Gone for good: Lilydale Line level crossing is free

The Lilydale line is Melbourne’s first rail line to have no arm gate, the last 2 dangerous and congested level crossings gone for good, a year ahead of schedule.

Lilydale Line trains have resumed running following a 6-week construction blitz to remove level crossings at Dublin Road, Ringwood East and Coolstore Road, Croydon.

Since 2017, the Level Crossing Removal Project has removed 9 level crossings and built 6 new stations along the Lilydale Line, which, along with the Belgrave Line, is Melbourne’s second busiest rail line, used by over 72,000 passengers every day of the week.

Removing these crossings has eliminated more than 5 hours of gate stoppages on the Lilydale line in the morning peak and reduced frustrating delays for the more than 123,000 vehicles who travel through these crossings each morning.

Separating trains and vehicles along the busy rail line has also made the road and rail networks safer for all users.

There have previously been serious accidents and deaths at several level crossings, including Union Road in Surrey Hills, which were fast-tracked for removal in 2023 after 2 deaths.

The new transport sections have transformed the communities along the railway line, providing almost 7km of new walking and cycling paths to link with the surrounding cycle networks and thousands of square meters of new open spaces and modernized landscaped with over 260,000 trees, shrubs and plantations.

World-class station designs have also improved local amenities, with Lilydale and Mooroolbark stations nominated for several national and international design awards, and Union Station in Surrey Hills recognized for its focus on the environment, awarded the highest rating by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council for a Victorian rail project.

Level crossings away from the Lilydale line include Blackburn Road, Blackburn; Heatherdale Road, Ringwood; Manchester Road, Mooroolbark; Maroondah Highway, Lilydale; Mont Albert Road, Mont Albert; Union Road, Surrey Hills; Cave Hill Road, Lilydale; Coolstore Road, Croydon; and Dublin Road, Ringwood East.

The Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines will be the next Melbourne rail lines to be boom gate-free next year, followed by the Frankston line in 2029 and the Werribee line in 2030.