Brunswick – online information session Q and A's

29 October 2024

Updated: 29/10/24

The questions and answers on this page will be updated following the conclusion of each online information session.

As a number of questions asked both before and during each session are similar, these questions will only be addressed once.

Early works will begin in 2028 and construction will start from 2029. By 2030, the boom gates will be gone and the new stations will be open.

We assess every level crossing site based on its unique characteristics to determine the best solution for the project.

When developing designs, we consider a range of factors including impacts to homes and businesses, opportunities for open space, protecting heritage in the area, accessibility requirements and the width of the rail corridor.

Lowering the rail line typically has a greater footprint within the community, requiring a much higher number of property acquisitions.

Extensive engineering and technical assessments have determined a rail bridge over the roads is the best solution to remove these level crossings. Lowering the rail into a long trench would:

require the compulsory acquisition of a significant number of homes and businesses due to the space required for this solution and the very narrow rail corridor
cause more disruptions during construction to the community and passengers
create no new open space
not allow for improvements to the Upfield Bike Path
impact heritage items significant to the rail line and Royal Park.

The proposed locations of the new northern and southern stations are centrally located between Moreland Road and Park Street.

With the new northern and southern station locations, there is approximately 1km between each station from Moreland Station in the north to Royal Park Station in the south to create a modern transport network.

The project needs to provide equitable passenger access to the stations. To enable future Upfield Line upgrade the project needs to balance the distance between stations along the line.

The project has prioritised using existing available land in the rail corridor and has minimised compulsory property acquisition.

Moving the station further south would:

increase passenger walking distance to the new station
limit future rail operations
bring the rail bridge closer to residential properties north of Hope Street
require additional significant property acquisition.

The northern station south of Hope Street would be too far from Moreland Station and approximately 600m from the new southern station, making the new stations some of the closest on the network.

Residents living near Tinning Street and Albion Street would have additional distance to walk to the new northern station. As the majority of passengers get to the station on foot, reducing the additional distance to the new stations was a key consideration to determine the new locations.

The width of the rail corridor south of Hope Street is very narrow and building the station in this location would require significant property acquisition of large parcels of land.

We have the constraint to avoid impacts to the Victorian heritage-registered and state-significant Former Brunswick Gas & Coke Retort House near Percy Street.

Both the building and the brick wall that adjoins the rail corridor are Victorian-heritage listed and architecturally significant as the last remaining retort house built in the nineteenth century around Melbourne.

The Gas & Coke Retort House block is privately owned and building new rail infrastructure over the wall or building would require acquiring the entire block of land. Any new rail infrastructure overhanging the building would also impact its heritage value.

We would also need to acquire parcels of land east of the rail corridor.

The station south of Hope Street would bring the rail bridge closer to residential properties north of Hope Street.

The 3 stations at Anstey, Brunswick and Jewell are within 1500m of each other, making them among the closest stations on the network.

The existing stations at Jewell, Brunswick and Anstey will be merged into 2 accessible stations in new locations in Brunswick’s north and south.

To determine the new locations, we considered the additional distance for passengers to access the new stations, improving access for the broader community and limiting the impact on current and future rail operations.

Each station will offer convenient access with 2 entrances, one at each end of the platforms, making them highly accessible to the surrounding areas.

The capacity of the stations will meet requirements for the number of passengers using them now and accommodate future growth.

The rail bridge will begin to rise from Park Street and will lower near Tinning Street in Brunswick.

As the project is still in the early development stage, the height and proximity of the rail bridge to homes along the rail has not been confirmed.

While the height of the rail bridge will vary along the rail corridor, the rail bridge from Bell Street, Coburg and Moreland Road, Brunswick is a good example of what the rail bridge from Albion Street to Park Street may look like.

We will be able to share more information about the project’s design in the coming years.

Consultation is open to all members of the community, and we encourage everyone to take part.

We’re currently seeking feedback from the community about what they love about Brunswick and Parkville and how they move around the area. Consultation is open until 11.59pm, Sunday 20 October.

We’ll use the feedback we receive, along with technical and engineering requirements to help shape the project’s concept designs, which we will share over the coming years.

As we get closer to major construction, we’ll be in contact with residents living close to the rail line to support them through project works.

You can get in touch with the team through a range of ways. You can call us 24/7 on 1800 105 105. For languages other than English call 9209 0147.

If people prefer email, you can reach us on contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

You can also ask questions on any of our Level Crossing Removal Project social media pages or via our Engage Victoria online consultation hub, which is open until 11.59pm, Sunday 20 October.

