Ringwood East and Croydon community update – May 2025

29 May 2025

Works complete in Ringwood East and Croydon

Major construction works in Ringwood East and Croydon to remove the last 2 remaining level crossings on the Lilydale Line and build 2 new stations are complete. The Lilydale Line is now level crossing free – a year ahead of schedule.

The level crossings at Bedford Road, Ringwood, Dublin Road, Ringwood East and Coolstore Road Croydon are now gone for good.

We'd like to thank the local community and businesses for their patience while we worked to remove these dangerous level crossings and built 2 new stations in Ringwood East and Croydon.

With no level crossings on the Lilydale Line, journeys will be faster, and local roads will be safer for commuters, cyclists and pedestrians. With the removal of the Bedford Road, Ringwood level crossing earlier this year, the Belgrave Line is now level crossing free from the city to Ferntree Gully.

Since 2017, the Level Crossing Removal Project has removed 9 level crossings and built 6 new stations along the Lilydale Line, which together with the Belgrave Line, is Melbourne’s second busiest rail line, used by more than 72,000 passengers each weekday.

Benefits delivered across the Belgrave and Lilydale lines:

12 level crossings removed
7 new stations and one upgraded station
More than 7km of new walking and cycling paths
More than 300,000 trees, shrubs and grasses planted

Ringwood and Ringwood East

The level crossings at Bedford Road, Ringwood and Dublin Road, Ringwood East were removed by lowering the train lines into trenches underneath the roads.

In Ringwood East, the new station features a warm earthy toned canopy with skylights and lighting which welcomes passengers, and reflects the existing village feel of the area.

The station features 2 entrances, lifts and stairs, improved lighting, CCTV and upgraded parking for around 460 vehicles, along with new walking and cycling connections.

New artwork by local artist Katie Stackhouse, now greets passengers at the new Ringwood East Station. The ‘Turtle Guardian’ is inspired by the local Eastern Long-necked Turtle that lives in the waterways and lands in the surrounding area.

At Bedford Road, we’ve also built the missing pedestrian and cycling link that connects the 19.2km Heathmont Rail Trail to Bedford Park.

Landscaping at Bedford Road and Dublin Road includes more than 60,000 native trees, plants and grasses that have been planted across the local area.

Ringwood East Station concourse

Croydon

We’ve removed the dangerous and congested level crossing at Coolstore Road, built the new Croydon Transport Hub and delivered a new road connection under the rail line between Kent Avenue and Lacey Street.

The Croydon Transport Hub features the new premium station, a 14-bay bus interchange, car parking for 284 vehicles and 10 motorcycles, and new road connections, providing a modern and safe Croydon Station precinct.

The light-filled station highlights views towards the Dandenongs and is fully accessible with 2 entrances, lifts, stairs, toilets, a waiting room and 2 elevated platforms.

Vehicles are now driving along the new road connections between Wicklow Avenue and Devon Street, Kent Avenue and Lacey Street and Main Street to Coolstore Road.

Bloom, 2 cast-bronze sculptures each comprising 12 cone-like shapes forming large spherical forms by acclaimed Australian artist Donna Marcus, frame the main station entrance. Their warm tones are designed to complement the new premium station and the precinct’s newly landscaped open spaces and surrounding natural environment.

We've also built new shared use paths and planted more than 70,000 trees, shrubs and grasses.