two

[@melbournerailwayvideos]

The thing is, so many of them have/are being rebuilt now. It felt wrong to go for something like Pakenham when the new station will be ready so soon.

[@darrenmiles-morland8038]

@@melbournerailwayvideosSandown Park and Yarraman are nothing special. Neither of them are among the stations that are either being rebuilt or have previously been rebuilt.

[@CptnWolfe]

@@darrenmiles-morland8038 I've gotten off at Yarraman once, and that was because I forgot to touch on and was going to Dandenong

[@GoldM4official]

If this was in the 1990s noble park would definitely make the list because of the gang called “3174”

[@aidanthomas2510]

​@@darrenmiles-morland8038yeah I would have gone with Sandown Park

[@timberwolvesxx7250]

Boronia is very green & quite pretty with the mountain views, but yeah some unsavoury types/druggos around. my brother lives near the roundabout, he always has stories about the crazy stuff going on. drug houses, housing commission in the area too

[@garygary6032]

surprised riversdale station isn't on here. I went to school at camberwell high and everyone from there gets on and off there to get to school. there's barely any seating and barely any shelter which is especially bad when everyone from school is waiting for the train. if it's raining and it's 3:10pm when a bunch of school kids are waiting for the train you'll either get there in time to be under the tiny little bit of shelter, or there's no space left and you have to stand in the rain and get your school bag soaked.

[@exgl_fp1598]

Very good list, but where is Diggers Rests station review 🤔

[@Mattube1983]

Haha that and the old melton station. Melton is always packed busy and yet refuse to extend it. I guess that’s why they they built the new one

[@slaybarbiegirlturqoise]

diggers rest has nothing wrong with is so shut it exgl

[@michellee.brooks2920]

I would add every station on the Alamein line, and there are assults all the time at Holmsglen - not to mention two murders in the past, and serious drug problems on the car park side. Yuck. I have fled Melbourne now. Have they decided in which century the Airport Link will be built, having been first announced 60 years ago!

[@BiggieCheese6945]

Hi, I am from brisbane, but recently visited Melbourne for a week and I used the train a lot, my least favourite station was upper fern tree gully, as the underpass is so tiny that I had to duck under it to pass through after I hit my head, and there is no rain cover

[@wallybelp1]

Love this video. Roxburgh Park on a windy winter's day. No where to hide from the biting wind. I got on the train a few years back at Moonee Ponds on a Saturday morning. Someone had taken a huge dump inside the train before it got to Moonee Ponds. This brings up the other serious issue of so few toilets being available. We now just accept the lack of toilets as par for course. It should not be as in my opinion it is a Disability Discrimination issue. Older people will certainly understand what I am talking about here. Give us more dunnies. and spend money on these tacky stations.

[@popplenc]

build a selfcleaning toilet next to the protective officers box and connect it to their toilet system so older people stop having the stress of travelling by public transport with no toilet avaliable

[@y3ll0st4r2]

as someone who takes the cranbourne/pakenham line five out of seven days a week for school, i can only wonder how any of the stations on that line escaped this list

[@skippy8696]

Kinda surprised the Sunbury/Watergardens line only got one mention 😂

[@olivercullen1737]

Tecoma on the belgrave line. No shelter, one platform, no platform signage, no information board, no parking, dodgey as heck. Upwey has at least got 2 platforms. Only other ones I think are missing on the list are maybe just Dandenong. But apart from that. Great list

[@kippen64]

Another vote for Tecoma.

[@DragonFury-gq5zo]

You’re right. It’s the most tiny, hidden train station ever. Although the scenery is pretty nice

[@meikahidenori]

Tecoma also has a dangerous gap between trains & the platform.not good for disabled or young child passangers as they can get stuck and caught. I've seen many prams get caught getting on and off trains there too.