Our standard process for announcing new level crossing removals is with a preferred design option, based on technical assessments. We do not consult on design solution or location of stations.

The design for the rail bridge will minimise impacts from noise as the bridge will be built out of u-shaped concrete bridge segments, known as u-troughs, in which the train sits.

Using u-troughs reduces the noise generated by trains moving along the track, as the train wheels and tracks sit within the concrete structure.

Much of the noise experienced from rail operations also comes from train wheels running along the tracks, and older rail lines with imperfections in the track can be noisier than newer lines that will be installed as part of the project.

Removing the level crossings also means no more ringing bells when the boom gates go down and fewer blasts of the train horn as the train travels along the line.

As part of the project design and development, we conduct noise modelling to determine what changes to the design or mitigations are necessary to ensure noise levels adhere to the Victorian Passenger Rail Infrastructure Noise Policy (2013).

The project is in the early development stage, and we are currently working to develop the designs and understand potential noise and visual impacts to residents along the rail line.

We will be able to share more information with the community and impacted residents as the design progresses.

As with any project of this size and in close proximity to homes and businesses, some property acquisition is required. We have worked hard to minimise the amount of residential and commercial property acquisition for the project.

Affected residents and businesses have been contacted and our project team is working closely to assist them through the process. Members of the community that are impacted are being directly engaged by our team and to respect their privacy, we cannot disclose that information.

In the lead up to and during construction, the project team will work closely with residents to understand any measures which may need to be taken to minimise the impact of works.

This can include relocation during 24/7 works which will be offered proactively from the project and we have a dedicated team who manages relocations.

Relocation is offered to provide an alternative location for sleep and while every effort will be made for this to be a suitable match for your family’s needs.

When major construction starts in 2029 our relocation team will work individually with eligible stakeholders to provide detailed information about the relocation process and to discuss their needs.

During works relocation requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature and extent of works occurring on site.

The project is in the early development stage and any changes to bus routes and services have yet to be determined.

This information will be shared with passengers and the local community once it has been confirmed.

We’re working to determine the configuration of pedestrian and cycling connections in relation to cars and will be able to share more information with the community as the project design progresses over the coming years.

We understand active transport connections are important and are working to design a solution that benefits pedestrians, bike riders and the broader community.

We are currently seeking feedback from the community about how they move around the area. This feedback, along with technical and engineering requirements, will help shape the project’s concept designs and how we plan disruptions during construction.

Share your feedback at our Engage Victoria online consultation hub.

Since the project was announced in 2022, we’ve heard from the community about the importance of complementary transport improvements in the area, like accessible tram stops on Sydney Road.

The Victorian Government is committed to improving tram accessibility and as more infrastructure and trams continue to be upgraded, the network will become progressively more accessible.

Works on Sydney Road are not within the scope of the level crossing removal project.

As with any extended planned works there will be careful planning of replacement services to ensure passengers can continue to travel while important works to improve the network are underway.

The Sydney Road corridor is a critical transport link for Melbourne’s northern suburbs and will continue to play an important role throughout the delivery of these level crossing removal works.

Careful planning goes into planned works to minimise disruptions to all passengers, including those with accessibility needs. During planned works, low floor replacement bus services are generally used and can provide wheelchair access via ramps or directly from the bus stop, depending on the stop location.

During previous closures of the Upfield Line, we’ve had wheelchair accessible taxis on standby from 6am to 9pm at major interchanges. Outside of staff hours, passengers can call the closest premium station to organise an accessible taxi. Passengers can also contact PTV to book an accessible taxi in advance to cover the buses replacing trains section of their journey.

A new accessible tram stop is being built on Moreland Road as part of the Brunswick Tram Depot Upgrade for passengers who use Route 6.

We seek to minimise disruption to the community and rail passengers as much as possible.

Further information about construction timelines and impacts will be available following detailed project design and community consultation.

The new separated bike and pedestrian paths from Moreland Road to Park Street will be delivered as part of the project in the new open space.

The new open space will connect with the existing open space further north, resulting in a total of 4 MCGs worth of new open space between Coburg and Parkville.

While we acknowledge the narrowness of the rail corridor when providing these spaces, the local community will play an important role in shaping the new open space.

Based on previous projects, potential uses could include parks, playgrounds, sports and recreation areas, basketball courts, BBQs, dog parks, seating, skate parks, and gardens.

We are still in the early planning stages and will consult with the community to determine the best uses for these spaces in the coming years, once we have a clear understanding of what’s possible.

