We celebrated the opening of Cobblebank Station on Sunday, with more than a thousand community members coming along to see the new station before it opened to passengers the following day.
The huge crowd enjoyed free food and drink, activities and entertainment and a chance to tour the station’s facilities, which include lifts, ramps, lighting and CCTV, car park with drop-off zone and secure bike storage.
There was also a display showcasing the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) program supported by the Ballarat Line Upgrade and facilitated by Western BACE (Business Accelerator and Centre of Excellence), featuring robotics and 3D printing.
Passengers are now using the new station, which is serviced by 285 trains each week, as well as a new bus service that runs every 40 minutes on weekdays.
Cobblebank Station will service the rapidly growing population of the outer west suburb and surrounds, which is expected to grow from just over 3,000 to more than 65,000 in 2036.
The staffed station includes a waiting room with toilets, ticket office and myki facilities.