Work on 3 level crossing removals and new stations at Pakenham and East Pakenham is powering ahead, with the elevated rail bridge starting to take shape and Main Street re-opening to traffic after installation of a giant concrete pylon to support the new rail bridge.
The concrete pier at Main Street, which stands at 7.5 metres tall, helps form the support for the new rail bridge in Pakenham, where piling – stabilising the earth beneath the ground – has almost wrapped up.
Nearby, more than 40 giant concrete L-beams have been installed at Pakenham Station to create the elevated rail bridge and locals will soon start to see these beams installed above Main Street and McGregor Road as works continue at pace.
The 3 dangerous and congested level crossings will be gone for good and new, modern, accessible stations at Pakenham and East Pakenham will open to passengers in 2024, as well as the new open space which includes a barbecue area, exercise equipment, basketball court, playgrounds and parklands under the rail line.
A new, modern, and premium station at Pakenham is under construction which will rejuvenate the town centre and provide safer and more direct connections between public transport, local shopping as well as additional parking.
East Pakenham Station will include 300 car parking spaces, as well as bike facilities, bus bays and dedicated pick-up and drop-off zones to allowing for easy pick and drop off – giving people the option to leave the car at home. The new station will remove a major V/Line and Metro trains bottleneck, slashing congestion and boosting reliability for regional and metropolitan passengers.
The Pakenham Line will be level crossing free by 2025, with 22 level crossings being removed on the line. Across Melbourne, 67 level crossings have been removed, with 110 to go by 2030, boosting safety and easing congestion.
