Structural works at the new Greensborough Station

Station works underway on the Hurstbridge Line

The second stage of the Hurstbridge Line Duplication will deliver further improvements, including more train services, less crowding on peak trains and better connections to public transport in Melbourne’s north east.

Since September, you would have noticed changes to the Greensborough, Montmorency and Diamond Creek stations.

We’re continuing with works to get your new stations and upgrades ready.

Some of these works will involve our crews working around the clock. To enable us to get on with duplicating 3.5km of track on the Hurstbridge Line safely and efficiently, from 8pm Friday 16 December to last service Sunday 18 December sections of the rail line will be closed.

During the rail closure, rail replacement buses will stop at all stations between Heidelberg and Hurstbridge, with construction taking place around the clock in Greensborough, Montmorency and Diamond Creek to Wattle Glen.

Another level crossing to go

In October, the Victorian Government announced the Ruthven Street level crossing in Macleod will be removed by 2027. This will provide more benefits for local communities and a better transport network for all Victorians.

Removing this level crossing will make the area safer and prevent even longer boom gate down time when the Hurstbridge Line Duplication delivers more train services.

More trains, more often

Once the project is completed, morning peak trains will run on average every:

• 7 minutes from Greensborough
• 10 minutes from Montmorency and Eltham
• 20 minutes from Diamond Creek, Wattle Glen and Hurstbridge.

The project will also allow for 2 additional services from Hurstbridge during the morning peak.

Works taking place in December and beyond

Between Friday 16 December and Sunday 18 December, we will work during the day and night along the rail corridor at Greensborough, Montmorency and Diamond Creek to Wattle Glen to deliver a range of crucial works.

These will include continuing to fit out the new Greensborough Station, earthworks and construction for the new Montmorency Station, relocating and replacing electrical utilities underground and installing rail signalling equipment and structural steel support for overhead wires. There will also be works at private pedestrian crossings in Diamond Creek.

Traffic management will be in place to ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians.

As we near the opening of the new Greensborough and Montmorency stations in mid 2023 and duplication of the track, there will be further periods of day and night works next year. We will provide you with more detail about this closer to the time.

Changes to the way you travel

Rail

Buses replace trains on the Hurstbridge Line between Heidelberg and Hurstbridge stations from 8pm Friday 16 December to last service Sunday 18 December. Allow extra time to travel.

Visit the interactive disruptions map to find out about transport disruptions happening near you.

Station, car park and pedestrian crossing closures

To enable construction works to safely take place, there will be the following access changes at Greensborough, Montmorency and Diamond Creek stations in December:

• Greensborough Station will be closed from 9pm Friday 16 December to 3am Monday 19 December
• Montmorency Station pedestrian crossing will be closed from 9pm Friday 16 December to 3am Monday 19 December
• 55 car spaces at Diamond Creek Station will be closed from 6am Tuesday 13 December to 5pm Wednesday 21 December

Please see local signage in these areas for further details on additional bussing and detour information.

Please note these times are dependent on a variety of factors including weather and progress of works and are subject to change.

Shared path update

We are on track to deliver stage 1 of your new shared walking and cycling path. Construction will begin early next year and stage 1 will be completed at the end of 2023.

The 2km shared path will be built between Greensborough and Montmorency stations and provide safe and easy access between the 2 stations, linking with the Plenty River Trail and station forecourts.

In November 2022, stage 2 of the path was announced which will connect Montmorency and Eltham.

When completed, the new path will provide the missing link between Eltham and Greensborough and will help connect communities – making getting to school, work, or just going for a bike ride easier and safer for kids and families.

As part of the shared path, new landscaping will include a combination of native trees, shrubs, flowering plants and grasses to complement the character of the local area.

We will keep you updated as works progress.

Sculpture to feature at Montmorency Station

Artist's impression – proposed artwork for the new Montmorency Station by acclaimed sculptor Robert Bridgewater.

We are excited to announce Robert Bridgewater as the winning sculptor behind the public artwork that will be installed at the new Montmorency Station in mid 2023.

The sculpture is inspired by the Eltham Copper Butterfly wing and will be crafted using intricate and abstract representations of the Sweet Bursaria shrub and Notoncus ant, which are essential to the butterfly’s lifecycle.

