During my recent visit to Melbourne, members of our group lived this local phrase: "I'll meet you…read moreunder the clocks". We also walked under the station when walking to and from our Southbank Hotel to parts of the Central Business District.

(Visited 12/16/24 MO @ 11:00am): This railway station was a find along the street we were walking…read moredown! A friend and I were on Day 3 of our 12-Day Southern Australia Explorer cruise with Princess Cruises, we took the local train into town for some casual exploration, and after a stop at Federation Square, we proceeded to Flinders Street Railway Station. The station was named after renowned Capt. Matthew Flinders, a Royal Navy officer, navigator, and cartographer, who led the first inshore circumnavigation of mainland Australia then called New Holland, was also credited as the first person to to utilize the name "Australia" to describe the entirety of the continent. This was Australia's oldest train station, and with its prominent green copper dome, distinctive yellow facade, arched entrance, and clocks, it was one of Melbourne's most recognizable landmarks. The station was completed in 1910, and the upper floors were purpose-built to house a library, gym, and lecture hall, later used as a ballroom. Its 708-meter main platform was the fourth longest railway platform in the world. A noted heritage site, it was one of the busiest suburban railway stations in the Southern Hemisphere with over 1,500 trains and 110,000 commuters passing through each day. With all of these historical facts, were we impressed by this famously-named railway station!? PURCHASE We didn't spend any money here, but of course the main financial transactions were for ride fares. Because we didn't go inside, I couldn't say whether or not there were other opportunities to separate you from your money! SERVICE Again, we didn't venture inside, so I imagined there were staffers around, and hopefully, the trains ran on time (which I suspected they did) - 'nuff said. PARKING (Varied; N/A this instance) I wouldn't suspect any onsite parking simply because of the nature of this transit center. Most passengers and people would either be already on a train, had taken public transportation to this station, or simply walked. Otherwise, if you needed to park for whatever reason, there was a large onsite lot at nearby Federation Square at various rates ($8.00AUD - $64.00AUD) based on day, event, reason, and time. Additionally, there appeared to be a decent amount of parking on all surrounding streets (please note any posted signs) - 'nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE A large street corner ornate building https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=xBsRBjr9EhC3_GK3S0WzHg that was visible from blocks in either direction, based on pictures I've seen the interior was somewhat modern with all of the standard amenities afforded a train terminal. Tickets windows, train schedules, clocks, and paths that branched out in many directions to their respective platforms, this was a sight to see. Minimal natural lighting entered through the stained-glass windows and entrances, while numerous electric ceiling lights filled in the rest. I couldn't say whether or not there were any TVs or any background music except for the sounds of the trains and outside street traffic. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=mJaGBCG31dXRhgFWJjeBJA ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL There was such a charming historic feel about the Flinders Street Railway Station that I only appreciated from the outside having not looked in. I wished I hopped onto a train that took me through the station, but on this day it was crowded with people which was very unappealing to me. There were also interesting lore and stories (ghosts!?) to research for some good tales. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $0.00AUD / $0.00USD BEFORE any discounts/tip). And, although they accepted credit cards, not mine of choice... AMEX! 4.0 STARS

The station that reminds me most of the London underground…read morebut a bit more sleek and modern, the longest of treks, and the station that has the weirdest exit and entry points in all of Australia. Not to mention the 75 degree gradient (I think) escalators. But yes its both bland and utilitarian as Dominic C mentions. It could also serve as a set to a science fiction movie. It's a strange place here.

It does the job by having trains (most of the time) and platforms..... Limited amenities, a long…read moreway underground and really a rather bland utilitarian bit of infrastructure

This is a major interchange station in Melbourne, which means that trains are regularly coming…read morethrough here. So, of course, it is a boon for those who live in the area, especially since they can catch some express trains. The station itself is quite nice as well, capturing the old days of train travel. Yeah, I really do like this station, even if the local area isn't all that great.

I stayed in the hotel across from the station. It was horizontally big building which I first…read morethought some sort of a shopping mall. But when I entered inside, it was huge!! They have a bus terminal(skybus) and many platforms. You can use this station to go to suburb and to the airport. Quite convenient!!

We've all got our crosses to bear. For me, the station formerly known as has two. There's the new…read morename, and the connotations of racism and "mateism" that the term now associates with. But that's forgivable, I suppose. What's less forgivable that they don't have a full, visible timetable after the paywall. You get your ticket, pass the gates, and you either need to know your platform or you'll have to leave and come back. How could the architects of the multi-illion dollar refit not realise the problem with this?

A tucked away station right under a beautiful shopping centre in the middle of Melbourne city. All…read morethe favourite shops are in Melbourne Central, many coffee shops. Look up when walking through the building... Beautiful, the skyline is incredible and the huge clock is impressive. This is all before the station. The station is further underground and easily labelled. For someone who doesn't know Melbourne I am getting around ok.

Well, I've written about Flinders Street Station and Southern Cross Station, so I probably should…read moresay a few works about Melbourne Central Station. If I were to sum it up in one word and that would be convenient. Okay, it is convenient for me since I work in the building that sits on top of this railway station, so getting to work in the morning is an absolute breeze. While it isn't Melbourne's only subway station, it is certainly one of the best, especially since it opens out into a shopping centre, and the trains, at least on weekdays, are pretty frequent. It is also really close to RMIT, Cinemas, the State Library, and countless of other places. I probably should warn you that the ticket inspectors do position themselves just outside the barrier gates in the morning (and just inside during the evening) so make sure you either carry a concession card, or at least have a working ticket (which can be a bit of a gamble at times especially since Melbourne's ticketing system can be pretty error prone). The biggest gripe I have about this station though is that the trains don't run through to Southern Cross Station - which is really annoying when I am heading their straight from work (I usually end up walking).

I would say that this station is much like the station at Toorak, but in reality it is exactly the…read moresame - well almost exactly because the name on the station sign does happen to be different, but you sort of do get that. However, like the Toorak station, this one is quite nice, though the lack of rest rooms is somewhat disappointing. However, it is still a nice station, and at least the trains stop here as well, which is pretty cool.

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.

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.