Woodend passengers will now be able to wait in comfort and style with the opening of the new waiting room at the historic station.
Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas announced that the $1.3 million project was complete last Tuesday, thanking passengers for their patience during the construction period.
“The Woodend Station has been an integral part of the community for more than 160 years, and these vital upgrades will ensure passengers can continue to use the station in comfort and style well into the future,” she said.
“We thank passengers for their patience while we have delivered important upgrades to railway stations along the Bendigo Line.”
Inspired by the existing heritage-listed station building on Platform 1, the new waiting room features curved steel verandah columns and a corrugated roof. Providing passengers with year-round comfort, the waiting room also includes reverse-cycle heating and air conditioning, and has ensured that passengers of all abilities can utilise the space, with automatic sliding doors and designated mobility aid areas.
It will also be fitted with public announcement speakers and CCTV cameras.
With an average of 2,500 trips passing through the station each week, the new waiting room forms part of a package of works completed to upgrade facilities at four stations along the Bendigo Line, including Bendigo, Clarkefield, and Riddells Creek.
At Woodend, upgrades were also carried out to the roof and verandah of the existing building, with improvements made to the drainage system. At Riddells Creek Station, the platform’s awnings were replaced as part of general maintenance. Repairs were also carried out at Clarkefield Station on the platform’s shelter and toilets were upgraded, while the first stage of the Bendigo Station roof replacement is now also complete.
