The government has just announced that Carrum will be a rail bridge (surprise).

Key elements are:
* construction of a new road bridge across the Patterson River to connect the two parts of Station St. This allows the closure of the level crossing on the north bank of the river (aka Mascot Ave).
* extension of McLeod Rd (the major road heading east from Carrum) through to the Nepean Highway at the southern end of the current platforms. The current level crossing at Station St (north of the current platforms) will close.
* the current level crossing at Eel Race Rd (at the southern end of the stabling sidings) will be closed, with no close replacement. Presumably drivers will be expected to travel north along Station St to the new McLeod Rd connection - 660 metres. Expect local controversy about this.
* the current stabling sidings will be relocated to Kananook. Seven industrial properties will be purchased. Presumably, these will be the properties to the west of Wells Rd, well north of the station. This would give enough land for a large stabling depot. I would suspect that this would see the end of stabling at Frankston and allow the redevelopment of land there. And it likely means the end of any plans for extension of electrification to Baxter.
* removal of the stabling sidings allows a major redevelopment of Carrum village. I would expect shops on both side of the road tucked around the elevated rail lines.

*One might wonder why there isn't already a second road bridge across the Patterson.
*No comment.
*What if the Eel Race road level crossing, rather than being closed altogether, is restricted to certain classes of vehicle, such as emergency and recovery vehicles, with full skirted barriers?
*No comment.
*No comment.

But a simple viaduct over the Patterson as well as nearby streets would make things a lot simpler.

Here is a list of things that the locals know in reality:

*This section of railway is close to sea level.
*It crosses the Patterson and a number of creeks, all at sea level.
*The railway can't go under that river or any of the creeks.

Yet they want rail under roads that are also quite close to sea level. But they never acknowledge that they advocate this despite the above. It is almost as if they can accept two conteradicting thoughts without a sense of them conteradicting each other. They suggest something counter to what might be intuatively expected without acknowledging that is it counter to that.

Where Metro are currently trying to remove as much redundancy as possible, can we celebrate the places where it is kept? Even if it's not used on a day to day basis, in an emergency being able to turn trains back at as many places as possible is a good thing.

The Metro policy seems to be to remove as many crossovers and turnbacks as possible.  In the event of an emergency or unexpected situation, provide a bus.  Don't worry about bus availability, or how long it might take.

Here is the video of the three crossing removals at Carrum. With two extra crossing removed, doesn't that mean the Government is removing 52 most dangerous crossings. Looks like they have to change all those Yellow signs, lol.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB-noYwwlP0&t=0s

It sounds like a very good outcome for Carrum.
Since they'll be building new stabling at Kananook maybe they should consider closing the stabling at Mordialloc, raising the rails and eliminating two or three level crossings there instead of lowering the rails at other locations.

It sounds like a very good outcome for Carrum.
Since they'll be building new stabling at Kananook maybe they should consider closing the stabling at Mordialloc, raising the rails and eliminating two or three level crossings there instead of lowering the rails at other locations.

It a far better outcome than the trenches at Bonbeach and Edithvale. Maybe this will convince the locals that the elevated rail can revitalise the area and is far superior option for the community

Here's the map of the future Kananook yard

That Carrum design looks tremendous. Much, much better than the CD9 stations and infinitely better than a barren concrete cutting.

With the shape of the stabling at Kananook I assume most trains from there will run to Frankston, the map implies that the track to the stabling will rejoin the line on the down side of Kananook. Also could mean that short hauls will end at Seaford and not Carrum, if they continue to run at all.

Dear Steve195 a and Others ,

What a major disaster , if this goes ahead I will no longer enjoy the view of Simmsmetal Scrapyard , oh the disappointment !

Seriously I note that provision is being made to extend the existing flood basin . As I stated elsewhere this area seems to stay flooded after heavy rain for a considerable period, so hopefully a proper grain age system will be installed as part of the work.

Also note that the new Stabling Sidings are connected to the Sown Line by a Loop, so that will allow for movements in  both directions . There should also be enough room there to replace Carrum , Seaford and Frankston so TOQ-1 your assumption appears to be correct .

Best wishes and regards, Radioman

What a major disaster , if this goes ahead I will no longer enjoy the view of Simmsmetal Scrapyard , oh the disappointment !

