The Victorian Government has announced that work will start next month on the elevated rail line between Dandenong and the CBD. The project will remove nine level crossings on the Cranbourne Pakenham line in Melbourne’s south east.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced that, from the start of August, preparations will begin to install two ‘gantry cranes’ weighing 230 tonnes near Murrumbeena Station.
“These are Melbourne’s worst level crossings – they’re dangerous, they’re congested, and they stop us running more trains on our busiest train line,” the Premier said.
“We’re getting rid of every level crossing by building modern elevated rail – it means less disruption, five new stations, and 11 MCGs of new community space – and we’re getting it done.”
The huge gantry cranes – 40 m wide and 150 m long – will install the 2,500 locally-manufactured segments of the new modern elevated line by moving back and forth in the air while trains keep running underneath. This technique significantly reduces the impact on passengers and nearby homes during construction.
Five new stations will be built at Carnegie, Murrumbeena, Hughesdale, Clayton and Noble Park. New power and signalling will be installed and 30 platforms along the Cranbourne-Pakenham line will be extended so they are ready for the 65 new high-capacity trains that will begin using the line when the project is finished in 2018.
Managing Director for Lendlease’s Engineering business, Craig Laslett, said the company was looking forward to contributing to the project.
“We look forward to working closely with LXRA to safely deliver this innovative rail and urban regeneration project, which will improve safety, deliver greater rail efficiency and increase the capacity of the network,” said Laslett.
[An artist's impression of the new Murrumbeena Station. Image: LXRA]
Infrastructure will be a major topic of discussion at the Australian Engineering Conference 2016 in Brisbane on November 23-25.