We’re making Macleod level crossing-free

The Victorian Government is committed to removing the Ruthven Street level crossing in Macleod by 2027. This means more benefits for local communities and a better transport network for all Victorians.

Removing this level crossing will improve safety, reduce congestion and allow more trains, more often.

Better transport, less congestion

This level crossing sits where Ruthven Street and Chapman Street meet at the rail line. Removing this crossing will create more reliable travel times for the 12,600 drivers that travel through the crossing each day.

It will ease congestion on local roads, free up space for the community to enjoy and create more room for pedestrian and cycling connections.

Removing this level crossing now will make the area safer and prevent even longer boom gate down time when the Hurstbridge Line Duplication delivers more train services.

Building on the Hurstbridge Line Duplication

The second stage of the Hurstbridge Line Duplication will deliver further improvements, including more train services, less crowding on peak trains and better connections to public transport in Melbourne’s north east.

Works are underway to build two new modern stations at Greensborough and Montmorency, and to duplicate the rail track between Greensborough and Montmorency and between Diamond Creek and Wattle Glen, to allow more trains to run more often.

Trains are targeted to be running along the new duplicated track and stopping at the new stations by the middle of 2023.

Why this crossing needs to go

• About 12,600 vehicles travel through this crossing each day
• Boom gates are down for up to 29 minutes of the morning peak (7am to 9am)
• Up to 28 trains during the morning peak (7am to 9am)

Crossings already removed

• Grange Road, Alphington
• Lower Plenty Road, Rosanna

Level crossing removals and new stations

Project benefits

• Eases congestion and unclogs local roads
• Creates new open space for the community to enjoy
• Opportunities for pedestrian and cycling connections
• Builds on the Hurstbridge Line Duplication that will allow more trains to run more often

The best design

A new rail bridge at Ruthven Street in Macleod will deliver the best outcome for the community.

A rail bridge will:

• ease congestion and improve safety for people travelling around Macleod
• create better pedestrian and cyclist connections
• open up space under the rail bridge
• tie into existing rail infrastructure.

We are in the early stages of project design. Further detailed design, engineering assessments and community engagement will be undertaken on this project.

Next steps

You’ll hear more from our teams next year about the removal of this crossing.

This will include more information on how to get involved, project timelines and what early investigations will be happening in your area.

Keep in touch

We will be out in the community to talk to you about these projects in the coming months. In the meantime, the best way to stay in touch is by subscribing to our email updates.

Send us a private message on our Facebook page.