25 more Melbourne train level crossings slated for removal in State Government election promise

A FURTHER 25 level crossings will be removed under a re-elected Labor government, the premier announced today. Find out which crossings have made the hit list.

ANOTHER 25 level crossings would be removed under a re-elected Labor state government, but Premier Daniel Andrews has warned the work would include lifting railway tracks above homes.

The additional $6.6 billion election pledge would allow Labor to get rid of 75 level crossing by 2025.

The government has removed 29 level crossings since 2014 and said it was ahead of schedule to take the tally to 50 by 2022.

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On the Upfield line the government has chosen the Sky Rail option, lifting the tracks from Gaffney St and over Bell St. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Mr Andrews said a number of the new project would use Sky Rail, elevating the rail above nearby homes.

He announced 14 extra crossings to be removed, and the remaining 11 locations would be dripped out before next month’s election.

Initial designs utilise about 3km of Sky Rail between Oakover Rd, Preston to High St, Reservoir.

The track would be lifted in Coburg above Reynard St, over Munro St and dropped to ground level after Bell St in Coburg.

The rail would also be lifted above Bell St in Preston, to remove that level crossing and two others on the Mernda line.

The deadly Union Rd level crossing in Surrey Hills, which was the scene of a double fatality in 2016, will be on the list of the next lot of level crossing removals.

The Bell St train station and Bell level crossing will be addressed. Picture: George Salpigtidis

The Mont Albert Rd crossing would also be removed, making the Lilydale/Belgrave line crossing free between Ringwood and the city.

Five additional crossings would be removed from the Frankston line, added to the 11 already gone or with works underway.

Old Geelong Rd in Hoppers Crossing would be removed as well as the crossing in Sunbury town square.

Mr Andrews said the projects would include sections of elevated rail, or roads diverted above or below existing train lines.

He said the program would reduce road congestion and improve safety.

“In total this is a $6.6 billion investment made possible because of our surplus Budget,” Mr Andrews said.

“We’ve done the rigorous work with the experts to determine the locations.”

“This has been a very detailed process; there are some that are going under, there are some that are close to others that are going up.

“This has been done in consultation with the experts.”

With the state election just 33 days away, Coalition leader Matthew Guy was also out yesterday announcing $195 million to upgrade local sporting facilities, including funds to support the growth in women’s and junior sport.

THE FULL LIST

Gap Road Sunbury:

About 19,000 vehicles currently travel through this crossing each day. That figure is forecast to grow by about 42 per cent to about 27,000 vehicles by 2026.

Mernda Line:

Cramer Street, Preston

Murray Road, Preston

Oakover Road, Preston:

About 30,000 vehicles currently travel though these Preston crossings each day. These figures are forecast to grow by about 10 per cent to about 33,000 vehicles by 2026. The boom gates at the three sites in Preston can be down for up to 40 per cent of the 7-9 am morning peak.

Upfield Line:

Munro Street,

Reynard Street

About 13,000 vehicles currently travel though these Coburg crossings each day. These figures are forecast to grow by about 8 per cent to about 14,000 vehicles by 2026.

Frankston Line:

Glen Huntly Rd and Neerim Road.

About 18,000 vehicles currently travel through these crossings each day. That figure is forecast to grow by about 16 per cent to more than 21,000 by 2026.

The boom gates at these sites can be down for up to 58 per cent of the 7:00am to 9:00am morning peak, when up to 40 trains run through the crossings.

Frankston Line:

Chelsea Road, Chelsea

Argyle Avenue, Chelsea

Swanpool Avenue, Chelsea

The boom gates at these Chelsea sites can be down for up to 40 per cent of the 7:00am to 9:00am morning peak, when up to 30 trains run through the crossings.

Belgrave/Lilydale line:

Union Road, Surrey Hills

Mont Albert Road, Mont Albert

About 22,000 vehicles currently travel through these two crossings each day. That figure is forecast to grow by 18 per cent to more than 26,000 by 2026. The boom gates at these sites can be down for up to 40 per cent of the 7-9 am morning peak, when up to 53 trains run through the crossings.

Werribee Line

Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing

About 18,000 vehicles currently travel through this crossing each day. That figure is forecast to grow by about 6 per cent to about 19,000 vehicles by 2026.

The boom gates in Hoppers Crossing can be down for up to 36 per cent of the 7:00am to 9:00am morning peak, when up to 25 trains run through the crossings.

@jamesdowling