Mitcham railway station, Adelaide
Encyclopedia
Mitcham railway station is located on the Belair railway line in Adelaide
, South Australia
. It is located 8.5 km by rail from Adelaide Railway Station
, and is actually located in Lower Mitcham
. It and Blackwood are the only stations between Goodwood and Belair to have more than one platform
in use.
The "front entrance" to the station is on Belair Road, opposite the City of Mitcham
council chambers and the Mitcham Square Shopping Centre
(both located in Torrens Park).
and Aldgate in March 1883, and at times played a major role in the South Australian railway system. For example: the "Melbourne Express" (The Overland) used to stop at Mitcham; there were spurlines to Clapham
(now removed), Sleeps Hill (now part of the main line) and to an adjacent woodyard (still there, but not in use); and the railway station was manned and had a parcel shipping depot.
It was originally planned to call the station Lower Mitcham but the name was changed prior to opening.
Today it provides a passing loop
for trains using the now single track
broad gauge
line.
.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. It is located 8.5 km by rail from Adelaide Railway Station
Adelaide Railway Station
Adelaide Railway Station is the central terminus of the Adelaide Metro railway system. It is at on the north side of North Terrace, west of Parliament House. The Adelaide Casino is in part of the building that is no longer required for the station....
, and is actually located in Lower Mitcham
Lower Mitcham, South Australia
Lower Mitcham is an inner southern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia in the local government area of Mitcham. To the north, it is bounded by Grange Road, to the east by Belair Road, to the south by Murray Street...
. It and Blackwood are the only stations between Goodwood and Belair to have more than one platform
Railway platform
A railway platform is a section of pathway, alongside rail tracks at a train station, metro station or tram stop, at which passengers may board or alight from trains or trams. Almost all stations for rail transport have some form of platforms, with larger stations having multiple platforms...
in use.
The "front entrance" to the station is on Belair Road, opposite the City of Mitcham
City of Mitcham
The City of Mitcham is a Local Government Area situated in the foothills of eastern Adelaide, South Australia. Within its bounds is Flinders University, South Australia's third largest....
council chambers and the Mitcham Square Shopping Centre
Mitcham Square Shopping Centre
Mitcham Square Shopping Centre is a shopping mall in the City of Mitcham, located on Belair Road, Torrens Park, an inner southern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia...
(both located in Torrens Park).
History
The station was opened with the opening of the railway between AdelaideAdelaide Railway Station
Adelaide Railway Station is the central terminus of the Adelaide Metro railway system. It is at on the north side of North Terrace, west of Parliament House. The Adelaide Casino is in part of the building that is no longer required for the station....
and Aldgate in March 1883, and at times played a major role in the South Australian railway system. For example: the "Melbourne Express" (The Overland) used to stop at Mitcham; there were spurlines to Clapham
Clapham railway station, Adelaide
Clapham railway station was a railway station on the Belair railway line in suburban Adelaide, South Australia, which was closed in April 1995. Its remains are located on the north side of the Springbank Road overpass in the inner southern Adelaide suburb of Clapham. It was located 10.0 km by...
(now removed), Sleeps Hill (now part of the main line) and to an adjacent woodyard (still there, but not in use); and the railway station was manned and had a parcel shipping depot.
It was originally planned to call the station Lower Mitcham but the name was changed prior to opening.
Today it provides a passing loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
for trains using the now single track
Single track (rail)
A single track railway is where trains in both directions share the same track. Single track is normally used on lesser used rail lines, often branch lines, where the traffic density is not high enough to justify the cost of building double tracks....
broad gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
line.
Nellie's Garden
The Mitcham railway station garden, known as Nellie's Garden, is named in honour of Nellie Iris Ellis (1920-1983) who established the garden. Mrs Ellis was the wife of a former stationmaster. The garden is maintained by volunteers and is one of only five public gardens provided by the City of MitchamCity of Mitcham
The City of Mitcham is a Local Government Area situated in the foothills of eastern Adelaide, South Australia. Within its bounds is Flinders University, South Australia's third largest....
.
See also
- List of Adelaide railway stations
- List of closed Adelaide railway stations
- Adelaide MetroAdelaide MetroAdelaide Metro is the public transport system of the South Australian capital of Adelaide and the brand name of the Public Transport Division of the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure. It is an intermodal system with services provided by bus, tram or commuter rail throughout the...
- Railways in AdelaideRailways in AdelaideThe rail network in Adelaide, South Australia, consists of five lines and 81 stations, totalling 125.9 km. It is operated by Adelaide Metro, and is part of the city-wide Adelaide Metro]public transport system. Apart from the Glenelg Tram, Adelaide's railway system is serviced entirely by...
- Rail transport in South AustraliaRail transport in South AustraliaThe first railway in colonial South Australia was a horse-drawn tramway from the port of Goolwa on the Murray River to an ocean harbour at Port Elliot in 1854...