A line which had some of the “most dangerous level crossings in Melbourne”, is now boom gate free.
The final three sets of boom gates were removed from the Sunbury Line recently, which the Victorian Government said will improve safety and reduce congestion on local roads.
“Making the Sunbury Line boom gate free has eased congestion for the 108,000 motorists that used the eight level crossings each weekday, eliminating four hours of boom gate down time in the morning peak,” a spokesperson said.
“It also avoids even longer boom gate down times when the Metro Tunnel opens later this year, paving the way for more services to run on the line.”
Over the course of a weekend work blitz, crews took out boom gates at Old Calder Highway in Diggers Rest and at Holden Road and Calder Park Drive in Calder Park.
The first two level crossings to be dismantled on the Sunbury Line were the site of multiple fatal and dangerous incidents.
Two deaths and more than 60 near misses were recorded at the Main Road level crossing in Albans from 2006 until its removal in 2016.
Meanwhile three fatalities occurred at the Furlong Road level crossing nearby.
Other crossings to go from the Sunbury Line included Melton Highway, Sydenham; Gap Road, Sunbury; and Watsons Road, Diggers Rest, which will see a new road bridge over the rail line open later this year.
When Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel opens later in 2025, it will connect the Sunbury Line in the city’s north west to the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines in the south east.
With the Pakenham Line also set to become boom gate free later this year, trains will be able to travel 100 kilometres to Sunbury without a single level crossing, providing access to five new underground stations.
The Sunbury Line is Melbourne’s second rail line to be boom gate free, following the Lilydale Line.
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