While the scrapyard won't be missed,  I'll bet Page Bros RV were thrilled to find out they're out.

Looking at the map i'm wondering how they intend to get the extra track under the Wells Road / Klauer Street bridge.  Last time I looked things were pretty tight between Kananook station, the freeway and the overpass.

What a major disaster , if this goes ahead I will no longer enjoy the view of Simmsmetal Scrapyard , oh the disappointment !

While the scrapyard won't be missed,  I'll bet Page Bros RV were thrilled to find out they're out.

Looking at the map i'm wondering how they intend to get the extra track under the Wells Road / Klauer Street bridge.  Last time I looked things were pretty tight between Kananook station, the freeway and the overpass.

I check on Google maps seems like just enough room to add an extra track under the bridge and also between Kananook station and the Freeway

Dear James974 and others,

Yes , I agree there is enough room , with a bit of track slowing to accomodate the release track from the proposed Stabling sidings .

Yes, Page Bros RV might have a problem there , though without knowing anything of their business one would presume it is a leased site , though obviously Pgae Bros now need to plan a relocation ,

Best wishes and regards, Radioman

Also I found someone use this map at Urban Melbourne Blog in a reply some time ago. Here's the link it has all the level crossings in this map with which ones are being removed and other details.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?hl=en&authuser=0&mid=1FrPuX-1Qt15xIoq_W1AM6WrvZ_I&ll=-37.974176736159826%2C145.02963779999993&z=9

What a major disaster , if this goes ahead I will no longer enjoy the view of Simmsmetal Scrapyard , oh the disappointment !

While the scrapyard won't be missed,  I'll bet Page Bros RV were thrilled to find out they're out.

Looking at the map i'm wondering how they intend to get the extra track under the Wells Road / Klauer Street bridge.  Last time I looked things were pretty tight between Kananook station, the freeway and the overpass.

I check on Google maps seems like just enough room to add an extra track under the bridge and also between Kananook station and the Freeway

Build a stabling yard at Baxter station and add that to the network. Plenty of flat land which is probably already owned by Victrack south of Golf Links Rd alongside Fultons Rd:

Also, first few pylons are up at Carnegie as of this week:

What a major disaster , if this goes ahead I will no longer enjoy the view of Simmsmetal Scrapyard , oh the disappointment !

While the scrapyard won't be missed,  I'll bet Page Bros RV were thrilled to find out they're out.

Looking at the map i'm wondering how they intend to get the extra track under the Wells Road / Klauer Street bridge.  Last time I looked things were pretty tight between Kananook station, the freeway and the overpass.

I check on Google maps seems like just enough room to add an extra track under the bridge and also between Kananook station and the Freeway

Build a stabling yard at Baxter station and add that to the network. Plenty of flat land which is probably already owned by Victrack south of Golf Links Rd alongside Fultons Rd:

Also, first few pylons are up at Carnegie as of this week:

The reason why Baxter project isn't done is because it would involve a lot of extra funding to the LXRA and would not be complete by the time the Carrum one is demolished. They investigated the potential for it and as result do it at a future date.

Just gonna state how the level crossing removal program is going
10 level crossings removed (all rail under road)
9 level crossings on Dandenong line in progress (rail over road)
-Pillars are getting placed
-Crane is getting built up
-Completion in 2018
2 Level crossings in early construction stage at Melton highway and thompson road (road over rail) finish in 2018
3 Level crossings planning Kokoroit creek road, Abbot road, and Rosanna (rail over road) finish in 2019
-Includes partial duplication at Altona
2 level crossings planning Camp road, Grange road Alphinton (rail under road) finish in 2019
2 level crossings at Skye road and Seaford road (rail over road) finish 2019
3 level crossings at Essendon, Eal race road and Station street (under consultation) finish in 2019
2 level crossings at Charman road and Balcome road (rail under road) starts in 2018
2 level crossings at Eithdale and Bonbeach (rail under road, but EES may overrule this) starts in 2019
15 level crossings under planning/consultation (under investigation)

So in other terms:16 rail under road, 2 road over rail, 14 rail over road, 18 still unsure. What a nice balance of trench and elevated rail.

