Boom gate free first for Lilydale

The Lilydale line is set to become boom gate free next year,

The Lilydale Line is set to become the first Victorian rail line to be boom gate-free.

Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Transport Infrastructure Danny Pearson announced that the last three level crossings along the Lilydale Line will be removed a year ahead of schedule, with works to ramp up in early 2024.

The remaining level crossings to be removed are at Coolstore Road in Croydon, Dublin Road in Ringwood East, and Cave Hill Road in Lilydale, while a level crossing at Bedford Road in Ringwood will also be removed.

Between 30 January and April 2024, crews will replace the Bedford Road level crossing with a 380-metre trench to take trains underneath the road, with buses replacing trains on sections of the Lilydale and Belgrave lines during this time, and Bedford Road to close to traffic for around two months.

Construction will continue at Dublin Road, with crews digging the 650-metre rail trench and building the new Ringwood East Station.

In Croydon, works to remove the Coolstore Road boom gates will progress from 30 January 2024, with the new Croydon Station expected to open by spring 2024.

Works to build a new pedestrian underpass at Cave Hill Road will also start in the coming weeks, with the road closed at the level crossing from 24 January 2024.

To keep updated, visit bigbuild.vic.gov.au