Across the project to build the new rail bridge and 2 new stations, we need to install new infrastructure and relocate existing services and utilities in the area. This means some tree and vegetation removal is likely to be required – though we will seek to minimise removals at every stage.

As the project is in the early development stage, details regarding impacts to different areas of Brunswick and Parkville are yet to be determined.

We will work closely with environmental and sustainability specialists throughout the project to minimise impacts to local flora and fauna.

A full assessment of all trees in the project area will be undertaken by a qualified arborist to understand potential impacts during construction.

The project will speak to the community prior to any tree removal taking place, and we are committed to planting replacement trees and vegetation, with landscaping plans to be developed as the design progresses.

As part of the project, we will provide paths and connections that will link with the existing path network to allow for any future upgrades to walking and cycling connections in the area.

We’ll work with Merri-bek City Council, the City of Melbourne, Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), Public Transport Victoria (PTV) and the local community to support public and active transport users during construction. This can include pedestrian, bike and vehicle detours and replacement bus and accessible taxi services.

The project is in the early development stage, and we’ll be able to share more information about how we will support bike riders and passengers during construction in the coming years.

Removing the 8 level crossings from Albion Street, Brunswick to Park Street, Parkville will improve safety and reduce congestion, delivering significant safety improvements for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.

We’re working to determine the configuration of pedestrian and bike connections in relation to cars and will be able to share more information with the community as the project design progresses over the coming years.

We understand active transport connections are important and are working to design a solution that benefits pedestrians, bike riders and the broader community.

We’ll work with local residents to understand the impact of our works and provide plenty of notice if areas are going to be inaccessible, so that alternative plans can be put in place.

The design for the rail bridge will minimise impacts from noise as the bridge will be built out of u-shaped concrete bridge segments, known as u-troughs, in which the train sits.

Using u-troughs reduces the noise generated by trains moving along the track, as the train wheels and tracks sit within the concrete structure.

The project is in the early development stage, and we’ll be able to share more details regarding the materials that will be used to build the rail bridge as the design progresses over the coming years.

During construction, we’ll secure our site with fencing, lighting and appropriate security measures.

As the project progresses, we’ll be able to provide more information about how and where we’ll set up our crew sheds and the security measures in place.

Technical and engineering assessments identified building 2 stations paves the way for future upgrades on the northern rail corridor, including extra train services in the future.

Duplication of the Upfield Line beyond Gowrie Station is not within the scope of this project.

On every level crossing removal project, we consider future development and how the project will integrate with existing and planned aspects of the local community, including active transport, community spaces, and connections to civic, retail and residential areas.

As part of the Brunswick level crossing removal project, we will provide paths and connections that will link with the existing path network to allow for any future upgrades walking and cycling connections in the area.

Removing the level crossings will mean trains will no longer sound their horns when travelling over the roads.

Trains will continue to use their horns for safety purposes including when arriving and departing station platforms, as this is a Metro Trains Melbourne operational safety requirement.

The creation of new walking and cycling connections under the rail line close to Tinning Street will allow the pedestrian rail crossing at Tinning Street to be closed.

We understand the importance of east-west connections across the rail corridor, and we are working to improve these connections for the community.

We’ll share more information about new pedestrian and cycling connections in the coming years as the project’s design progresses.

The Level Crossing Removal Project has used a Voluntary Purchase Scheme on previous projects, and the same criteria will be applied to the Brunswick project to identify any eligible homes.

A Voluntary Purchase Scheme provides a process for eligible property owners to sell their property to the State, should they choose.

A Voluntary Purchase Scheme is expected to be offered to eligible residential properties in line with our existing criteria, however eligibility will not be confirmed until final design, when we have key measurements.

We will proactively contact eligible property owners once our detailed design work is complete. This is expected in 2028.

For more information about a Voluntary Purchase Scheme, view the fact sheet.

There are no plans to close Hope Street as part of the Brunswick Level Crossing Removal Project.

Concept designs will be available from 2027. The project timeline is available in our September community update.

When concept designs are released, this will include artist impression images of the new stations and rail bridge and maps of the station precincts, including station entrances and bike and pedestrian paths.

As part of the design process, we will work to minimise impacts from the new stations where possible. We understand how complex and narrow the rail corridor is on areas along the line. The project will work with designers who have experience in designing rail bridges and elevated stations and rail infrastructure in complex environments.

The rail line will return to ground level around Tinning Street to allow rail infrastructure maintenance vehicles access to the rail bridge.

Extending the rail bridge to connect with the bridge over Moreland Road would also add significant cost to the project and result in substantial additional disruption to the community and passengers on the Upfield Line.