Note: Park road is also getting removed but not part of the original 50 (rail under road) completed in 2019
Also Duplication of Heildeburg is a seperate project

According to this and by my arithmetic (which could be wrong), it means that at the end of 2018 (the time of the next State  election), the status will be:

21 actually finished
6 started, to finish in 2019
2 started in 2018, to finish ??
2 to start in 2019
15 in planning, no start date.

Open to correction if these figures are incorrect.

If there is a change of Government in November 2018, what will happen to those which are at that time:
(a) started, in progress,
(b) not yet started but slated to start in 2019 or later,
(c) planning completed, but no start date set, and
(d) planning incomplete or not yet started.

Worth noting that the locals in Essendon or at least the council and other groups are getting up in arms at the preferred option to remove the Buckley Street crossing is slated to be "Road Under "
     The council is against this as they feel it would be too disruptive the the local area .
Buckley street is on an upgrade and  Essendon station is very close to the crossing . To lower the line (and the station ) I would think would be hugely expensive .
      Perhaps if the locals are too upset about this should they just put up with the crossing ?
      What do others think ?

Worth noting that the locals in Essendon or at least the council and other groups are getting up in arms at the preferred option to remove the Buckley Street crossing is slated to be "Road Under "
     The council is against this as they feel it would be too disruptive the the local area .
Buckley street is on an upgrade and  Essendon station is very close to the crossing . To lower the line (and the station ) I would think would be hugely expensive .
      Perhaps if the locals are too upset about this should they just put up with the crossing ?
      What do others think ?

This Is the big problem LXRA and the Government faces, every community slated for a level crossing removal demands a "kings ransom" be spent on them, and bang on about this Is a once In a lifetime opportunity (to do things how they want)

I think the sandbelt crossing removals at Bonbeach and Edithvale  will get pushed In the too hard basket and the Government will hope they will go away !
Carram will get It's Station Street bridge over the Patterson River, but the level crossing may stay ?

If there Is a change of Government In November 2018 and the Guy Government takes over, expect the current LXRA program to be scraped and a new heavily watered down program launched with only a handful of removals where the Libs want them done ! Surry Hills, Mont Albert, Toorak, Glenhuntly
(all sandbelt crossings would be quietly dumped with a lot of spin and commitment to not building a skyrail, no time frames, no planing, no funding)

Funds saved would be ploughed Into new Freeways and Tollways

East West Link + what becomes of the Western Distributor
North East Link
Derrimut to Cocoroc Freeway & Thomastown to Beveridge Freeway (outer ring road)
Western Port Freeway to Hastings
South Gippsland Freeway Pakenham to Koo Wee Rup (a name swap for a section of existing freeway near Dandenong)
Mornington Peninsula Freeway extension (both ends)

This Is the big problem LXRA and the Government faces, every community slated for a level crossing removal demands a "kings ransom" be spent on them, and bang on about this Is a once In a lifetime opportunity (to do things how they want)

I think the sandbelt crossing removals at Bonbeach and Edithvale  will get pushed In the too hard basket and the Government will hope they will go away !
Carrum will get It's Station Street bridge over the Patterson River, but the level crossing may stay ?

Bonbeach and Edithvale is under approval whether trenches are possible without damaging the surrounding environment. If it does it fact affect environment they'll be forced elevating the railway and locals will agree it is throughly investigated and not be so against the other option. (Franskton Line has Marginal seats running along it)

Carrum is getting a station street bridge. The Station Street level crossing will be removed and the new entry point would be extending Macleod Road straight into Nepean Highway instead going through a Zig Zag through Station street. Across the other side of the river north of Station street crossing an extra crossing removed at Mascot street (not in original 50) this is because the station street bridge relieves the need for that connection and makes it safer. South of Macleod Rd Eel Race road level crossing is closed off and turns right into Station street due to opposing a longer elevated section.

