WHEN the first scheduled train leaves South Morang station at 7.17am on Sunday, Epping resident Robert Aquilina will be driving it.
A long-time campaigner for the new station, author and publisher of The Whittlesea Railway and a train driver for 25 years, he was a natural choice for the honour.
‘‘My manager and everyone on the job knew I’d always wanted to do this. I’ve been telling them for years,’’ he says. ‘‘I’m very grateful to have the opportunity. I never thought I’d do it. I thought it would always just stay a dream. It really shows how perseverence can pay off.’’
South Morang Station was open to the public last weekend, Fran Cusworth and Teagan Glenane captured the excitement, below.
The new service signals the end of a five-year battle for residents. Mr Aquilina lays all the credit for the new station at the feet of the South Morang and Mernda Rail Alliance, a group of local residents.
‘‘They battled for five years. We’ve had calls from other groups, asking how we did it,’’ he says. Petitions, a rally, meetings with transport ministers and huge public support pushed the former Labor state government to keep its promise of starting the $500 million rail extension; the Coalition government finished the job.
Mr Aquilina’s shift starts at Epping at 5.44am on Sunday. He will drive an empty train from Epping to South Morang and pull into the new station just after 7am.
His mother, father, wife and son will be there, as will members of the South Morang and Mernda Rail Alliance and, he’s been told, some Metro managers.
Then he will swap ends of the train and drive back to Epping on his way to the city.
South Morang is one of two stations opening on Sunday, with Cardinia Road Station starting services on the Pakenham line.
