Kangaroo Flat railway station

Kangaroo Flat railway station is located on the Bendigo line, in Victoria, Australia. It opened on 1 February 1874, and serves the southern Bendigo suburb of Kangaroo Flat

Disused stations Ravenswood and Harcourt are located between Kangaroo Flat and Castlemaine, whilst disused station Golden Square is located between Kangaroo Flat and Bendigo.

History
The contract for the construction of Kangaroo Flat was let in 1862. In 1904, it was renamed Kangaroo, resuming its original identity in 1916. By 1926, facilities included a signal frame, a pair of side platforms on the double track, a goods siding and shed on the eastern side of the line, and a crossover between tracks. In 1938, the stationmaster was withdrawn, with the station being worked by the porter-in-charge, under "caretaker" conditions.

From 1889, the station was a block point, under the Winters Block system, but it could be 'switched out' in times of quieter traffic. That status remained until 1980, when the signal box was only 'switched in' when required. In 1987, the signal box was closed, and all points and signals removed.

After a fire in 1990 that caused extensive damage, the station building was left unused, and only two trains per weekday stopped at the station. In 2002, the exterior of the station building and former goods shed were restored. The Regional Fast Rail project, in 2005, saw the line towards Melbourne singled south of the station.

Following a community-led campaign for better services in Bendigo's southern growth corridor, an upgrade of the station was announced in February 2008, involving the construction of a new booking office, a 50-bay car park and bus interchange, and the refurbishment of the waiting room. In January 2014, the platforms were extended, to accommodate longer trains.

Accidents and incidents

 * On 15 February 2017, V/Line VLocity set VL34 collided with a vehicle that had been abandoned on the line near Kangaroo Flat and was derailed. Two people were taken to hospital.

Platforms & services
Kangaroo Flat has two side platforms. It is served by V/Line Bendigo line trains.

Platform 1:
 *  Bendigo line : services to Bendigo, Epsom, Eaglehawk, Echuca, Swan Hill & Southern Cross

Platform 2:
 *  Bendigo line : one weekday service to Eaglehawk