If you live in Melbourne’s south east suburbs, it’s likely you’ll have seen our crews working on road and rail upgrades to ease congestion, boost connectivity and make travel safer.
Wondering what they’re doing? Read on for a progress update as of mid 2024.
Metro Tunnel
Crews have been testing equipment and systems in the Metro Tunnel to ensure they’re ready for the tunnel to open to passengers a year ahead of schedule, in 2025.
Sections of the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Gippsland lines will be closed while we carry out testing, with buses replacing trains at times until June.
Once open, the Metro Tunnel will connect the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines to the Sunbury Line.
For passengers coming from Melbourne’s south east, after Malvern Station, trains will stop at:
- Anzac Station (on St Kilda Road)
- Town Hall Station (with an interchange to Flinders Street Station)
- State Library Station (with an interchange to Melbourne Central Station)
- Parkville Station
- Arden Station (in North Melbourne).
Beyond Arden Station, there’ll be a direct connection through to the western suburbs via the Sunbury Line.
Level crossing removals
We’re continuing work to remove the level crossings in Pakenham at McGregor Road, Main Street and Racecourse Road along the Pakenham Line.
The Cranbourne Line is a step closer to being level crossing-free by 2025, with the boom gates now gone at Camms Road in Cranbourne.
On the Frankston Line, level crossings at Parkers Road, Parkdale, and Warrigal Road, Mentone, will also be removed in winter with a construction blitz starting in mid July.
New stations and line upgrades
The Cranbourne Line Upgrade has progressed, with 8km of duplicated track installed between Cranbourne and Dandenong and the new Merinda Park Station in Cranbourne North complete.
Work will continue this year to build a new plaza and community open space and 400 new and upgraded commuter car parks for Cranbourne Station. We’re also adding new pedestrian and cyclist connections.
In Melbourne’s bayside, the new Parkdale Station will open to passengers by spring.
Two new stations in Pakenham are nearing completion, with both ready to welcome passengers by early June. Pakenham Station is taking shape, with the foundations and roof in place, and internal areas under construction. East Pakenham Station is also progressing, with the car park nearly complete and the pedestrian underpass underway.
Road upgrades
We’re getting closer to opening new lanes on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road, from Manks Road through to Southeast Boulevard. All lanes will open by July – 18 months ahead of schedule.
Major works have finished to widen the outbound McGregor Road exit ramp and roundabout off Princes Freeway. Work to build a new lane on McGregor Road will start soon.
We’re also building extra lanes, upgrading intersections and building new walking and cycling paths on Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road. While works continue, Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road will be closed between New Holland Drive and Berwick-Cranbourne Road until mid-2024.
These upgrades will improve traffic flow, provide better access to public transport and make it easier and safer to walk and cycle in the area.