Flinders St station kiosks’ closure to make more platform room stuns commuters

IT’S the end of the line for Flinders St station’s fast-food kiosks after decades of providing a quick snack for commuters, with hungry passengers this week stunned by the sudden closure and the prospect of a dim-sim drought.

IT’S the end of the line for Flinders St station’s fast-food kiosks.

For decades the one-stop shop for morning news or a fast-food fix, all but one have shut as part of a $100 million platforms revamp.

Hungry passengers have this week been stunned by the sudden closure and the prospect of a dim-sim drought.

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“I remember coming through as a kid — the kiosks would always be open,” Aaron Garth, of Doreen, said on Wednesday.

“Who isn’t a fan of a dimmie on a cold day?”

Kiosk delivery man Ken Taylor, 60, has kept pace with the station’s carb-loading commuters for 29 years.

He said it was a sad time and not just ­because he’d lost his job.

Zoe, 8, and Hope, 10, from Doreen, enjoy a snack at the only remaining Flinders St station fast-food kiosk. Picture: Alex Coppel

He was given his marching orders last week along with franchise owners and their staff.

“The kiosks offered more than just food,” he said.

“Staff could interact and give people directions or advice (but) that’s gone now.

“They can put in vending machines, but it won’t be the same.’’

Ken Taylor helped stock the kiosks for the past 29 years until he lost his job last week. Picture: Alex Coppel

The kiosk on Platform 1 will remain, as it is protected by a heritage overlay.

Kiosk operators Red Engine Group said it was the end of an era.

“We are disappointed to lose four of the five original ­kiosks, but remain grateful to be able to continue serving our faithful customers on Platform 1,” spokeswoman Simone Partridge said.

A spokesman for Public Transport Victoria said the ­kiosks would go as part of the $100 million station revamp including “more platform space for better passenger flow and comfort”.

The kiosks on the centre platforms were a key feature of Flinders St station. Picture: Alex Coppel

Metro’s contract with the leaseholder of the kiosks expired near the end of last year, but was extended to last Friday in line with the timeline for the platform upgrades.

“People liked the kiosks — they were part of the station’s character and tradition,” Melbourne Heritage Action vice-president Rohan Storey said.

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