Lilydale Line Becomes Melbourne’s First Level Crossing-Free RailwayLilydale Line Becomes Melbourne’s First Level Crossing-Free Railway The Lilydale Line has achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first railway line in Melbourne to eliminate all level crossings, a year ahead of schedule. Previously a major source of delays and potential danger, two remaining level crossings at Dublin Road in Ringwood East and Coolstore Road in Croydon have now been permanently removed. “All level crossings on the Lilydale Line have now been permanently removed, meaning local people would get home safer and quicker,” said Acting First Minister Ben Carroll. The $1.6 billion project has also seen the construction of six new stations and the addition of nearly seven kilometers of walking and cycling trails. “These projects have created new open spaces and planted more than 260,000 trees, shrubs, and grasses,” Carroll added. The Lilydale Line is one of Melbourne’s busiest rail lines, with over 72,000 passengers using it each weekday. Removing level crossings will significantly reduce delays for commuters and improve safety. “Barriers will not be closed for more than five hours during the morning rush hour, reducing the frustrating delays for the more than 123,000 vehicles that pass through each morning,” said Minister for Transport Infrastructure Danny Pearson. The Lilydale Line project is part of the Labor government’s commitment to remove 110 dangerous level crossings in Melbourne by 2030. The Cranbourne, Pakenham, and Sunbury lines will be the next to have level crossings removed next year, followed by the Frankston and Werribee lines in 2029 and 2030, respectively.
The Lilydale Line is the first railway line in Melbourne to have no level crossings and was completed a year ahead of schedule.
Acting First Minister Ben Carroll and Minister for Transport Infrastructure Danny Pearson announced that the level crossings at Dublin Road in Ringwood East and Coolstore Road in Croydon will be removed permanently.
Since 2017, nine level crossings have been removed and six new stations built along the Lilydale Line, the second busiest on the network, used by over 72,000 passengers each weekday.
By removing these level crossings, the barriers will not be closed for more than five hours during the morning rush hour, reducing the frustrating delays for the more than 123,000 vehicles that pass through each morning.
Acting First Minister Ben Carroll said all level crossings on the line had now been permanently removed, meaning local people would get home safer and quicker.
The new accessible East Ringwood Station will open to passengers soon and will feature lifts to every platform and parking for 460 vehicles. The new, high-quality Croydon Station will open later this month.
There have previously been serious accidents and fatalities at several level crossings on the Lilydale line, including Union Road in Surrey Hills, which was urgently removed after two people died.
The level crossings removed from the line include Blackburn Road, Heatherdale Road, Manchester Road, Maroondah Highway, Mont Albert Road, Union Road, Cave Hill Road, Coolstore Road and Dublin Road, Ringwood East.
Transport Infrastructure Minister Danny Pearson said users of the Lilydale line would experience Victoria’s first-ever free level crossing, meaning the state could run more trains and more often.
These projects have created nearly seven kilometers of new walking and cycling trails, as well as new and improved open spaces – with more than 260,000 trees, shrubs and grasses planted.
The Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines are the next rail lines in Melbourne to no longer have barriers next year, followed by the Frankston line in 2029 and the Werribee line in 2030.
The Labor government will remove 110 dangerous and congested level crossings in Melbourne by 2030, up from 82 that have already been permanently removed, to help Victorians get home safer and faster.
