Written By: Thomas McIntosh
Photos By: Thomas McIntosh, Alex Thorn and Ian Green
Page Last Updated: 8/6/20
The Lilydale line is a 38 kilometre passenger line that serves the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. It shares most of that 38 kilometres with the Belgrave line up until Ringwood, where the two lines split apart. The line was began operations in the 1880s and went out as far as Healesville and Warburton, both of which are now closed. At the time this page has been made (7/6/20), construction on the removal of Level crossings at Mooroolbark and Lilydale is slowly beginning. Meaning that in a few years, the line will look almost unrecognisable to what it is now.
A map of the Lilydale line as of 2020. Source: Metro Trains Melbourne
Lilydale Station
Looking towards Melbourne. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
Lilydale is the terminus station for the line, it has an island platform and multiple stabling yards which metro uses for their Xtrapolis trains. The station opened in 1882 and was made a premium station in 1996. Until the 1980s, the line continued onwards to Healesville where goods trains would run out to.
Currently, the early stages of construction are taking place at this station to remove the station and level crossing on the Maroondah Highway. When this is complete the station will be elevated and sandwiched inbetween the Maroondah Highway and Melba Avenue. |
The stabling yards north of the station. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
Advertising for the removal of the removal of the level crossing. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
The southern side of the Moorondah Highway level crossing. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
The northern side of the Moorondah Highway level crossing. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
Mooroolbark Station
Looking towards Lilydale. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
Opening in 1887, Mooroolbark is the second station on the Lilydale line. It has two platforms, a level crossing and a crossover at the up end of the station, meaning that trains can terminate and originate from the station. Platform 2 was added in 1985 and the station received several upgrades in 2014, with new shelters, wheelchair ramps and raised platforms. At the moment the level crossing on Manchester road was going to be grade separated. Construction has yet to begin.
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North side of the Manchester Road crossing. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
South side of the Manchester Road crossing. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
Platform 1 station building. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
Platform 1 station building. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
Platform 2 station building. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
A Lilydale service crosses over the level crossing. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
One of the few physically remaining pieces of Connex. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
Advertising for the future. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
Croydon Station
An up Xtrapolis service departs the station. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
Opening in 1882, Croydon is the third station on the Lilydale line. It has two platforms, a level crossing and a pedestrian crossing on each side of the station.
When the station opened, it was originally called 'South Warrandyte' but was changed to 'Croydon' in 1884. What is now platform 1 opened in 1984 as part of the duplication of the line between Croydon and Ringwood. |
Platform 1 station building. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
Platform 2 station building. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
Looking towards Melbourne. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
Looking towards Lilydale. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
Coolstore Road level crossing. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
Inside the platform 1 station building. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
Ringwood East Station
Looking towards Lilydale. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
Opening in 1925, Ringwood East is the fourth station on the Lilydale line. It is an unstaffed station with an island platform configuration. The island platform opened up in 1984 as part of the duplication of the line between Croydon and Ringwood.
One thing to note about this station is that at the pedestrian crossing on the up end of the station and the Dublin Road level crossing, there are small pedestrian boomgates that are used as opposed to a standard gate. I am not sure how many are left in Melbourne. But this is one of the last places for sure. |
A council sign and station sign. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
A sign with 'The Met' logo on a relay box. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
Pedestrian boomgates. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
The Dublin Street level crossing. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh 
Platform 2 looking towards Lilydale. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
An up Flinders Street service arrives into platform 1. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
Platform 1 looking towards Lilydale. (30/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
To continue towards Melbourne click here:
Trains on the Lillydale Line
T385-IEV102-T386 with an IEV run at Mooroolbark. (24/5/20)
Photo By: Alex Thorn |
An X'trapolis set approach Lilydale with a Down service. (15/5/20)
Photo By: Alex Thorn |
An up Lillydale service passes T369 on a works train at Lilydale. (8/10/13)
Photo By: Ian Green |
L 1162 sits in the yard are Lilydale with a charter train. (27/12/98)
Photo By: Ian Green |
All information sourced from Wikipedia