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New crossover for Upfield line

A new crossover will be installed near Anstey Station on the Upfield line, and then be moved to north of the new Coburg Station.

Construction has begun today on the 24/7 project to remove four level crossings on the Upfield line in little more than three months.

To minimise disruptions for commuters south of the project site, the crossover will enable trains to keep running. The crossover will first be installed near Anstey Station, to allow services to continue between the stop in Brunswick and the city while level crossing removal work is underway.

This new infrastructure will enable 60 per cent of commuters on the Upfield line to continue to catch trains.

The turnback will allow trains to terminate at Anstey Station and then return to the city circle.

While the turnback is installed buses will replace trains on the entire length of the Upfield line. Buses will continue to replace trains for passengers travelling north of Anstey. Passengers are advised to change at Brunswick.

Once the construction blitz on the Upfield line is complete, the turnback will be removed and replaced with a permanent crossover north of the new Coburg Station to allow greater flexibility for trains on the line in the future.

The construction blitz will remove four level crossings by late 2020, with new stations at Coburg and Moreland to open after that. Crossings at Bell Street, Munro Street, Reynard Street, and Moreland Road will be removed.

As part of the work on the Upfield line, two custom-built 90-tonne gantry cranes are being used in an industry first. The cranes will move up to 14 bridge beams a day, enabling the project to be completed faster.

Local manufacturers have been producing the concrete elements of the rail bridge, including 268 L-beams for the 2.5km rail bridge. The project also requires 53 crossheads and 49 precast piers sourced from local suppliers.