Union Road, Surrey Hills and Mont Albert Road, Mont Albert community update

19 April 2023

Boom gates gone – Union Station opening soon

We are removing 2 of Melbourne’s most dangerous and congested level crossings at Union Road, Surrey Hills and Mont Albert Road, Mont Albert and building a brand-new Union Station.

Your new Union Station will open on Monday 22 May, with trains running on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines in the rail trench beneath Mont Albert and Union roads.

From Sunday 28 May, Union Station will have 3 additional morning and evening services on weekdays, providing passengers with more travel options. For more information go to the PTV website.

Union and Mont Albert roads will re-open over the coming weeks with pedestrians and traffic able to safely travel on the level crossing-free roads.

With these 2 dangerous and congested level crossings gone, more than 22,000 vehicles will enjoy safer and less congested journeys.

Works will continue after the construction blitz to build station car parks, new open spaces, and complete landscaping and finishing works.

We thank residents, commuters and traders for their patience while we complete one of the biggest engineering projects ever undertaken in Melbourne's east.

Upcoming changes to the way you travel

Early May

Union and Mont Albert roads open with ongoing traffic management

Monday May 22

Union Station opens with trains in rail trench Sunday

May 28

New timetable with more weekday services stopping at Union Station

Boom gates being removed for good at Union Road, Surrey Hills

The boom gates and old rail infrastructure were removed and the Mont Albert Station building was carefully dismantled

Over 80 Olympic swimming pools worth of soil was excavated to dig the 1.3km rail trench

Piling and capping beam works helped form the trench wall

Huge, concrete beams were laid across the rail trench to help form the foundation of the new Union Station concourses

Union Station buildings, which were built off-site, were delivered and craned into position

The Union Station buildings were craned onto the western and eastern concourses.

Open space and landscaping designs

Thank you to the many locals who provided us with feedback on open spaces and landscaping in mid-2022!

Our designers have drawn on this local feedback to refine the landscaping designs for the new open spaces including Union Road open space, Mont Albert heritage plaza and Lorne Parade Reserve.

Union Station features layered canopies, traditional materials and soft muted colours that help integrate the new infrastructure with the surrounds.

These themes carry into the surrounding precinct where we’ll plant more than 52,000 trees, shrubs and plants, ensuring the area retains its leafy feel now and into the future.

The result is a calm, composed and connected station precinct design with open, bright and inviting spaces set into the leafy landscape.

Work on the car parks, landscaping and open spaces will continue into Spring.

All images show trees and plants 3-5 years post-planting.

Montrose Street pocket park. Featuring integrated artwork and drop-off area. Artist impression only, subject to change. Plants depicted at 3-5 years post planting.

Western concourse, with seating and dappled natural lighting. Artist impression only, subject to change. Plants depicted at 3-5 years post planting.

Union Road open space. Including a new civic plaza and terrace garden. Artist impression only, subject to change. Plants depicted at 3-5 years post planting.

Mont Albert heritage plaza. Home of the historic Mont Albert station building. Artist impression only, subject to change. Plants depicted at 3-5 years post planting.

Mont Albert heritage plaza. Featuring a central grassy area and garden beds. Artist impression only, subject to change. Plants depicted at 3-5 years post planting.

Mont Albert heritage plaza. View from Beresford Street. Artist impression only, subject to change. Plants depicted at 3-5 years post planting.

The rejuvenated Lorne Parade Reserve, including a new play area and seating. Artist impression only, subject to change. Plants depicted at 3-5 years post planting.

Union Station entrance from Windsor Crescent. Featuring integrated artwork and kiosk — Union Station entrance from Windsor Crescent with integrated artwork and kiosk. Artist impression only, subject to change. Plants depicted at 3-5 years post planting.

Mont Albert drop-off area. Including a designated accessible drop-off point. Artist impression only, subject to change. Plants depicted at 3-5 years post planting.

Eastern concourse. With patterned screens and dappled natural lighting. Artist impression only, subject to change. Plants depicted at 3-5 years post planting.

Sunbury Crescent, Surrey Hills. View from Union Road. Artist impression only, subject to change. Plants depicted at 3-5 years post planting.

Beresford Street, Mont Albert. With native planting and patterned screens. Artist impression only, subject to change. Plants depicted at 3-5 years post planting.

Churchill Street, Mont Albert. View towards Elgar Road. Artist impression only, subject to change. Plants depicted at 3-5 years post planting.

Beresford Street, Mont Albert. View towards the eastern concourse. Artist impression only, subject to change. Plants depicted at 3-5 years post planting.

Your new Union Station

The new premium station will open on Monday 22 May.

From Monday 22 May, trains on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines will run beneath Mont Albert and Union roads in the new rail trench and stop at the new Union Station.

Trains will run to the previous Surrey Hills Station schedule until Sunday 28 May, when a new timetable with more trains stopping at Union Station will start.

The new timetable and more information will be available on the PTV website, PTV’s journey planner app and the Metro Trains website.

The new station will feature CCTV and improved lighting, as well as a new waiting room, toilets and lifts and stairs to access the platforms.

Pedestrians will be able to access the new Union Station from Windsor Crescent, Montrose Street, Lorne Parade and Mont Albert Road.

Disability compliant spaces will open in Union Station's southern car park on Monday 22 May as well as pick-up and drop-off zones on Montrose Street and Mont Albert Road.

The Parkiteer bicycle lockup will also be open.

Alternative commuter car parks in Box Hill (at Ace and Wilson Parking) will remain available to train passengers until the new station carparks open in late 2023.

Stay up to date

For more information on what to expect when the new Union Station opens sign up for email updates and receive the latest project information.

Over the coming months we will continue working to:

open the new Union Station car parks
finish the shared use paths and pedestrian connections
complete the open spaces such as the new Union Road open space, rejuvenated Lorne Parade Reserve and the Mont Albert Heritage Plaza
plant the 52,000 trees, shrubs and plants across the station precinct
add the finishing touches such as paint, cladding and architectural surfaces
re-surface local roads and footpaths.

Thank you for shopping local

Thank you to all the shoppers who have supported local traders during our construction blitz!

Stamp Me and Shop and Save have rewarded locals and visitors for shopping local in Mont Albert Village and Union Road, Surrey Hills.

So far, thousands of vouchers have been issued to local shoppers, with every dollar being redeemed at participating local businesses.

With Union Road and Mont Albert roads opening soon, keep shopping local and support your local traders!

Signing up to Stamp Me is easy: download the Stamp Me app and click the '+' icon to search for Mont Albert Village Traders and Union Road Surrey Hills.

Find out more

View our news item for more information about how to participate in Shop and Save and earn vouchers to spend at Union Road or Mont Albert Village.

Project timeline

Early 2021

First phase of community consultation completed

Mid 2021

Updated designs released
Ongoing community engagement
Design enhancements released
Contract award announced
Early works begin

Early 2022

Major construction begins
Final designs released

Early 2023

Big Dig commences

May 2023

Level crossings gone for good
New Union Station opens

Late 2023

Plant 52,000 trees, shrubs and plants
Open spaces at Union Road, Lorne Parade Reserve, Montrose Pocket Park, Mont Albert pick-up and drop-off area and Mont Albert heritage plaza completed
Union Station car parks open
Finishing works completed

* Timeline subject to change.

Mont Albert and Surrey Hills \u2013 community update April 2023 (PDF 8.7 MB)