Commuters call for removal of Reynard St level crossing as part of Bell St and Moreland Rd, Coburg project

WHILE commuters can’t decide between a sky rail or trench, they all agree the Level Crossing Removal Authority should expand its plans for Coburg.

MORELAND commuters are calling for a one-and-done solution for the removal of level crossings at Coburg and Moreland railway stations that would see Reynard St included in the works.

Two options for the removal of level crossings at Bell St and Moreland Rd are open to public feedback with both rail-over-road and rail-under-road options touted.

The community has been split on the possibility of sky rail but agree that Reynard St should be included in the works.

SKY RAIL AN OPTION PUT FORWARD BY MORELAND COUNCIL

Public Transport Users Association president Tony Morton said while his association wasn’t ready to declare which method was better, a combined solution to remove all crossings was preferred.

The heritage-listed Moreland station. Picture: George Salpigtidis

“We think there is merit in a ‘do it once, do it right’ approach, going right through from Moreland Rd to Bell St and doing away with the Reynard St crossing,” Mr Morton said.

“It avoids the need to come back in a few years time and shut the line all over again to do more work.”

In both designs, the Reynard St crossing, which sits between the two crossings, stays in place.

Frank Trimboli, a founding member of the Facebook group Don’t Raise the Rail Moreland Bell, said it made “total sense” to include the whole stretch in the works.

Mr Trimboli, who lives near Moreland station, said he preferred the rail-under-road plan as it would create more space and have less impact on the look of the area.

An artist’s render of a possible sky rail at Coburg station.

“You can actually cap it and use it as community space,” he said.

Extend the Bike Path to Upfield campaign co-ordinator John Englart has called for the sky rail option and wants a veloway — a raised bike path — running either alongside or below the rail track.

LXRA project director Michael Caink said the authority would continue to listen to feedback to find the best way forward and no decisions had been made.

The authority has earmarked 50 crossings for removal but Reynard St does not feature on the list.

Feedback on the designs can be made here until August 9.

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