Names of Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel stations to be revealed

THE names of Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel stations have been revealed and there is one that is set to confuse commuters. Those who wanted Shane Warne or Vegemite will be disappointed. Have your say on the names.

THE names of Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel stations have been revealed and there is one that is set to confuse commuters.

After eight weeks of public consultation and more than 50,000 suggestions it has been decided that the station known as Arden will become North Melbourne.

The problem is there is already a North Melbourne station that has been there since 1859.

That North Melbourne station will now be known as West Melbourne station.

Confused?

SHANE WARNE, VEGEMITE AMONG PROPOSED NAMES FOR NEW STATIONS

DEPT OF INTERNET: BLAND NEW NAMES FOR STATIONS

An artist impression of what the Melbourne Metro station CBD South will look like.

Four other stations have also been named.

The new stop under City Square will be Town Hall and the stop near the Shrine of Remembrance will become Anzac station.

A station near Melbourne University will be known as Parkville.

The site on Franklin St, where the Premier is making the announcement this morning, will become State Library station.

In the middle of our city sits one of the finest buildings on earth. Now it will also sit in the middle of our rail maps – as Town Hall Station. #springst pic.twitter.com/n72RiVUP2Y

— Daniel Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) November 28, 2017

Vegemite, Bunnings Sausage, Shane Warne and Station McStationface were among names suggested by the public.

Premier Daniel Andrews said more colourful suggestions could be considered for naming other parts of the stations.

“Station McStationFace is probably not a great name for a station but many people didn’t necessarily agree with me,” he said.

“We’ve got to be careful not to be using something that might seem a little more adventurous but actually is hard for people to find their way around.

“Emergency services need to be able to find where they’re going, they need to be able to get there when minutes matter.

The Metro tunnel under the Yarra River. Picture: David Crosling

“There will be so many spaces, forecourts and other squares and spaces, that we’ll be able to appropriately name to recognise the broader history of the city.”

Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan said that the “common sense” names were some of the most popular suggestions from the public.

“These names reflect the places and history of Melbourne — and are part of the huge transformation the project is delivering to our city and state,” she said.

“The point about inviting Victorians to have a say was to be sure we had the whole range of options available to us.

“Part of the requirements that we have to comply with is the requirements that are set by the geographic place names register.”

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Workers on the Metro Tunnel project in Franklin Street.Picture Stuart McEvoy

The suggestions ranged from the humorous to more serious cultural and ANZAC themed names.

The Andrews Government appointed the panel to stop larrikins from hijacking the competition, after a similar competition in Britain saw the public choose to name a £200 million polar research ship Boaty McBoatface.

More than 10,000 people took part in a Herald Sun online poll last year with the readers wanting the stations to be named Arden, University, Latrobe, Federation and Domain.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle got one of the names right suggesting the CBD North could be named Library.

“Part of me says Selwood for CBD North and Dangerfield for CBD South,’’ the Geelong fan said, “but in reality perhaps Latrobe and Hoddle would be more appropriate.”