The cast iron sculpture will be left to rust naturally and turn a dark red colour to reference the agricultural heritage of the local area.

Community feedback helped shape the new public artwork. In October 2021, locals including art students from Montmorency Secondary College and Eltham High School gained a deeper understanding about the planned sculpture at a virtual information session where they heard about the initial concepts of 4 shortlisted artists.

Following the session, we surveyed the community about the desired look and feel of the sculpture.

Robert’s celebrated works have been displayed at solo exhibitions and prominent locations across Australia and he has completed a series of commissions including for the Grand Hyatt, Melbourne, the Park Hyatt, Sydney and several private collections.

"It is hoped that over time the sculpture will become a cherished part of the Montmorency village experience." – Robert Bridgewater

Providing a canvas for student artwork

In July and August, we worked with students from 6 primary schools in Greensborough, Montmorency and Diamond Creek to create artwork for our project fences.

Students created hand painted works that were printed onto project fencing. The artworks were inspired by native fauna, flora, local landscape as well as Indigenous concepts.

You can find the artworks on display at Para Road near Greensborough Station, near the playground at EJ Andrew Reserve, along Mayona Road in Montmorency and at the Diamond Creek Station car park.

Participating schools were Greensborough Primary School, Briar Hill Primary School, Montmorency Primary School, St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School, Diamond Creek East Primary School and Sacred Heart Primary School.

Celebrating Halloween in Montmorency and Diamond Creek

A local pumpkin hunt had children in the spooky spirit in October.

Families across Montmorency and Diamond Creek took part in the Halloween inspired event to promote shopping locally.

Upon finding all the pumpkin stickers in participating trader shop windows, children collected a goodie bag made from compostable and biodegradable material to take home.

"It was great to see our traders get into the spirit of the spooky season and lots of kids and their families getting involved with our local event."

– Yvette Stanfield and Anna Henderson, Montmorency and Diamond Creek Traders Association

Thank you for your patience during our around the clock works in September

Over 2 weeks in September, buses replaced trains on the Hurstbridge Line between Macleod and Hurstbridge as we worked along the rail line from Greensborough to Montmorency and Diamond Creek to Wattle Glen.

During this time, a massive 600 tonne crane lifted the new bridge into place over the Plenty River in 2 sections – one weighing 65 tonnes and the other weighing 55 tonnes– to form the 50-metre structure. A total of 46 precast panels were then installed, and a concrete slab poured on top, to create the new bridge.

We also worked on the new station concourse at Greensborough, with the structure of the station now well underway.

Around 300 pieces of structural steel were installed, adding up to almost 65 tonnes.

Works to build the first platform for the new Montmorency Station have started and we’ve also been extending Platform 2 at Diamond Creek Station.

Installing nest boxes to support local wildlife

Throughout December, we are working closely with Banyule City Council and Nillumbik Shire Council to install approximately 65 nest boxes along the rail line from Greensborough to Montmorency and Diamond Creek to Wattle Glen. In late October, we partnered with 1st Hurstbridge, a local Scouts Victoria group, to paint the nest boxes with Indigenous-inspired artwork.

The nest boxes will provide a home for local species while new vegetation planted as part of the project matures. The size of the nest boxes varies depending on the species that will make each box home.

Brushtail possums, sugar gliders, ringtail possums, microbats and a range of birds are expected to move into these new homes.

Stay in touch

The best way to stay up to date on the project is to:

• Sign up to email updates
• Call us on 1800 105 105
• Email contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au
• Sign up to receive SMS alerts for major traffic and construction impacts for the Hurstbridge Line Duplication project by texting HURSTBRIDGE to 0429 839 892

We wish everyone an enjoyable and safe holiday season as we go into the new year and prepare to complete the Hurstbridge Line Duplication in late 2023.

Project timeline

2019

• Site investigations
• Community consultation

Early 2020

• Site investigations
• Planning consultation

Late 2020

• Community consultation
• Station precinct layouts announced
• Enabling works started

2021

• Station designs released
• Construction begins

2022

• Construction continues
• Shared walking and cycling path construction begins

Mid 2023

• Duplicated track complete
• New stations open

End 2023

• Shared walking and cycling path construction complete
• Landscaping and other project completion works finish.

*Timeline above subject to change.