We’re removing the Maddox Road and Champion Road level crossings to make Newport level crossing free in 2026 – improving safety and creating more reliable travel times.

Maddox Road level crossing will be removed by building 2 passenger rail bridges and one freight rail bridge over the road. The rail bridges will start to rise near Blenheim Road and return to ground near Challis Street.

We’ll close Champion Road at the level crossing. A new link road, connecting Maddox Road to Champion Road via Akuna Drive, will open before the Champion Road level crossing is closed in 2026.

To keep the community connected, we will also build a new pedestrian and cycling bridge over the rail line at Champion Road.

Newport will be level crossing free in 2026, making the Werribee Line one step closer to being boom gate free by 2030.

We’ve developed a construction program to help keep you moving by train, car, truck, bike or on foot. However, with a project of this scale, temporary construction impacts and planned disruptions should be expected.

Thank you for your patience during our works.

Why these level crossings need to go

• Up to 48 trains run in the morning peak (7am to 9am)
• Boom gates are down for around 50 minutes during the morning peak (7am to 9am)
• More trains will run on the busy Werribee Line thanks to the Metro Tunnel, with additional services to run during peak hour in the morning and evening.
• Improved safety for drivers, bike riders and pedestrians

Stage 1: Site establishment and early works

Early to mid 2025

Early works started in March 2025 to prepare the area for major construction. Work crews set up site offices, removed vegetation and relocated underground services such as gas, water, and power on Maddox Road.

The team has also completed minor signalling upgrades to allow seamless connection to the new rail bridges. These upgrades are critical to keep trains running safely and efficiently during and after construction, when the level crossings are removed.

Stage 2: Major construction

Mid to late 2025

Major construction began in August, with more crews and large machinery onsite. Works have commenced to build the new rail and pedestrian bridges and lay the foundations for the new link road. Major works during this period include:

• building passenger rail bridges, one bridge for trains travelling to the city and a second bridge for trains travelling to Werribee
• constructing the new Akuna Drive link road, linking Maddox Road to Champion Road
• upgrading the intersection of Maddox Road and Kororoit Creek Road to further improve the local road network
• building a new pedestrian and cycling bridge over the rail line at Champion Road.

Stage 3: Single line running

Late 2025 to mid 2026

To keep trains running, minimise disruptions to rail passengers, and allow our crews to safely build the passenger rail bridges, Werribee Line trains will operate on a single line between Newport and Laverton from mid November to late April 2026.

This is known as single line running. Running the trains in this way ensures passenger services on the busy Werribee Line can continue to operate during major works, reducing the need for bus replacement services.

During this time there will be timetable changes to the Werribee and Williamstown lines.

Werribee bound services will operate via the Altona Loop, with city bound services travelling express from Laverton Station to Newport Station.

Extra services will operate on the Williamstown Line during morning peak on weekdays to cater for additional demand.

Shuttle buses will transport passengers travelling to the city from Seaholme, Altona and Westona stations to Newport Station. From there, passengers will continue their journey to the city by train

When train services return to normal, Werribee Line passengers will travel on the new rail bridgesover Maddox Road. Freight trains will move to a temporary track to allow construction of the freight rail bridge.

Stay up to date

There will timetable changes during single line running. Visit Transport Victoria for up-to-date timetable information.

New road bridge

We're also removing the level crossing at Maidstone Street by building a new road bridge over the rail line. Completing these works brings us one step closer to making the Werribee Line boom gate free by 2030.

Changes to how you travel on the Werribee Line

Take advantage of the Early Bird fare. Touch on and off before 7.15am and your train travel is free. Check the Transport Victoria website to plan your journey.

Stage 4: New connections

Early to mid 2026

By early 2026, the new path through Quarry Reserve will be built, improving pedestrian access to 50 new car spaces on Park Crescent.

By mid 2026, locals walking or cycling will be able to enjoy safer journeys thanks to the new pedestrian and cycling bridge over the rail line at Champion Road.

The new link road connecting Maddox Road to Champion Road will open and then Champion Road will be closed removing the level crossing for good.

Other works during this period include:

• completion of upgrades at the intersection of Kororoit Creek Road and Maddox Road to further improve traffic flow and safety
• construction starts on the freight rail bridge over Maddox Road.

Werribee Line passengers will travel on the new rail bridges over Maddox Road. The boom gates will remain in place until the freight train rail bridge is completed in late 2026.

Stage 5: Final works and landscaping

Late 2026

Freight train rail bridge is complete with the boom gates at Maddox Road gone for good, making travel safer and more reliable for everyone.

As the final stage of our works, we'll remove the train tracks and reinstate Maddox Road, as well as add the finishing touches to pedestrian paths and the new shared walking and cycling paths.

We’ll continue to work with Council for potential enhancements within the project area, with more information to be available next year.

We’ll also begin planting 145 native trees and up to 30,000 plants, shrubs and grasses to help green the area.

As part of our works, we'll also be constructing more than 80 new car parks on the new Akuna Drive link, 50 new car parks on Park Crescent and a new pedestrian connection between Park Crescent and Akuna Drive.