Inland Rail level crossing delays to ease in Junee

Inland Rail level crossing delays in Junee are expected to ease after new infrastructure was completed to move train driver changeovers away from the Olympic Highway crossing.

New driver change platforms in Junee

The works include two train driver change platforms⁠ delivered as part of the Inland Rail project. One platform is north of Junee’s CBD between Florence and Elizabeth streets, while the other is south of town on Byrnes Road.

An Inland Rail spokesperson said the project was intended to address an issue that had affected the local community for many years.

“We recognise that extended wait times at the Junee level crossing have been a long-standing concern for the community,”

Inland Rail said the platforms would allow crew changes to take place away from the Olympic Highway crossing, helping to reduce delays for road users while maintaining safe rail operations.

“These new platforms allow driver changeovers to occur away from the Olympic Highway crossing, reducing delays for motorists and helping to maintain safe rail operations.”

Olympic Highway crossing changes

Junee Shire Council Mayor Bob Callow said moving driver changeovers from the Junee Railway Station platform would benefit motorists and pedestrians using the busy crossing.

“Council is delighted that train driver changeovers will shortly move away from the Junee Railway Station platform to more suitable locations, as this will lead to a reduction in inconvenience for pedestrians and motorists at the Junee main level crossing,”

Callow said the issue had been raised over many years and welcomed the improvement through Inland Rail⁠.

He said Junee Road and the rail crossing were important routes through the town centre, with expected benefits for local residents, visitors, school buses, emergency vehicles and heavy vehicle traffic.

“Junee Road and the rail level crossing are such important thoroughfares through the centre of town, and we are looking forward to seeing the benefits for locals, visitors, school buses, emergency vehicles and heavy vehicle traffic.”

The Junee works sit within Inland Rail’s Albury to Illabo section, where the project is upgrading about 185 km of existing rail corridor in regional New South Wales. Inland Rail says this section needs enhancements to provide enough height and width for the safe running of double-stacked freight trains. In Junee, the driver change platforms are part of a more specific operational fix: together with existing passing loops north and south of the town, they are intended to keep driver change operations from blocking the Junee-central level crossing.