The history of the original sg platforms at Benalla and Wangaratta is as follows .
When originally opened to sg Interstate passenger services in April, 1962 there were no intermediate platforms between Albury & Spencer Street where former bg platform 1 became platform 2 (on same site as todays plat 2 at Sthn Cross) but was dg, and a new platform 1 on the site of existing plat 1 at Sthn Cross was dg also but from 1962 till 2005 was longer right up to Little Collins St.
The sg loco hauled SOP whilst primarily an overnight sitting train, also carried a twinette sleeping car, and on 5 nights a week a composite sitting/sleeping car (VACx2,VAMx1) that was detached at Goulburn and operated into Canberra . In the mid 1960's the VR Commissioners decided to provide sg platforms at both Benalla & Wangaratta with SOP stops at those stations so residents could have overnight services to Sydney and intermediate stations in NSW.
The sg platform at Sunshine was provided around the same time so that pax off the Up "The Overland" bg could change to the Down Intercapital Daylight (sg) . In the reverse direction the transfer took place at Spencer St on most occasions.
The short platform at Seymour was provided in the 1970's so in an emergency passengers could be detrained and continue their journey to Melbourne by road coach .
The old sg SOP Northbound one night was the victim of Australia,s Great Train robbery . Between Benalla and Wangaratta the crooks found the valuable mailbags they wanted in the VHN van and unloaded the valuables through the side door into the off platform side during the brief stop at Wangaratta . In those days the Aurora, SOP and Overland hauled dedicated vans piled high with mailbags.
During the recent standardization of the North East mainline, the original sg mainline was slued to run through the Eastern platform face at Seymour, and a replacement bg platform was provided on the Western side of the yard at Seymour. This simplified track arrangement basically split bg to the Down side of Seymour and sg to Up side .
The sg platform at Broadmeadows is a result of the recent Nth east standardization, to save Nthn suburbs having to go into sthn Cross to join VLP sg trains .
The XPT trains all stop at Benalla & Wangaratta. In addition XPT services stop if required to pick up (Northbound) or set down (Southbound) also at Broadmeadows and Seymour . XPT trains do NOT stop at Wodonga, only at Albury .