A few years ago removing Melbourne’s level crossings might have seemed like a “when pigs fly” idea, but today it is coming true – just with miniature police stations taking to the air, not pigs.
The miniature police stations in question are the blue and white “PSO pods” that have appeared at railway stations across Melbourne. Used by Protective Services Officers once they start duty at 6 PM every night, the buildings house a desk, kitchenette, and holding cell.
At St Albans station the PSO pod was located in the middle of platforms 2 and 3.
But with the rebuilding of the station as part of the Main Road level crossing removal project, the PSO pod had to be moved. First the services were disconnected.
Then the foundations were dug out.
A massive crane was brought in.
And the building was deposited on the opposite side of the tracks.
Leaving a hole where it used to sit.
Similar works were required at Gardiner station as part of the grade separation of the Burke Road level crossing. The PSO pod was originally located on platform 2.
But to make room for the new station, the pod was moved across the tracks to platform 1.
Are they prefabricated?
The fact that PSO pods can be picked up in one piece and relocated is interesting, given they are not prefabricated – each pod is built on site.
Lifting big things around active railway tracks is an expensive and disruptive operation – for this reason I’m willing to assume that building each PSO pod in situ is cheaper than shutting down a railway line to lift a prefabricated building into place.
Footnote
Looks like not all PSO pods are being moved when level crossing works come their way – at McKinnon they just put an excavator through the building and turned it into a pile of twisted scrap metal.
PSO pod at McKinnon – going, going, gone. https://t.co/NA4okwyjEw pic.twitter.com/lDRssmCX8m
— Marcus Wong (@aussiewongm) April 1, 2016
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