Buses are replacing trains on the Stony Point line today (Saturday 21 December) after the Hastings Railway Station building was destroyed by fire overnight.
Fire crews were called to the structure before 4am to find it fully engulfed by flames.
The station has been the subject of recent discussion with Brian Stahl calling for the improvement of the rail precinct and the possible repurposing of the disused building for a social enterprise (Call for railway station renewal hosed down, The News 13/11/24).
Stahl said at the time “As a significant public transport arrival point it leaves a lot to be desired”.
“Surely this is not an acceptable situation and certainly not a welcoming place for those who regularly use the station or visit Hastings for the first time by public transport.
“On behalf of our community I appeal to have this unacceptable situation dealt with promptly and properly maintained in the future.”
The station and surrounds have deteriorated significantly since the days of Hastings Neighbourhood Renewal (2005 – 2013) when the Western Port Warriors Football team painted the building, and effort was put in to using the vacant building onsite for a community enterprise.
On the 125th anniversary of the railway coming to Hastings the ward councillor at the time, David Garnock, arranged for planter boxes to be installed, along with trees placed along the fence of the railway house.
“The planter boxes stand empty, and the vegetation along the fence is overgrown now. Nothing has been done to maintain and beautify the area,” said Stahl.
“And that’s not even mentioning the dilapidated state of the roadway. It is full of potholes and completely lacking in any form of maintenance.”
In response to the requests for an upgrade of the station, the state government responded that the station would under a “deep clean” during the week commencing 10 November.
