Rail Geelong

• History
• Events
• Diagrams
• Photos
• Related Locations
• Sources

Lara is a busy commuter station for local residents headed for Melbourne. Lara also sees heavy use during the bi-annual Avalon Airshow. It has an island platform, with the faces staggered to some degree. The station building is located in the middle, and has an enclosed waiting room, booking office, and toilets. Platform access is via a pedestrian crossing at the Geelong end over a single track. For many years the station was only staffed during morning peak up until lunchtime, in 2009 it was altered to be open until around 7 pm at night, to reduce the number of tickets needing to be sold by conductors onboard trains.

There is a loop siding about 800 metres long along the west line, and a crossover at each end of the station to allow trains from both main lines to access it. The loop is using during the Avalon Airshow to stable V/Line trains, and in 2008 was often used to stable late running down Warrnambool freight trains, until the reopening of the east side of North Geelong Yard for the purpose.

History

Lara opened with the Geelong - Melbourne railway line in 1856 as Duck Ponds. It was the first terminus of the line out of Geelong while construction pressed onwards, both goods and passenger facilities were provided, as was a crossing loop.

By 1899 the station was interlocked, and a substantial three road yard existed. In 1912 the sidings were extended in length. In 1926 a new signal frame was provided due he the previous one being destroyed by fire. It is believed the current station building was built at this time. (an alternative date is 1948 when a Station Master was assigned to Lara.)

Little change occurred at Lara until 1973 when all two position mechanical signalling was replaced with three position colour light signals, and a new control panel provided. At the same time No 2 Road was extended to form a 640 meter (2100 ft) long crossing loop.

In 1981 further change occurred at Lara with duplication of the line between Little River and Corio. A new back platform was provided to serve the East (Geelong bound) line, giving Lara an island layout. One of the yard sidings was also removed by this time. The final layout changes occurred in 1993 when another siding was removed from the yard, leaving only the long loop. The space occupied by the removed siding was used by the Standard Gauge line that opened in 1995.

In 2006 the signalling at Lara was replaced as part of the Regional Fast Rail project, with control being transferred to the Geelong Signal Control Centre. This allows the greatest advantage to be gained from the bi-directional lines, allowing slower trains to be passed by faster ones.

In 2007 the 'Parkway' (park and ride) facility was completed, which extended the car park, upgraded the bus shelter (with a roof so high it is useless if it rains) and put additional signage on the Princes Freeway. Other parkways are at Drouin, Ballan, Garfield, Gisborne, Bacchus Marsh and Wallan with a total cost of $5 million.

In June 2007 work started on a upgrade of the station building, with the construction of a temporary platform extension at the Melbourne end of platform 1. Work did not actually start until March 2008 when hoardings were erected around the station building, and temporary facilities provided by portable buildings in the car park. A 25 km/h speed restriction was place on the east line though the station, most likely due to the effect on visibility to the pedestrian crossing accessing the platform. The current building was then gutted, and extended to the south, and verandas built all around. The new building will feature a bigger waiting room and ticket office, a small kiosk, and upgraded toilets. Purple Viclink signage was erected in August, along with the finishing touches on the new building. Costing $700,000 the work was completed in mid 2008.

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Events

Line Opened

Track Amplified

Safeworking

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Diagrams

NOTE: Diagrams are not to scale.

• Opening
• 1899
• 1912
• 1973
• 1981
• 1993

Opening

Back to Year Listing

1899

Back to Year Listing

1912

Back to Year Listing

1973

Back to Year Listing

1981

Back to Year Listing

1993

Back to Year Listing

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Photos

Nine of 96 images found displayed. Click them to enlarge.

Ticket window at Lara station closed for the evening February 10, 2024	Car park and the station building February 2, 2024	Parkiteer bike cage in the station car park February 2, 2024
Brick and bluestone culvert beneath McClelland Avenue at the level crossing September 9, 2023	Brick and bluestone culvert beneath McClelland Avenue at the level crossing September 9, 2023	Stockpile of insulated rail joints in the V/Line depot at Lara October 30, 2022
Rails rusting up in the siding at Lara October 30, 2022	'We are closed due to coronavirus restrictions' notice at Bonappuccinos cafe at Lara station January 28, 2022	Opening hours signage outside Bonappuccinos cafe at Lara station January 28, 2022

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Related Locations

• Lara Signal Box

Sources

• http://www.vrhistory.com/ - Andrew Waugh