We’re getting rid of another dangerous and congested boom gate on the Merna 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 6 level crossings on the Mernda Line. One is already gone, 4 are going and now we'll remove the level crossing at Keon Parade, Keon Park.

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

These removals will not only create new jobs but importantly will give locals better access to work, healthcare, schools and services. It will also cut travel time to the M80 Ring Road.

Site analysis

This level crossing clogs local roads and puts lives at risk. There has been 1 crash and 24 near misses at this site since 2012.

Around 33,000 passengers use the Mernda Line each day. Current network plans involve running more trains along the line, which would mean even more boom gate downtime.

Local progress

We've already removed the level crossing at High Street in Reservoir and built a brand new Reservoir Station.

Works are now underway to remove the level crossings at Oakover Road, Bell Street, Cramer Street and Murray Road in Preston.

This means that Bell Street will be level crossing-free. We're also building the new Preston and Bell stations.

New station

A new station will be built at Keon Park as part of the crossing removal.

Site facts

• Approximately 18,000 vehicles travel through this crossing each day
• Boom gates are down for up to 41 minutes of the morning peak (7am to 9am)
• 30 trains during the morning peak (7am to 9am)
• 1 collision and 24 near missed in the past 9 years

Level crossing removals and new stations

Crossings removed

• High Street, Reservoir

In planning or construction

• Murray Road, Preston
• Cramer Street, Preston
• Bell Street, Preston
• Oakover Road, Preston

New crossing removals

• Keon Parade, Keon Park

Project benefits

We’re removing 6 dangerous and congested level crossings on the Mernda Line and building seven new stations by 2025.

• More than $1.1 billion is being invested in upgrading the line including the rail extension and new stations completed in 2018
• Removing the level crossing will ease congestion on the busy M80 Ring Road and 903 SmartBus route, and provide faster access to the Western Ring Road
• Allows more trains to run more often
• New Keon Park Station will have better facilities for passengers including more lighting and CCTV
• The 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 Keon Parade level crossing.

This design means we can get rid of this dangerous level crossing sooner and will be less disruptive for road and rail users during construction.

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