Quick question regarding the situation at Oakleigh...would it not have made more sense to eliminate Platform 3, and keep the island platforms from a station management perspective? Indeed, what was the rationale, if any, for eliminating platform 1 and keeping the other two?

I think losing the ability to turn back trains between Caulfield and Westall will one day come back to haunt Metro. Or am I wrong, and they can in fact still terminate and turn back at Oakleigh?

Platform 1 was removed to improve pedestrian access to the station from Haughton Rd by making it walk-up instead of forcing everyone through the subway. I'd also venture that the island platform wasn't large enough to comply with modern passenger loading standards either. Getting rid of a curved platform instead of a straight one like Platform 3 is an added bonus.

Crossovers and bi-directional signalling have been rebuilt and retained at Oakleigh for emergency turnbacks. It's not exactly a hot standby siding, but it'll do until the current Metro franchise agreement expires...