We’re making the Lilydale line level crossing-free and getting rid of more frustrating boom gates on the Belgrave line.

The Victorian Government has committed to removing 75 dangerous and congested level crossings by 2025. With 47 already gone the project is ahead of schedule so another 10 have been added to make it 85 level crossings gone by 2025.

We're removing 12 level crossings on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines. 4 are already gone, 4 are going and now we have added another 4 including:

Lilydale Line

• Dublin Road, Ringwood East
• Coolstore Road, Croydon
• Cave Hill Road, Lilydale (closure)

Belgrave Line

• Bedford Road, Ringwood

Removing these crossings will improve safety, reduce congestion and allow more trains, more often.

Site analysis

These 3 level crossings clog local roads and put lives at risk.

The Belgrave/Lilydale Line is the second busiest train line on Melbourne's network.

Current network plans involve running more trains along these lines, which would mean even more boom gate downtime.

Level crossing-free line

Creating a level crossing-free Lilydale Line will change how locals live, work and travel. With no level crossings on the train line, journeys will be faster and local roads safer.

The Belgrave Line will also be level crossing free from the city to Ferntree Gully.

We're already working to remove level crossings in Surrey Hills, Mont Albert, Mooroolbark and Lilydale.

Due to the proximity of these new sites to level crossing removal works already underway, it makes sense to get these crossings done now while crews are out on the ground. This will mean we can get rid of the crossings as soon as possible.

New stations

2 new stations will be built at Ringwood East and Croydon as part of the crossing removals.

Level crossing closure

We're closing the Cave Hill Road level crossing in Lilydale and will build a pedestrian connection to maintain access to the school and also link with future shared path trails as part of future development in the area.

The upcoming removal of the Maroondah Highway level crossing will improve local vehicle access.

Site facts

• Approximately 36,000 vehicles travel through these crossings each day
• Boom gates are down for up to 23 minutes of the morning peak (7am to 9am)
• 33 trains during the morning peak (7am to 9am)

Level crossing removal and new stations

Crossings removed

• Blackburn Road, Blackburn
• Heatherdale Road, Mitcham
• Scoresby Road, Bayswater
• Mountain Highway, Bayswater

In planning or construction

• Mont Albert Road, Mont Albert
• Union Road, Surrey Hills
• Manchester Road, Mooroolbark
• Maroondah Highway, Lilydale

New crossing removals

• Bedford Road, Ringwood
• Dublin Road, Ringwood East
• Coolstore Road, Croydon
• Cave Hill Road, Lilydale (closure)

Project benefits

We're removing 12 level crossings on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines and building 8 new stations by 2025.

• The Lilydale Line will be crossing-free by 2025 and no more frustrating boom gates from the city to Ferntree Gully on the Belgrave Line
• Allows more trains to run more often and eases road congestion
• The new Croydon and Ringwood East stations will have better facilities for passengers including more lighting and CCTV
• Across Melbourne, we'll create over 20 MCGs worth of open space and over 50kms of new walking and cycling paths.

Design and next steps

Initial technical assessments indicate the following design solutions will deliver the best outcome for the community.

We'll build a new rail bridge over the road* to remove the Coolstore Road level crossing. This design offers the greatest opportunity to connect Croydon's city centre, which is currently divided by the railway line.

We'll build a new rail trench under the road* at Bedford Road. This site is located at the top of a hill meaning the trench will be shorter, reducing the impact on important infrastructure like the rail junction at Ringwood.

We'll build a new rail trench under the road* Dublin Road. This design will work well with the ground conditions and will maintain access to the Ringwood East shopping precinct from Dublin Road.

* Further engineering assessments and community engagement will be undertaken on these projects.