Motivation/Need

In metropolitan Melbourne, the importance of Warrigal Road is second only to Punt Road as a major North-South arterial route. This connector lies between the Nepean Highway at the southern end and Canterbury Road at the northern end, with the Princes Highway/Dandenong Road junction in the middle.

Route & Stations

Warrigal Road forms the backbone for the Warrigal Metro in futuristic Melbourne. In serving this North-South transport corridor, the key attractions that enhance the need for this metro are the major shopping centres — Southland, Chadstone, Box Hill and Westfield Doncaster.

1. Southland Metro (replacing Cheltenham)

The southern end of Warrigal Metro is the Southland Metro Interchange, which in futuristic Melbourne is a realigned replacement to the current Cheltenham Railway Station.

2. Kingston Metro

The connection to the Warrigal Road alignment is via Argus Street, curving north under the Le Page school and park. Connection to Warrigal Road is achieved at the intersection of Warrigal Road and Kingston Road. It is at this location that the Kingston Metro station is positioned. The station/platform boundary is located on the north side of the Kingston Road alignment. Underground pedestrian walkways connect the station to:

• Kingston Centre at the south-east side of the station
• Entrance to the business complex at the north-east end of the station
• Entrance on the south-west side of the intersection of Warrigal Rd and McGuire St
• Bayside Accident Repair Centre on the north-west side of the station

3. South Road Metro

Located under the intersection of Warrigal and South Roads. Escalator entrances to the metro are located on each of the four corners of the intersection.

4. Centre Road Metro

Located under the intersection of Warrigal and Centre Roads. Escalator entrances to the metro are located again at each of the four corners of the intersection. The north-west entrance connects to the Red Rooster, La Porchetta and McDonald’s fast food outlets.

5. North Road Metro

Located under the intersection of Warrigal and North Roads. Escalator entrances are located at each of the four corners with the south-east entrance joining to the Safeway complex.

6. Oakleigh Interchange

Located at the physical junction of the Cranbourne/Pakenham railway alignment with the Warrigal Road/metro alignment. The dual tracks shall swap such that the northbound track shall share a central platform with the westbound track and vice versa for the second platform located immediately below. Read the details in the (future) article.

7. Chadstone Interchange

For details about the Chadstone Interchange, read the article. The two Warrigal line tracks ‘swap’ and merge in alignment with the Glen Waverley railroad switch that bends to the north-east towards Holmesglen Interchange. After existing interchange stations in the existing train network (Richmond, North Melbourne & Caulfield), this newly designed interchange is the next in ranking based on the three lines that pass through; both the existing lines of Pakenham/Cranbourne and Glen Waverley/Knox are modified to create this triple junction.

8. Holmesglen Interchange

Holmesglen Interchange is positioned slightly north of the Batesford & Warrigal Road intersection. The alignment of platforms runs at an angle slightly sharper than that of Batesford Road, with three entrances, two on the west-side of Warrigal Road and the other on the east-side in a redeveloped complex housing the local post office.

9. Ashwood Metro

Following the Gardiners Creek reserve/alignment from Holmesglen, this section of the Warrigal line does have major implications and impacts on the environment. This is where the idealism kicks in, and somehow, magically, the metro line is constructed with minimal disturbance. Upon careful analysis of the map, the railway track alignment should follow the existing bicycle track exactly, or slightly to the east, away from the creek itself.

The Ashwood Metro is located under High Street Road, with two entrances on both sides of the road. The Northern entrance includes a seamless link to the nursing home. A final third underground walkway heads eastward under High Street Road to provide two final escalator entrances — the northern one providing connection to Ashwood College while the southern entrance provides for access to the Gospel Church.

10. Bennettswood Metro

Continuing along the path of Gardiners Creek bicycle trail, Bennettswood Metro is located at the intersection with Burwood Highway, between Elgar Road and the creek bridge. Bennettswood provides crucial access as the gateway to both the Presbyterian Ladies College and Deakin University Melbourne campus. These two educational institutions also influence the location of entrances. The train station connects to a rebuilt underground tram platform and complete set of ground entrances at the Elgar Road intersection. The eastside ground entrances of the station are located at the Holland Avenue intersection, providing direct access to Deakin University.

11. Box Hill South Metro

The Warrigal metro alignment deviates northwards away from the creek to align with the north-south axis of Station Street. The location of Box Hill South Metro is in between Stanley and Clifton Streets, directly under Station Street. This position allows for ground entrances to be located at the southern end at Piedmont Street, directly connecting to Kingswood College while the northern entrances link the four corners of the Canterbury Road/Station St intersection.

12. Box Hill Interchange

Box Hill Interchange remains intact, with the Warrigal tracks and supporting central platform positioned slightly to the west of Station Street and below the level of the present (unchanged) Ringwood/Belgrave lines. Additional underground tunnelling to create the platform with accompanying escalators/stairs/lifts whilst additional covered access shall enable quick access to the interchange from Whitehorse Road — presently open-air.

13. Box Hill North Metro

This metro is located under the intersection of Station Street and Woodhouse Grove. Four ground entrances link the metro via stairs only. This station is a short walk to the Applewood Retirement Village.

14. Westfield Doncaster Interchange

The final section of Warrigal metro line follows the alignment of Tram Road and then deviates under the Officeworks complex so that the station is located directly under the Drum food court corner of Westfield Doncaster. As an underground complex, entrances to the ground surface are included on the southside of Doncaster Road, providing a link between the Officeworks complex to the shopping centre.

Interchanges

The futuristic plans for the Glen Waverley see a number of new and/or redeveloped interchanges:

1. Westfield Doncaster — intersecting with the shopping centre
2. Box Hill — intersecting with the existing Ringwood/Belgrave metro line
3. Holmesglen — intersecting with the rebuilt/realigned Glen Waverley/Knox line
4. Chadstone — a brand new station, intersecting with the Dandenong and Warrigal metros
5. Oakleigh — intersecting with the Cranbourne/Pakenhan lines
6. Southland — intersecting with the shopping centre.