We’ll be able to share more details regarding the construction methodology in the coming years as the project progresses.

We are currently working to develop the concept designs and understand potential noise and visual impacts to residents along the rail line.

This information will help inform what types of mitigation measures are required as part of the project and we will share these details with the community in the coming years.

While we can confirm the rail line will begin to rise around Park Street, the exact location the track will separate from its original level has yet to be determined. We will share this information with the community in the coming years as the design progresses.

Our September Community newsletter was distributed to more than 37,000 properties across Brunswick and Parkville. Recently we’ve heard that some residents have not received our latest Community newsletter in their letterbox.

We apologise to everyone who did not receive the notification. We have followed this up with our delivery partner who distributed the newsletter across Brunswick and Parkville.

Our latest Community newsletter is also available on the project website.

We understand the area around the Dawson Street level crossing is an important destination for locals with the Brunswick Baths, RMIT University, Brunswick Library and several retail, community, recreational and residential areas located near the level crossing.

As part of the project design we are working to ensure the new infrastructure integrates with and enhances the local area to ensure the best possible outcome for the community.

The project is in the early development stage and details regarding design aspects and how the project will integrate with different precincts and areas in Brunswick and Parkville are still being worked through.

We will share more information about the project design with the community in the coming years.

It is important impacts to an area’s local heritage are considered throughout the project’s design and construction. The Jewell Station building will be retained. When developing a design, our team will look to preserve and incorporate the Victorian heritage listed Jewell and Brunswick station buildings into the open space.

The project will seek to preserve other important heritage assets, including signal boxes, gates and other infrastructure.

We are currently working to develop the concept designs and understand potential noise and visual impacts to residents along the rail line.

This information will help inform what types of mitigation measures are required as part of the project and we will share these details with the community in the coming years.

As part of the project to build the new 2.1km rail bridge and 2 new stations, we need to install new infrastructure and relocate existing services and utilities in the area.

This means some tree and vegetation removal is likely to be required – though we will seek to minimise removals at every stage.

As the project is in the early development stage, details regarding impacts to different areas of Brunswick and Parkville, including local ovals and areas of parkland, are yet to be determined.

We will work closely with environmental and sustainability specialists throughout the project to minimise impacts to local flora and fauna.

A full assessment of all trees in the project area will be undertaken by a qualified arborist to understand potential impacts during construction.

Trees and vegetation being retained will be separated from construction with no go zones. These protect vegetation, habitat zones and heritage sites from the impacts of construction.

Tree Protection Zones will be established to protect trees and their root systems during construction.

Once construction is complete, new and replacement tree and vegetation planting will begin, with landscaping plans to be developed as the design progresses.

We’ll share more information with the community about open space and landscaping in the coming years.

As part of every level crossing removal project, we work to ensure all new community open space and station precincts are safe, secure and accessible for locals and passengers. This can include the use of CCTV cameras, Protective Service Officers at stations, as well as improved lighting, visibility and sightlines.

The local community will play an important role in shaping the new open space and based on previous projects, potential uses could include parks, playgrounds, a variety of sports and recreation areas, BBQs, dog parks, seating, skate parks, and gardens.

We are still in the early planning stages and will consult with the community to determine the best uses for these spaces in the coming years.

The new station in Brunswick’s north will have a northern entrance that will provide access to Bulleke-bek Park, West Street and Orient Grove and the southern entrance will provide access from Hope Street.

Station design will continue over the coming years and we anticipate the station precinct may change a small part of the western section of the park, parallel to the existing Upfield Bike Path.

During construction we may also need to use a portion of Bulleke-bek Park as we build the new station in Brunswick’s north.

While we always try to minimise impacts to local parks as much as possible, temporarily closing a portion of the park may be required to safely construct the rail bridge and station in such a narrow corridor. We will have more information for the community closer to construction which is anticipated to start in 2029.

Any impacts to Bulleke-Bek Park will be rectified and the park reinstated upon works completion.

As part of the project, we will deliver new separated bike and pedestrian paths that will connect with the existing path network north of Tinning Street.

We’ll work with Merri-bek City Council, the City of Melbourne and the local community to support active transport users during construction.

We work to minimise disruption as much as possible during construction and will share information about detours and impacts to the local community in the coming years.

There are no plans to acquire the Victoria Police complex on Dawson Street as part of the project.

Any changes to local roads will be made in close collaboration with the Department of Transport and Planning and local councils.

We’ll share more information about the project design with the community in the coming years.

