Public given chance to name five new train stations

WHAT would you name a new train station in Melbourne if you had the chance? Now is your chance to have a say in a public competition.

The Melbourne Metro project will build 9km of twin tracks to link South Yarra to Kensington, easing congestion in the City Loop. Picture: Nathan Dyer

EVER imagined hopping on a train to Shinboner station in North Melbourne?

Or does Arden Gardens have a better ring to it?

Now’s your chance to have a say, with Victorians asked to come up with names for five new underground train stations built as part of the $11 billion Melbourne Metro rail project.

Maybe a station should be named after Kylie Minogue given her Locomotion fame.

Maybe a station should be named after Kylie Minogue. Picture: AFP

But then again, the stations could be named after the Hemsworth brothers, with a different station for each hunk.

The five Melbourne sites up for grabs are at the Domain precinct in St Kilda, CBD South and CBD North, Parkville, and Arden in North Melbourne.

Winners of the competition will get a sneak peek of “their” station before it is opened, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the tunnels and boring machines.

Premier Daniel Andrews urged people to get involved.

Maybe the stations could be named after the Hemsworth brothers, with a different station for each hunk.

“This is the biggest project in our state’s history — and now every Victorian has a chance to put their mark on it,” he said.

The Melbourne Metro project will build 9km of twin tracks to link South Yarra to Kensington, easing congestion in the City Loop. Some works are already under way and major construction is set to begin next year, but the full tunnel isn’t expected to open until 2026.

Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said “all Victorians will benefit from this project” so they should get the chance to name new stations.

To avoid the public competition being hijacked by larrikins, an advisory panel will be asked to submit a shortlist of favourites to the Andrews Government later this year.

Transport Minister Jacinta Allan. Picture: Sarah Matray

The precaution comes after a debacle in the UK last year, when a naming competition for a polar research ship resulted in people choosing Boaty McBoatface.

All ideas will be considered and could be based on geography, local heritage, or well-known Victorians.

People have until October 22 to submit their suggestions at metrotunnel.vic.gov.au or the Metro tunnel’s installation at the Melbourne Writers Festival at Federation Square, from August 27 to September 3.

Cut out the station name tag in Sunday’s paper and tweet your suggestion in a selfie to @theheraldsun

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