The Flinders Street Station in Melbourne, Australia, is a city landmark. Located at the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets and overlooking the Yarra River, this is the central station for Melbourne's urban railway network. Over one hundred thousand commuters pass through the Flinders Street Station each weekday. The station is serviced by V/Line and Connex.
This grand, yellow brick Edwardian structure covers two city blocks. Construction began in 1905 and was completed in 1910. The train station was designed by J.W. Fawcett and H.P.C. Ashworth. Its distinctive features are a giant dome and a clock tower. The clock tower quickly became an identifying symbol of Melbourne, and a favorite place for meeting friends. "Meet me under the clocks" became a local catch phrase. When the clocks were replaced with digital ones, there was such a public outcry that the old style clocks were put back. Now the clock tower has both types.
In 1919 the first electric train pulled out of Flinders Street Station. By 1926 this was the busiest passenger train station in the world. Because of the growing number of commuters and other travelers, the station was enlarged in 1954 and again in 1966. By 1970 the station was in a state of disrepair and there was talk of having it demolished. Instead, the decision was made to have the station refurbished, and in 1984 work began to upgrade and modernize it. The main station concourse was tiled, and the main steps were embedded with electric heating to keep them dry. A restaurant and new shops were installed. The station has escalators, an elevator, a new roof and LCD Passenger Information Displays. The Flinders Street Station is still the pride of Melbourne.
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