Level Crossing Removal Project

When Melbourne's railway network was built, because of the city's flat topography and sparse population, many railway crossings were via level crossing rather than bridges or underpasses. As traffic levels increased, these began to become bottlenecks, both for road traffic as well as limiting the number of trains that can be run, especially at peak times. In 1954, the State Government established a committee to look at removal of level crossings at Clifton Hill, Elsternwick, Footscray, Moorabbin, Newport.[3][4] These projects were completed by 1960.[5]

In 1983, the level crossing at Station Street, Box Hill was removed.

In the 2000s, level crossings were removed at Laburnum (2007) and a few others.

In the early 2010s, level crossings were removed at Epping, Nunawading (2010), Springvale (2014), Sunshine (2014) and Mitcham (2014).[6][7][8]

As of 2014, there were 170 level crossings left on the Melbourne railway network and 228 places where railways had been separated from roads.[9] Over two-thirds of these grade separations were constructed between 1863 and 1918, with fewer than one level crossing removal per year between 1918 and 2015.[9] The commitment by the government to remove fifty level crossings over eight years represented the fastest rate of crossing removals in Melbourne's history.[9]

Level Crossing Removal Authority contractors working to remove the level crossing at Centre Road, Bentleigh in July 2016

VicRoads compiled a report of the most dangerous level crossings in Victoria and handed it to the State Government in 2014, which in turn prioritised the top 50 for removal through grade separation projects, honouring a commitment made in its 2014 state election manifesto.[10] Many of the projects also involve the construction of new stations.

In September 2016, the Port of Melbourne lease was concluded providing $9.7 billion into infrastructure and securing funding for the remaining 30 level crossing removals.[11]

A report by the Victorian Auditor General, released in December 2017, found that the level crossing removal project was unlikely to represent value for money for the state. The report criticised the LXRA for its haste in delivering the program, and found that the rapid pace of the project had contributed to a failure to properly assess the merits of each grade separation. The Auditor General stated that the value of the project was compromised by the apparent political motivation for some crossing removals at the expense of more dangerous or congested intersections.[12]

In October 2018, LXRA surpassed the State Government's 2014 election commitment of removing 20 level crossings by 2018, having officially removed 29 crossings.[13] The Andrews Government also committed to removing a further 25 level crossings if it won the 2018 state election, and introduced a new prioritisation framework based on safety, congestion and proximity to emergency services to select the crossings.[2]

The Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA) was formed in May 2015 as an administrative office of the then-new Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources to deliver the project.[14][15][16]

Later, the LXRA led delivery of other rail projects, including extension of the South Morang railway line to Mernda and upgrades of the Hurstbridge line and Frankston station. The authority also delivered a new stabling facility north of Wyndham Vale station[17] and train storage at Kananook.[18]

The LXRA was abolished as an independent administrative office following the 2018 state election and its functions were absorbed into the newly formed Major Transport Infrastructure Authority at the Department of Transport.

The following railway stations have been rebuilt (or are being planned to) as part of the level crossing removals:

Belgrave line

• Bayswater
• Deer Park
• Heatherdale
• Mont Albert
• Surrey Hills

Craigieburn

• Glenroy

Cranbourne

• Merinda Park

Frankston

• Bentleigh
• Bonbeach
• Carrum
• Chelsea
• Cheltenham
• Edithvale
• Frankston
• Glen Huntly Road
• McKinnon
• Mentone
• Ormond

Glen Waverley

• Gardiner

Hurstbridge

• Rosanna

Lilydale

• Lilydale
• Heatherdale
• Mooroolbark
• Mont Albert
• Surrey Hills

Mernda

• Bell
• Preston

• Reservoir

Pakenham

• Carnegie
• Clayton
• Hallam
• Hughesdale
• Murrumbeena
• Noble Park
• Pakenham

Sunbury

• Ginifer
• St Albans

Upfield

• Moreland
• Coburg