Pakenham railway station

Pakenham station opened 8 October 1877, when the railway line from Dandenong was extended.[6] Like the suburb itself, the station is named after Sir Edward Michael Pakenham, a Major General who served in the Peninsular War.[7]

In 1938, flashing light signals were provided at the Main Street level crossing, located at the Up end of the station.[6]

Initially single track, in 1954, the railway line between Pakenham and Nar Nar Goon was duplicated.[6] In 1955, the line between Pakenham and Officer was duplicated[6] and, in 1959, the current island platform was provided, when duplication occurred through the station.[8]

In 1970, the station buildings were replaced with a new pebblestone structure, and on 19 January 1975, electrified suburban services were extended to the station.[9] A crossover was also provided at the Up end of the station around this time.[10] During 1979-1980, further upgrades to the station occurred.[11]

On 16 April 1980, Pakenham was the scene of a collision between Hitachi carriage 353D and guards van 286ZL. The guards van was destroyed in the collision, and the Hitachi carriage was later scrapped.[12]

In 1986, boom barriers were provided at the Main Street level crossing.[13]

On 15 March 1997, Pakenham was upgraded to a Premium Station.[14] Since 2001, it has been the extremity of the electrified network.

On March 9 2011, a Siemens train over-ran No. 5 road near the station, crashing into a stanchion.[15][16]

In March 2014, it was announced that a new train servicing facility would be built at Pakenham East, to service the High Capacity Metro Trains.[17]

The Main Street level crossing is scheduled to be grade separated by 2023-2024, as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project.[18] A rail bridge will be built over the road, and will include a new, rebuilt station.[18] As part of this project, two other crossings in Pakenham are scheduled to be removed, and the line extended approximately 2km to a new station at Pakenham East.[18]

Pakenham has one island platform with two faces. It is serviced by Metro Trains' Pakenham line services, and V/Line Traralgon and Bairnsdale line services.[19][20][21] Suburban services generally use Platform 1, with westbound V/Line services often crossing to Platform 2 to pass any suburban service.

Platform 1:

•  Pakenham line  all stations and limited express services to Flinders Street
•  Gippsland line  V/Line services to Southern Cross

Platform 2:

•  Pakenham line  all stations and limited express services to Flinders Street
•  Gippsland line  V/Line services to Southern Cross, Traralgon and Bairnsdale

By late 2025, it is planned that trains on the Pakenham line will be through-routed with those on the Sunbury line, via the new Metro Tunnel.

Ventura Bus Lines operates seven routes via Pakenham station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

•  840 : Gembrook – Pakenham[22]
•  925 : to Lakeside (Pakenham)[23]
•  926 : to Westfield Fountain Gate[24]
•  927 : to Pakenham North (via The Avenue)[25]
•  928 : to Cardinia Road station[26]
•  929 : to Pakenham North (via Army Road and Windermere Boulevard)[27]
• to Koo Wee Rup (unnumbered route and does not show on the relevant Public Transport Victoria local area map)[28][29]

Warragul Bus Lines operates one route to and from Pakenham station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

• to Garfield station[30]

• 
  Eastbound view of Platform 2 in December 2006

• Media related to Pakenham railway station, Melbourne at Wikimedia Commons
• Melway map at street-directory.com.au