LXRA: Station name revealed for Surrey Hills and Mont Albert level crossing works

New details about a major level crossing project in Melbourne’s east have been revealed, including the name of the soon-to-be-built combined station.

Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan, third from left, announces the naming of Union Station at Surrey Hills on March 23, 2022. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Commuters in Melbourne’s east will soon be uniting at a fittingly named new railway station for their daily travels.

Union station has been revealed as the name of the combined Surrey Hills and Mont Albert railway station being built as part of level crossing removal works in the two suburbs.

The state government picked the name to represent the combination of the two stations on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines.

The new station will be built in between two level crossings being removed at Union St, Surrey Hills and Mont Albert Rd, Mont Albert.

Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said the government also had to pick a name which would be easily identifiable in times of emergency, as outlined in the state’s geographic place names register.

“There are really important safety reasons why a place like a train station needs to be easily identifiable in case of an emergency,” she said.

“We’ve gone through that process and the name Union Station has come about as a result of that.”

“The name Union was certainly identified as a priority name by many people in the local community.”

In a press release, the government stated combining the two stations into one would reduce the amount of excavation works and tree removals during the project, and prevent demolition of homes and businesses.

Ms Allan also announced the rail trench at Union Rd would be widened to allow better pedestrian connections to open space areas which will be created around the soon-to-be-replaced Surrey Hills station.

Boroondara mayor Jane Addis confirmed the council planned to contribute $2m to a 15m-wide bridge across the trench, which will be linked to a new ‘deck’ styled open space area.

The area will include seating, lighting, pedestrian paths and multi-use space for events and community activities.

Cr Addis said the funding was subject to a guarantee from the state government that the council “will not be held financially responsible for interruptions to the transport network if the state government constructed undertrack drainage system fails.”

The project, including removal of the two crossings and construction of the new station, is set to be completed by the end of 2023.