The Victorian Government has unveiled designs for the new Glenhuntly Station - the latest instalment in transport infrastructure upgrades across the south-east, reducing congestion and delivering more trains, more often.
Construction on the new Glenhuntly Station will soon start, as part of the project to remove two dangerous and congested level crossings at Glen Huntly Road and Neerim Road by lowering the rail line into a trench.
The train station's new striking design reflects community feedback, including the desire for a contemporary precinct that complements the existing local architecture. The lowered platforms will improve safety and accessibility for locals, and create better connections between public transport, shops, and community areas.
Once the congestion-causing boom gates are gone for good in 2023, and the project is finished in 2024 - one year ahead of schedule - the Frankston Line will be level crossing-free between Flinders Street and Moorabbin Station. The project will also generate hundreds of jobs at peak construction, boosting the economy.
Removing the level crossing at Glen Huntly will improve safety and slash travel times for thousands of motorists and hundreds of trains and trams every day. Road users currently endure significant delays because the boom gates can be down for almost 60 per cent of the morning peak, as up to 40 trains run through the two crossings.
Since 2016, there have been 12 near-misses at the Glen Huntly Road crossing, including 10 involving pedestrians.
One stop up the line from Glenhuntly Station, Caulfield Station is set to become a major transport hub - with a city-bound train arriving every two minutes in the peak once the Metro Tunnel is complete.
The Victorian Budget 2021/22 provided$240.1 million for works to allow more trains to run through the Caulfield Junction, where the Frankston Line merges with the Cranbourne/Pakenham Line. These works will separate the two lines, eliminate unnecessary crossovers and prepare this section for the opening of the Metro Tunnel.
The Metro Tunnel will be complete in 2025 and create room for 36,000 more passengers during peak periods each week on the Frankston Line. Passengers will also be able to travel directly from Caulfield to Melbourne Airport.
The Government has already removed 46 dangerous and congested level crossings and is well on track to remove 75 by 2025 - with one removed every four weeks on average this year. A total of 18 crossings will be removed on the Frankston line, and 12 new stations built. For more information, please visit levelcrossings.vic.gov.au.
As stated by Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan
"Our massive investment in the Frankston line is connecting Victorians to jobs, health services, education and delivering new places for them to potentially live."
"The two-minute frequency at Caulfield Station means passengers will be able to throw away the timetable and get where they need to go safer and faster."
As stated by Member for Oakleigh Steve Dimopoulos
"This stunning new station and two level crossing removals will make life easier for the thousands of people who travel through Glen Huntly every day."
As stated by Member for Southern Metropolitan Nina Taylor
"The design is the result of thorough community consultation and will greatly improve the area by better connecting the station to the local shopping strip and in turn revitalising the heart of the suburb."
