The new Cheltenham Station is now open.
The station opening follows the recent removal of three more level crossings on the Frankston line and the early opening of Mentone Station, after two months of intensive work from May to July.
It’s a major milestone on the project where work has continued with strict safety measures, supporting jobs and businesses through the pandemic.
The new Cheltenham Station has two sets of lifts and stairs and a new forecourt and community open space along Charman Road featuring the much loved and iconic station palm trees. A multilevel rail passenger car park is set to be completed in mid-2021.
It is the eighth of 12 new stations to be built on the Frankston line.
Finishing touches to Cheltenham and Mentone stations will continue until late 2020, along with landscaping and a new 3.5 kilometre walking and cycling path between Cheltenham and Mentone.
Locals have already seen an improvement in local traffic with three roads re-opened boom gate free in mid-June. Previously, the boom gates at Cheltenham and Mentone could be down for up to 49 minutes in the morning peak - causing delays and frustration for the 38,000 vehicles that cross the rail line each day.
The new modern stations in Cheltenham and Mentone are five-star Green Star design rated and include solar panels, water saving and rainwater collection, and will significantly reduce potential greenhouse gas emissions.
Further along the Frankston Line, works are ramping up on the removal of another five level crossings and building three new stations at Edithvale, Chelsea, and Bonbeach with major construction to lower the rail line into a trench starting in 2021.
Construction on large-scale public infrastructure projects has been deemed critical under Stage 4 restrictions, so work is continuing safely on the Frankston line with strict health and safety protocols in place.
