The first trains have stopped at the new Narre Warren Station following the removal of the level crossing at Webb Street late last year.
Minister for Transport Infrastructure Danny Pearson announced the new station is ready to cater for approximately 1,000 passengers a day – with the finishing touches on the station expected to be completed later this year.
“We’re transforming Melbourne’s booming south east by delivering a level crossing free Pakenham line next year, making roads safer and less congested for thousands living along the corridor,” he said.
The elevated Narre Warren Station has an upgraded ticket office, stair and lift access available on both platforms, with additional lifts set to open in the coming months – and a new air-conditioned waiting room and new toilet facilities soon to be installed.
Works will also continue outside of the station, with the project planting more than 300 new trees and 63,000 plants to revitalise the local area’s green space, along with 672 upgraded car parking spaces.
Since 2012, there were 19 near misses at the Webb Street level crossing and the boom gates were down for up to 33 per cent of the morning peak – causing congestion for 13,200 vehicles every day.
The level crossing is the 14th the Labor Government has removed on the Pakenham Line, with work underway on another eight to make it boom gate-free by 2025.
When every Pakenham Line level crossing is removed it will transform the way people live, work and travel in Melbourne’s booming south-eastern suburbs, providing more reliable journeys for drivers and improving safety by permanently separating vehicles and trains.
These works will also pave the way for the Metro Tunnel opening in 2025, which will deliver more services, more often on the Pakenham Line – creating a new continuous rail line from Sunbury in the west to Cranbourne and Pakenham in the southeast, which will slash travel times.
Work is continuing on three level crossing removals in Pakenham, where a 2.5-kilometre rail bridge and two new stations are being built and will open to passengers later this year.
The Victorian Government has removed 75 level crossings, with 110 going for good by 2030 – easing congestion and making Melbourne’s roads safer.
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