A massive construction blitz in Melbourne’s outer east from early next year will see 4 dangerous and congested level crossings go a year ahead of schedule, making the Lilydale Line the first rail line to become boom gate free next year.
Works will ramp up in early 2024 to build two new stations and get rid of the last 3 level crossings on the Lilydale Line, at Coolstore Road, Croydon, Dublin Road, Ringwood East, and Cave Hill Road, Lilydale, and at Bedford Road, Ringwood on the Belgrave Line, making it boom gate free from the city to Ferntree Gully.
Ringwood level crossing free in 2024
We’ll be working 24/7 from Tuesday 30 January until April to build the 380m rail trench that will take trains under Bedford Road, Ringwood and replace the level crossing.
Buses will replace trains on sections of the Lilydale and Belgrave lines during this time, and Bedford Road will also close to traffic for around 2 months while the work is underway.
Construction will continue at Dublin Road, with crews digging the 650m rail trench and building the new Ringwood East Station. To minimise disruption, trains will run for most of the time it takes crews to dig out the 65,000 cubic metres of soil for the trench.
Removing these 2 dangerous and congested level crossings will make Ringwood level crossing free, unclogging the roads for the 23,000 vehicles that travel through the crossings every day.
Croydon construction blitz
In Croydon, works to remove the Coolstore Road boom gates will progress early in the new year, with Croydon Station closed from Tuesday 30 January until spring. Shuttle buses will connect passengers to Ringwood East and Mooroolbark stations.
Most of the 687m rail bridge will be built while trains are running. A road closure will be required in autumn, with dates to be confirmed closer to the time. This allows crews to build new road connections, which will link shops and create more ways to cross the rail line, untangling the road bottleneck in this area.
The new Croydon Transport Hub will open in 2024, featuring a new premium station, a streamlined 14-bay bus interchange and new road intersections.
Works to build a new pedestrian underpass at Cave Hill Road will also start in the coming weeks, with the road closed at the level crossing from Wednesday 24 January 2024.
The Belgrave/Lilydale Line is the second busiest on Melbourne’s rail network, used by more than 72,000 passengers each weekday. Since 2016, 8 level crossings have been removed from the line and 5 new stations built, changing the way locals live, work and travel.
The Victorian Government is removing 110 dangerous and congested level crossings by 2030, with 73 already gone for good, boosting safety and easing congestion.
Passengers are asked to plan ahead while works are underway.