As part of every Level Crossing Removal Project, we work carefully to minimise disruption to the community and ensure access is maintained for locals wherever possible.

We schedule planned disruptions to trains for construction purposes many months in advance and there is a high level of planning and coordination that takes place between the Level Crossing Removal Project and Metro Trains Melbourne ahead of rail line closures.

We work closely with local councils and the Department of Transport and Planning to determine and coordinate any impacts to local roads and footpaths, alternate traffic arrangements and detour routes.

We will communicate any disruptions, detours and replacement services well in advance to help locals and passengers plan their journey.

Our usual construction hours are:

7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday
7am to mid afternoon, Saturday.

There will be periods where works need to take place outside of these hours, such as during rail shutdowns, to minimise the time trains cannot run.

Before and during working 24 hours a day we’ll work closely with affected residents and community members to support them while works are ongoing. This can include noise cancelling headphones, meal and cab charge vouchers and temporary relocation.

We’ll be able to share more information about construction timelines and impacts in the coming years following detailed project design and community consultation.

During September and October 2024, we asked the community about what they love about Brunswick and Parkville and how they move around the area. During this time, we also held community information sessions both in person and online for the community to attend, ask the project team questions and share their feedback.

We’ll use the feedback we received, along with technical and engineering requirements to help shape the project’s concept designs, which we will share over the coming years.

As the project progresses, there will be more opportunities to share feedback on different elements of the project’s design including station precincts and open space. We’ll share more information about future community consultation and how to be in involved in the coming years.

Our standard process for announcing new level crossing removals is with a preferred design option, based on technical assessments. We do not consult on design solution or location of stations.

You can get in touch with the team through a range of contact methods. You can call us 24/7 on 1800 105 105. For languages other than English, call 9209 0147.

If you prefer email, you can reach us on contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au.

Similar to the separated bike and pedestrian paths that were delivered as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project from Munro Street, Coburg to Moreland Road, Brunswick, pedestrian and bike paths delivered as part of the Brunswick Level Crossing Removal Project will be physically separated wherever space allows.

We understand there are sections of the rail corridor that are very narrow, and we are working to determine the configuration of the new connections and paths in these sections.

We’ll share more information with the community about the separated bike and pedestrian paths as the design progresses over the coming years.

The Level Crossing Removal Project is responsible for determining the open space use and design. This will be done in consultation with the local community who will play an important role in shaping these new spaces.

Based on previous projects, potential uses could include parks, playgrounds, sports and recreation areas, BBQs, dog parks, seating, skate parks, and gardens.

We are still in the early planning stages and will consult with the community to determine the best uses for these spaces in the coming years.

We will meet regularly with Merri-bek City Council and the City of Melbourne to ensure that Council’s plans are considered when working on the design of the Brunswick Level Crossing Removal Project.

The project is in the early development stage, and we are currently working to develop the designs and understand potential visual impacts to residents along the rail line.

As part of the design process, we are focused on mitigating visual impacts from the new stations and rail bridge as much as possible. The Brunswick Level Crossing Removal Project is one of the most complex projects we will deliver, and we understand how constrained the rail corridor is in this area.

Our project team includes a range of designers who have extensive experience designing station and rail infrastructure in complex and constrained environments. As part of future project design and consultation, we will use feedback from the local community to help develop and refine aspects of the design.

On previous projects we have used screens on the rail bridge and stations and tailored design approaches to reduce visual impacts of station and rail infrastructure.

We will be able to share more information with the community as the design progresses.

Removing the level crossings means no more ringing bells when the boom gates go down and fewer blasts of the train horn as the train travels along the line.

There are no requirements for trains to use their horns when entering or exiting the rail bridge however trains will continue to use their horns for safety purposes, including when arriving and departing station platforms.

Since the project was announced in 2022, we’ve heard from the community about the importance of complementary transport improvements in the area, like accessible tram stops and improvements to Sydney Road.

The Sydney Road corridor is a critical transport link for Melbourne’s northern suburbs and will continue to play an important role throughout the delivery of these level crossing removal works.

As with any extended planned works there will be careful planning of replacement services, including those with accessibility needs, to ensure passengers can continue to travel while important works to improve the network are underway. This can include the use of low floor replacement bus services and wheelchair accessible taxis provided by the project.

Throughout the project’s development and construction, we will work closely with the Department of Transport and Planning, Public Transport Victoria, Yarra Trams, local councils and the local community to minimise disruption wherever possible.

We'll ensure any disruptions and replacement services are communicated well in advance to help locals and passengers plan their journey. More information about construction impacts will be available in the coming years as the project’s design progresses.