Croydon railway station’s huge rebuild revealed as part of LXRP works
A war memorial and a busy intersection in Croydon will be removed as part of level crossing works, with new designs including a rebuilt station released.
Outer East
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Works to transform Croydon’s run down railway station and remove a level crossing to connect the suburb will begin within weeks, but will take years to complete.
The Level Crossing Removal Project has released striking new designs for the redeveloped station on the Lilydale line, which will be complimented by skyrail and also see the removal of the Coolstore Rd level crossing.
As part of the works, a nearby intersection connecting Wicklow Ave, Lacey St and Kent Ave will be remodelled.
The town’s war memorial in the middle of the intersection will be moved to a new site in Civic Square after negotiations with the local RSL sub-branch.
LXRP southeast program director Steve Brown said the updated designs came after community consultation last year, and aimed to minimise the removal of existing trees in patches along the rail corridor.
Mr Brown said about 80 per cent of trees in the project area would be retained, and more than 70,000 trees, shrubs and grasses would be planted during landscaping works after the rail bridge has been completed.
The revamped station will feature two forecourts and is planned to include bluestone paving, wooden seating and glazed brick buildings to complement the look and feel of the nearby Main St shopping precinct.
The station’s bus interchange, which services 19 routes, will also be redesigned with most services to depart from Main St.
Mr Brown said the timing of major works periods which would impact Lilydale line commuters were yet to be confirmed.
But Mr Brown said the LXRP planned to schedule the works at the same time as two other planned level crossing removals on the line at Bedford Rd and Dublin Rd in Ringwood East.
“We’re really co-ordinating so that when we take the rail line over to do these works... run in parallel with this one (Croydon), and reduce the impact as much as we can.” he said.
Kilsyth commuter Nathan Jacobs, who occasionally uses the station, said he was fairly impressed when he saw designs as he hopped off the train on Thursday.
“It looks a lot more modern that’s for sure, and will make the area feel a bit more upgraded,” he said.
North East Metropolitan state Labor MP Sonya Terpstra said the removal of the Coolstore Rd crossing would “make travelling through the heart of Croydon easier, whether you are in a car, cycling or walking, with new connections across the rail corridor and better access to the local bus network.”
The new Croydon transport hub is set to be finished by 2025, and the LXRP will hold a series of community information sessions online on March 22 and 30, and in person at the Keystone Hall in Civic Square on March 25.
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