It is quite a rare occasion for a state government to serve for only one term in office. 2018 with all this infrastructure construction going on and investment into key pledges for education and hospital will hopefully secure a second term in government. This government using a high risk, high reward strategy by doing many actions that could vary opinion to many people views. All the opposition is targeting the actions that lead to backlash and mistakes, but there are as many great actions as well that have full support (e.g. which is investing in rail infrastructure and removing level crossings). The opposition lacks a detailed PT plan and only released continually support for the east west link which they seem to forgot that their PT plan in 2010 was a success. Which ended up with a disappointment of rail studies that stated the need of Metro rail which they stalled and in 2013 they abadoned there so called PTV network Development plan for the East West Link Project. Not joking upgrading and having a vision for upgrading the rail network will gain votes, whether or not the media heavily points out the flaws in current gov would change the views of the people when it comes closer to 2018.

Just gonna state how the level crossing removal program is going
10 level crossings removed (all rail under road)
9 level crossings on Dandenong line in progress (rail over road)
-Pillars are getting placed
-Crane is getting built up
-Completion in 2018
2 Level crossings in early construction stage at Melton highway and thompson road (road over rail) finish in 2018
3 Level crossings planning Kokoroit creek road, Abbot road, and Rosanna (rail over road) finish in 2019
-Includes partial duplication at Altona
2 level crossings planning Camp road, Grange road Alphinton (rail under road) finish in 2019
2 level crossings at Skye road and Seaford road (rail over road) finish 2019
3 level crossings at Essendon, Eal race road and Station street (under consultation) finish in 2019
2 level crossings at Charman road and Balcome road (rail under road) starts in 2018
2 level crossings at Eithdale and Bonbeach (rail under road, but EES may overrule this) starts in 2019
15 level crossings under planning/consultation (under investigation)

So in other terms:16 rail under road, 2 road over rail, 14 rail over road, 18 still unsure. What a nice balance of trench and elevated rail.

Note: Park road is also getting removed but not part of the original 50 (rail under road) completed in 2019
Also Duplication of Heildeburg is a seperate project

Update:
Eel Race road closed, and station street/Macleod Road extension (rail over road) finish in 2019
Essendon (road under rail) finish in 2019

Mascot and Park Road level crossing removed an extra 2 from the 50 removed as part of Franskton line removals
By mid year- we will find out the removal of Reservoir and Bell street.

16 rail under, 2 road over rail, 15 rail over road, 1 road under rail, 1 crossing closed, 15 undetermined. 2 extra crossings removed, 2 will be found out soon.

Dandenong project has gotten more pillars up and crane is assembled. Exciting times ahead.

Worth noting that the locals in Essendon or at least the council and other groups are getting up in arms at the preferred option to remove the Buckley Street crossing is slated to be "Road Under "
     The council is against this as they feel it would be too disruptive the the local area .
Buckley street is on an upgrade and  Essendon station is very close to the crossing . To lower the line (and the station ) I would think would be hugely expensive .
      Perhaps if the locals are too upset about this should they just put up with the crossing ?
      What do others think ?

Rail under Buckley street and Mount Alexander road would only be "hugely expensive" for a short time. It would improve the amenity of the area, and the median on Mount Alexander road could be extended down to the roundabout.
According to an illustration on this site, buildings could even be erected on top of the cutting. Furthermore, it takes into account the needs of not only Essendon station but the rest of the Craigieburn line.

G'day all.
I looked at the illustration for the rail under proposal at Essendon by the local council. The first thing I noticed was the lack of a third line/ platform. What a terrible result that would be!
All they are interested in is the commercial development opportunity it presents. Forget the heritage value of the current site! The only thing that seems to be excluded from all these proposals is Park Street level crossing which is just around the corner. Why not remove that at the same time as well?
Cheers all.

That illustration does not show the station platforms. Indeed, remove the Park and Puckle street level crossings at the same time. To run extra trains to Essendon, the third track will need to be kept and the level crossing at Macauley road, Kensington will need to be grade separated as well, which will involve raising the goods sidings.
In fact, the terrain in Moonee Ponds and Essendon raises the question of why the line wasn't originally built under the local streets, which would have saved the need for a gatekeeper at Park street.

New Rail Crossing removals announced this morning Melba Highway Yarra Glen, Kinglake-Healesville Rd Healesville both to be rail under road and Nelson Rd Lilydale to be reinstated with Boom Barriers.

New Rail Crossing removals announced this morning Melba Highway Yarra Glen, Kinglake-Healesville Rd Healesville both to be rail under road and Nelson Rd Lilydale to be reinstated with Boom Barriers.

April fools?