Upfield Line

Today, I’m visiting every station on the Upfield Line!

First, some base rules -

• When I’m doing a whole line at once, I need to stay on the trains of that line where possible. So if I’m doing the Sunbury Line going from Flinders Street to North Melbourne, I have to take a Sunbury-bound train to get to North Melbourne.
• In order to mark a station as visited, I need to be there for at least a minute, so no getting off and immediately getting back on again.

Understood? Let’s go. Planned route today is Upfield-Flinders Street-Gowrie-North Melbourne-Fawkner-Macaulay-Merlynston-Flemington Bridge-Batman-Royal Park-Coburg-Jewell-Moreland-Brunswick-Antsey. I’ll also tick off Melbourne Central on the way, but just for lunch.

Upfield (10:33am)

I’ve actually been to Upfield before once, unlike most stations on this line.

Melbourne Central (11:11am)

This is a weird one, given I don’t intend to count loop stations and I’m only stopping here briefly to get some food. But oh well, here’s some photos anyway before we get to Flinders.

Flinders Street (11:26am)

So, again, we have an oddity - I got on and off the same train. The train to Flinders Street terminated here, and then became an Upfield line train, which was to leave about 6 minutes after I arrived. Anyway, Flinders Street needs no introduction, so here’s some photos!

Gowrie (12:02pm)

If I’d have known Gowrie was right opposite a Krispy Kreme and a KFC, I might have just stopped to eat here!

North Melbourne (12:45pm)

So, first quibble of the day — the 12:59pm to Upfield was cancelled, so I’m stuck at North Melbourne for 20 more minutes. Oh well!

Fawkner (1:41pm)

Aside from Morradoo (which, tbh, is barely a metro station), do any other stations stop at cemeteries in Melbourne?

Macaulay (2:23pm)

Ah, Macaulay, supposedly one of the dreariest stations in Melbourne, located right underneath the CityLink. But is it that bad? You decide:

Merlynston (2:59pm)

Here now at Merlynston station. The cancellation at North Melbourne seems to have had a knock-on effect today — a lot more of my waits are for 20 minutes or more than might otherwise be expected.

Flemington Bridge (3:41pm)

This is the first station where I’ve had to rush to catch the other service, as the Upfield-bound train left only 2 minutes after I arrived. As a consequence, the photos here aren’t amazing — sorry! 

Batman (3:56pm)

Here at Batman station now! I do not have much to add apart from the obvious joke, so here’s the photos:

Royal Park (4:18pm)

Now I’m at Royal Park, and NOT Royal Park — Zoo, despite what the signage says. In all honesty, I think the conflicting branding is really confusing for travellers more than anything (see also: Jolimont — MCG), given my train, the maps, and the PTV website say Royal Park, but the station says Royal Park — Zoo. Just unify the signage, and maybe add “alight here for Melbourne Zoo” if you must. Anyway, this rant took so long I’m now on the Upfield train. Whoops! Here’s the photos:

Coburg (4:36pm)

This station was recently renovated, and it looks fantastic! Shout out to PTV’s new platform signing too, love how that looks.

Jewell (4:58pm)

Here are some photos at Jewell station!

Moreland (5:14pm)

So this station, like Coburg, also had a redesign recently, and it looks great! Here’s some photos:

Brunswick (5:35pm)

In the home stretch now at Brunswick station! Only one more to go, but let’s check out what’s here in the meantime:

Anstey (5:53pm)

And finally, Anstey station marks the end of my journey today!

I can now proudly declare that I have visited every station on the Upfield line! I am very exhausted, but it has been a fun day, and I may do this again soon! Thanks for reading :)