Removing redundant rail infrastructure between McGregor Road and Racecourse Road

We're on the ground in Pakenham

The Victorian Government is removing 22 level crossings, as part of a $15 billion investment to upgrade the Pakenham Line that will improve safety, reduce congestion and allow more trains to run more often.

Construction has started to remove the dangerous and congested level crossings at McGregor Road, Main Street and Racecourse Road and building new stations at Pakenham and East Pakenham.

Elevating the rail line over the roads will improve safety, reduce road congestion, and make way for new community open spaces for locals to enjoy.

Removing these level crossings and building new stations means more trains, more often for the growing Pakenham community.

All three level crossings in Pakenham will be gone for good in 2024.

We'll continue setting up our construction sites and preparing the area for major works to start in the middle of this year.

Why these level crossings need to go

• 63,000 vehicles use these crossings each day
• Boom gates down for more than 30 minutes of the morning peak
• 170 Metro and V/Line trains pass through the level crossings daily
• 90,000 passengers use the Cranbourne/Pakenham Line each day

Join us to represent your community

Call for members

Major construction will start in the coming months and we’re looking for community members to join our Pakenham Stakeholder Liaison Group (SLG).

We need your help to represent the views of your community to help provide local insights as we deliver this important project.

The group will meet regularly during the construction phase of the project from mid 2022 and will provide:

• a local perspective, particularly in relation to managing construction impacts on the community
• information to the community about the project and its construction
• local knowledge to discussions about the construction program.

The SLG will consist of community members who represent the views and interests of residents, business owners and community organisations.

Visit the Engage Victoria website to learn more or nominate for the Pakenham SLG, and view our online application form. Nominations close: 11 June, 11.59pm.

Construction machinery at Pakenham Station

Making progress in Pakenham

Early works have started on the Pakenham level crossing removals in preparation for major construction scheduled to begin in mid 2022.

We're working along the rail corridor between McGregor Road and Princes Freeway.

Check out our project overview map to see what's been happening in Pakenham.

What's coming up

In May, the team will continue to set up site near Pinehill Drive, making way for the new East Pakenham Station which will open in 2024.

Site set up near the McGregor Road level crossing will begin, including installation of temporary fencing and space for construction materials.

We’ll work with qualified arborists for the removal of vegetation along the rail corridor. Any wildlife will be safely rehomed.

In June, major earthworks will continue at East Pakenham, including bulk excavation across the site.

In July, we'll build temporary foundations across the project for construction machinery to safely enter the site.

Further excavation and piling works will take place within the East Pakenham precinct while we prepare the site for construction of the new station's platforms and underpass.

Later this year, piling will begin at Pakenham Station. This will help form the new 2.5 kilometre rail bridge.

There will be changes to the way you travel as we undertake these works.

At times, buses will replace trains on the Pakenham Line while we work within the rail corridor to install new rail equipment, overhead powerlines, signalling and complete CSR (combined services route) works.

Local kids got involved by dressing up in LXRP hi vis and hard hats

Nice to see you Pakenham

Our project team and engineers visited the Pakenham Show to chat to the community as we prepare for major construction.

They had a brilliant day talking, taking in all the show had to offer and giving away local trader prizes to the community.

The kids however were busy dressing up in their own hi-vis and hard hats.

The top three questions were:

1. When will the stations open?

   The new stations at Pakenham and East Pakenham will open in 2024.

2. Where will the rail bridge elevate?

   See the elevated rail bridge highlighted on the project map.

3. When will local roads be closed?

At times, to safely complete works we will need to close local roads. Text PAKENHAM to 0428 582 917 to stay up to date with disruptions.

The Pakenham Level Crossing Removal Project stall at the Pakenham show

Thank you for sharing your ideas on Pakenham’s open space

Removing these level crossings will create more than six MCG’S worth of new community open space for locals to enjoy, for generations to come.

In late 2021, we asked the community for ideas to help shape the design of the new open space created by the project.

Thank you to everyone who took their time to share ideas and tell us their thoughts on how they’d like Pakenham’s newest open space to be developed.

Your feedback will play an important role in shaping the open space, making sure the area meets the needs of the local community.

We look forward to sharing our final designs of the new open space, and show you how your feedback has been incorporated.

Read the Pakenham open space consultation report onour website.

Key themes to emerge from the feedback were:

• Parks, gardens and seating
• Playgrounds
• Sports and recreation
• Safety
• Multipurpose spaces
• Cycling and walking
• Art and heritage

• 211 online surveys received
• 60 community members participated in interactive online workshops
• 3051+ visitors to the Pakenham open space consultation page on the Engage Victoria platform
• 300+ comments were collected providing a range of feedback
• 17 queries received via the ‘ask us’ function on the Engage Victoria platform

Upgrade to Ryan Road

This month’s state budget allocated $7.7 million to upgrade Ryan Road in East Pakenham as part of the Pakenham Level Crossing Removal project.

After major construction is complete, the project will permanently seal Ryan Road improving access to the new East Pakenham Station.

This month, a temporary seal will be placed on Ryan Road to help mitigate the impact of increase construction activity.

Pakenham team presents about the project at Beaconhills College

Playtime at Pakenham

The Pakenham Level Crossing Removal Project team went back to school, visiting Beaconhills College to teach more than ninety grade four students about the project.

The enthusiastic audience had done their own homework and were very excited to see and hear ore about their new stations that are coming to life in 2024.

The kids drew their vision of that activities they would like to do in the new open space once it’s finished.

These drawings will be displayed around Pakenham Station.

Open for business

We work closely with local businesses as we deliver the project. Our team regularly meets with traders to keep them up-to-date with our progress and ensure we minimise disruptions as much as we can. You can help too by continuing to shop local while our works are on.

Pakenham Mowers and Chainsaws

Pakenham Mowers and Chainsaws are a business that has paved the way for outdoor power products with exceptional service, knowledge, and local know how.

The business has been operating in Pakenham since 1976. Meet the owner Ben, who has been managing the family run business for over a decade.

Ben’s ethos for the company is about making relationships with locals. He is passionate about getting to know his customers and understanding their requirements.

Ben also offers advice about how to properly operate and maintain machinery so it will run reliably for years to come.

Ben is looking forward to seeing the open space created beneath the rail bridge for the community to enjoy. He says "The area under the rail bridge will be great in linking both sides of the town together."

Get down to Pakenham Mowers and Chainsaws and see Ben for all your outdoor power products, expert machinery advice or repair services.

17 Bald Hill Road, Pakenham, Ph: (03)5941 1344

Ben from Pakenham Mowers and Chainsaws

Project timeline

2020

• Site investigations
• Technical and engineering assessments
• Community engagement

Early 2021

• Community engagement
• Further engineering investigations

Mid 2021

• Station designs announced

Late 2021

• Open space community consultation
• Early works

2022

• Construction

2023

• Construction

2024

• Boom gates gone for good
• Pakenham and East Pakenham stations open
• Community space open for locals to enjoy

Keeping in touch

To stay up to date subscribe to our email updates, and sign up to the Pakenham Level Crossing Removal Project.

If you have any questions or would like more information, call 1800 105 105 or emailcontact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Follow us on social media or send us a private message on our Facebook page.