- Published:
- Saturday 30 July 2016
Trains return to the Frankston line tomorrow after three level crossings were removed during the longest rail line closure since construction of the City Loop more than 30 years ago.
Premier Daniel Andrews today joined Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan on the platform of the new below-ground McKinnon Station, which will open to passengers tomorrow.
The new station was built during a construction blitz that has removed three dangerous and congested level crossings in Melbourne’s south east six months ahead of schedule.
Over the past 37 days, more than 1,000 people have worked around the clock excavating 250,000 cubic metres of soil – enough to fill the MCG – to lower the line so trains can run safely under Centre, McKinnon and North Roads.
These level crossings were some of Melbourne’s worst, with boom gates down for up to 45 minutes in the two-hour morning peak, causing frustration, distress and delay for tens of thousands of motorists.
To enable these works to occur, the Frankston line was closed between Caulfield and Moorabbin for more than five weeks, and replacement buses moved thousands of passengers every day.
McKinnon Station will open tomorrow, and Ormond and Bentleigh Stations will open later in August. Carpark and landscaping works at the three stations will continue over the coming months.
This is the first time in Victoria’s history that three level crossings have been removed concurrently and means the Andrews Labor Government has now removed four level crossings in less than 18 months.
Construction has started at a further 15 crossing removals, and by the end of 2018 work will be underway or complete on the removal of 35 of Victoria’s worst crossings, with 50 level crossings to be removed by 2022.
For more information about the Level Crossing Removal Project, visit levelcrossings.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“The crossings are gone, the track has been lowered and tomorrow the trains are back, completing one of the biggest construction efforts in Victorian history.”
“We said we would get rid of these dangerous and congested level crossings – and we have got it done.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan
“I thank the thousands of passengers affected by the closures, and the thousands of workers whose skill and hard work has removed these crossings, built these stations and made these communities safer.”
Quote attributable to Member for Bentleigh, Nick Staikos
“My community has fought to have these level crossings removed, and I am proud to be part of the Government that has listened and delivered.”