Level Crossing Removal Project marks 10 years of milestones

The Level Crossing Removal Project has reached its 10-year mark. The Victorian Government is marking the anniversary by pointing to delivery progress and safety outcomes linked to removing some of the most dangerous level crossings in Melbourne.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

One of the early milestones came in January 2016 at Burke Road, Glen Iris, when boom gates were removed, the rail line was lowered under the road, and a new Gardiner Station opened.

Don’t miss…Dawlish railway storm damage cuts Devon rail route again

Since then, the number of level crossings removed in Melbourne under the initiative has reached 88, as noted by Railway Supply. The government has committed to having 110 gone by 2030, as outlined by Victoria’s Big Build. Several corridors are already operating without boom gates: the Lilydale, Pakenham, Cranbourne and Sunbury lines are now boom gate-free train lines in Melbourne.

Level Crossing Removal Project milestones and the 2030 target

Looking ahead, the Victorian Government says the Frankston line level crossings are set to follow in 2029, with the Werribee line level crossings scheduled to become boom gate-free in 2030.

Closer in, the state expects more activity this year, with a further eight level crossings due to be removed and two new stations scheduled to open, as reported by Rail Express.

Rail safety data on preventing crashes and near misses

In a statement, the government said rail safety data shows the project has made travel safer for road and rail users, preventing 117 crashes and near misses every year by eliminating high-risk crossings.

It cited the level crossings at Main Road and Furlong Road in St Albans, noting that in the decade before their removal in 2016 they were the scenes of two fatalities, three collisions and close to 80 near misses.

The statement also referenced fast-tracking the level crossing removal at Union Road, Surrey Hills, where two women were killed when their car collided with a train in 2016.

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed: