Early designs for Keon Parade revealed

We're removing the dangerous and congested level crossing at Keon Parade by building a rail bridge over the road and we’re building a new Keon Park Station.

Early concept designs for the modern Keon Park Station and new rail bridge over Keon Parade are now available and we want to hear from the local community.

The brand-new Keon Park Station will be built in a new location on the south side of Keon Parade to improve access to the station, connections to buses and to local shops, cafes and eateries.

Removing this crossing will improve safety and the local community can look forward to more reliable travel times.

Early works will start later this year, with construction starting in 2023. In 2025 trains will run on the new rail bridge to the new Keon Park Station – making Keon Parade boom gate free.

The Victorian Government is removing six level crossings and building seven new stations as part of a $2 billion investment to upgrade the Mernda line.

We’ve already removed five crossings on the Mernda line, with four in Preston gone for good earlier this year significantly improving safety and traffic. The brand-new Preston and Bell stations will open this September.

Why this level crossing needs to go

• More than 18,000 vehicles travel through the level crossing each weekday
• Boom gates are down for up to 41 minutes during morning peak (7am to 9am)
• 30 trains travel through the crossing during morning peak (7am to 9am)
• One serious crash and 24 near misses in the past nine years
• 33,000 passengers use the Mernda line each day

Thanks for having your say

Earlier this year the Reservoir and Thomastown communities shared feedback on what they value about the local area and what they want to see delivered as part of the project.

From our conversations and surveys we heard that accessibility, safety and better connections are your top three priorities for the Keon Parade Level Crossing Removal Project. Our design team has used the insights and feedback you gave us to create the early concept designs of your new station precinct.

What's important to you

• Better access to the new Keon Park Station
• Safer pedestrian and cycling connections
• Improved access to bus stops
• CCTV and more lighting
• Better shelter from wind and rain
• Accessible car parking

You can read the community consultation report here.

Your new Keon Park Station

In a new location on the south side of Keon Parade, the new Keon Park Station will create new and better connections between train and bus services, Johnson Street and Keon Parade shops and eateries, and JC Donath Reserve.

Improved accessibility

We heard you want your new station to be more accessible, with better connections to bus services.

With two station entrances, it will be easier to get to and from the station from Keon Parade, High Street and Johnson Street.

For passenger convenience, we’re moving the bus stops on Keon Parade and High Street closer to the station.

The new station will also feature two lifts and a pick up and drop off zone, for all-ability access to trains.

We also heard that you’d like accessible car parking within the station precinct. Passengers will benefit from two new car parks with easy access off High Street and Keon Parade, providing better parking options.

Improved facilities and safety

We heard that safety is important to you. We’ll improve security with upgraded lighting and CCTV throughout the station precinct.

The modern station will have a central elevated island platform with better weather protection and seating to make your journey more comfortable.

Like the existing station, the new Keon Park Station will be a local station with myki facilities and a Protective Services Officers office. Station classifications are based on current and projected patronage levels.

Better connections

We heard that the local community wants to enhance connections in the area.

With the station in a new location on the south side of Keon Parade, we'll create a new signalised pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Hughes Parade and High Street.

This new crossing will give passengers from the west side of Reservoir direct access to the station for the first time.

We'll also build an improved signalised pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Keon Parade and High Street, creating better connections in and around the new station precinct.

With new walking and cycling paths and a new Parkiteer secure bike storage, there will be more ways for locals to get to Keon Park Station and around the station precinct.

Features of the new station precinct

• CCTV and more lighting to create a safer station precinct
• Elevated island platform with seating and standing areas protected from weather
• Two station entries for convenient access
• Lifts and stairs making it more accessible for everyone to catch the train
• Two car parks with easy access off High Street and Keon Parade
• New relocated bus stops close to the station
• Pick-up and drop-off zone
• New walking and cycling paths
• New Parkiteer secure bike storage
• New signalised pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Hughes Parade and High Street

Get involved

Chat to the project team at our station pop-up.

Thursday 15 September 7.30am to 9am – Keon Park Station

Join our community information session to hear about the early concept designs and ask questions.

Tuesday 20 September 6pm to 7.30pm – online

Register by visiting Engage Vic.

We want to hear from you

Share your ideas to help inform designs for the new Keon Park Station precinct.

Now we’ve released early concept designs for the new station precinct, we’d like your feedback on aspects of the design, including:

• the look and feel of the station precinct
• landscaping
• recreational facilities.

Along with our technical requirements, your feedback will help us shape the final designs which will be released later this year.

You can view the early concept designs and provide feedback by visiting Engage Vic.

Have your say by 11.59pm, Sunday 25 September.

If you would like a hard copy submission form sent to you, please call 1800 105 105 or email contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

Are you a local business owner?

We’re committed to working with local businesses throughout the project.

Help us to help you by completing our local business survey at Engage Victoria by 11.59pm, Sunday 25 September.

Project benefits

• New 750-metre elevated rail bridge to take trains over Keon Parade
• New modern Keon Park Station south of Keon Parade
• Improved safety and accessibility for pedestrians, bus and train passengers, cyclists and motorists
• New local connections, including a new pedestrian crossing across High Street at Hughes Parade
• Reduced congestion on the busy M80
• Ring Road and 903 SmartBus Route
• Improved traffic flow and easing congestion on roads
• Allows more trains to run more often

Keeping in touch

To stay up to date, sign up for regular email updates.

If you have any questions or would like more information, call 1800 105 105 or email contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Sign up for SMS updates about the Keon Parade Level Crossing Removal Project by texting KEON to 0428 581 917.