A massive construction blitz over the winter months will see 7 dangerous and congested level crossings gone for good, and Melbourne will get its first boom gate-free rail line.
Work is progressing to remove 3 level crossings and build 2 new stations in Pakenham, with a final major construction blitz for the project taking place from mid May.
From 9pm, Friday 17 May to early June, buses will replace trains between Berwick and Pakenham, as a crew of 200 work around the clock to demolish the existing Pakenham Station and finish the elevated 2.5 km rail bridge.
When trains return in early June, the level crossings will be gone, and the new Pakenham and East Pakenham stations will open to passengers.
There will also be short road closures at Pakenham’s level crossings in May, and Main Street and McGregor Road will close again in June and July for line marking and road resurfacing works.
The final push to make the Lilydale Line Melbourne’s first level crossing free rail line will begin next month, with buses replacing trains from Friday 24 May until early July.
There will also be closures at Coolstore Road, Croydon from mid April and Dublin Road, Ringwood East during May so crews can safely carry out works.
These level crossings will be a thing of the past, and the new Ringwood East Station open in early July, followed by the opening of the new Croydon Station later that month.
With the dangerous Cave Hill Road level crossing in Lilydale already closed, the Lilydale Line will be boom gate free by mid 2024, a year ahead of schedule, and the level crossing at Station Street, Officer on the Pakenham Line will also close permanently on 18 May.
Closer to the city, 2 level crossings in Parkdale will also be removed in winter with a construction blitz starting in mid July. A brand-new Parkdale Station will open to passengers by spring.
Passengers are asked to plan ahead while works are underway. For more information visit our disruptions page.
