Yarra Ranges councillor calls for upgrade to Lilydale and Belgrave lines

A YARRA Ranges councillor is calling called for major changes to the Lilydale and Belgrave train lines, which are dubbed “the most unreliable” in Melbourne. The proposal includes the removal of the Lilydale level crossing and a driverless shuttle train to Belgrave.

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A YARRA Ranges councillor has called for major changes to the Lilydale and Belgrave train lines, which are dubbed “the most unreliable” in Melbourne.

Cr Mike Clark, who sits on the board of the Eastern Transport Coalition, has called for part of the eastern lines to be duplicated and the removal of the Lilydale level crossing.

This comes as Liberal MP David Davis caught the train from Melbourne’s CBD to meet Evelyn Liberal preselected candidate Bridget Vallence and inspect the state of Yarra Ranges transport issues ahead of the state election.

Liberal candidate for Evelyn Bridget Vallence with Liberal MP David Davis at Lilydale train station. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader has teamed up with councillors to campaign for much-needed public transport improvements, in the lead up to November’s election.

Cr Clark said he wanted to see the track between Mooroolbark and Lilydale duplicated, and Lilydale train station – the end of the line – relocated to the opposite side of Maroondah Highway, removing the level crossing.

The level crossing at Lilydale train station.

Similarly with the Belgrave line, Cr Clark suggested a duplication of the tracks between Ferntree Gully and Upper Ferntree Gully.

He said most of the delays and problems along both lines stemmed from the fact they were single tracks, which needed to be resolved.

“My proposal is to stop metro trains from Upper Ferntree Gully and run a three-carriage, driverless shuttle train to Belgrave,” Cr Clark said.

“It would free up the metro network, which is subject to trees on the line and slip problems whenever it rains.”

Labor announced it would remove the Lilydale level crossing back in 2014, but according to the Level Crossing Removal Authority website a construction start date has not been confirmed and a design for the crossing removal has not been decided.

Ms Vallence said public transport issues she wanted to highlight included disrepair of the Lilydale bus interchange, connectivity and frequency of buses and trains, and bus services people getting to work, school and appointments and home again.

Mr Davis, who said he grew up in Lilydale and regularly caught the train about 40 years ago, thought the station had not changed much.

“We need to look at all services capacity and connectivity,” he said. “We’ll be making significant public transport announcements prior to the election.”