A part of me expected that this station was just going to be one of those boring country stations,…read morenamely because Diggers Rest really isn't all that big. However, upon jumping off the train I noticed that it does happen to have one of those nice, older buildings that you tend to find on a number of the railway stations. In fact, that made this place pretty cool. Oh, they have also completely refurbished the place as well when they electrified the line.

Yeah, I'm sure if you live in Melbourne you will be familiar with this station, and with this…read morelocation. I have ended up here a couple of times, namely because it is a major interchange station where you can not only catch the suburban trains but also the V/Line and even the train to Sydney (which runs twice a day, though you can't catch it into Melbourne, which is a shame). Yeah, basically it is one of those places that you should only go to if you really need to go to it.

Set opposite the massive shopping centre, Broadmeadows Train station is a gateway for those in the…read morenorth. Serviced by both the Craigieburn and Broadmeadows lines, metro trains operate at least every ten minutes from here during the week; and between 10-15 minutes on weekends making it one of the better stations in regards to frequency. The other great thing about this station is that V Line trains run through, and stop here. So if you're coming to Melbourne from the country and would prefer to hop off before you get to Southern Cross, Broady's your port of call. My sister comes from North Vic regularly to visit me on the train, and it's so much easier to meet her and drop her off at Broady from my place not even 15 minutes down the road. However, Broadmeadows is well known for its high crime rates and youth unemployment, making the train station a popular hangout for unsavoury types. Because of this I always feel a little uneasy, but if you plan you're travel for during the day and try to get there so you don't have to wait around too long, it's not so bad. Being a premium station Broadmeadows is manned through the Metro and V Line ticketing office so there is a good sense of security whilst the office is open.

Honestly, I sort of expected a lot more from what happens to be a major interchange station. Okay,…read moreit is quite large, and quite a few trains do pass through here as well, however, a part of me felt that this station was, well, somewhat lacking. Okay, maybe it had something to do with the station being located in Sunshine, so yeah, there does happen to be that. Otherwise, yeah, this place wasn't really all that great.

Your average train station with bus interchanges. You can top off your myki at the machines and…read moresuch. There is one waiting area and the station provides benches at the platforms when you're waiting for your train.

Here we have another station that happens to be fully staffed, completely accessible, and has ample…read morefacilities. I guess being located next to a major shopping centre does help, and help quite a lot, but still, I do quite appreciate the fact that this station is just a little more than a shelter and a platform. I guess also being a termination station for some trains helps as well.

This is the newest mega train station near Point Cook. It looks clean, at least compared to those…read morein US. There is huge car park for commuters, however there is bit of walking distance, plan to give plenty of time.

Well, this is something different, a railway station that has been constructed out of a shipping…read morecontainer. Okay, this might work if it happened to be located in some hipster part of Melbourne, but it isn't - it's Craigieburn, which basically means that it really appears as if the railway station was done on the cheap. In another sense, it sort of feels as if it was supposed to be temporary, but ended up becoming permanent. Still, at least it has restrooms.

Once you arrive here you are basically in Melbourne's leafy foothills. Okay, not all trains along…read morethis line reach this station, but most do, though if you are planning on heading further north then, unfortunately, you may have to get off the train here and wait for the next one to come along. Still, as a station, it really isn't too bad, though it does feel like one of those rather unappealing 60s types. Yet, it is staffed and does have facilities, so that is a good thing.

And another random railway station that I'm reviewing. Well, random is probably not the best word…read moreto describe this as that would involve me getting off the train just to review a railway station, and that isn't something that I am really all that keen to do. However, this station wasn't too bad. It's been renovated and also quite clean, and near some pretty decent shops as well.

Ahhh. Balaclava. I used to love getting on and off the train at Balaclava station. OKay, not the…read morewalk down or up those long ramps, that could be a bit painful. But getting off at Balaclava always felt a bit like being in a rock video. First a couple of orthodox jews would get off, all dressed in black and wearing those awesome hats they wear. Then a tough old lesbian couple. Then maybe a backpacker or two, and then finally me. And I'd maybe stop for a coffee, listening to the relaxing thunder of the trains passing overhead, and I'd be happy.