Tara Murray
Trains have resumed on the Upfield train line two weeks early after level crossing removal works finished ahead of schedule.
Buses have run on the Upfield line since July, while four level crossings have been removed and a 2.5-kilometre elevated rail bridge was built spanning four roads.
The bridge was built allowing level crossings to be removed on Munro Street, Reynard Street and Moreland Road and Bell Street.
The first three of those roads reopened on Monday, with Bell Street to reopen on Wednesday.
The Bell Street crossing is used by about 41,000 drivers per day and the removal will slash travel times.
The work is part of Victoria’s biggest ever level crossing removal construction blitz.
More than 1000 workers have worked around the clock since late July to get the project completed with strict health and safety measures in place.
The project is also building two new stations at Coburg and Moreland, which will open to passengers in mid-December.
While work is being done on the station buildings and customer facilities, Upfield line trains will run express through Coburg and Moreland with a shuttle bus operating between Brunswick and Batman stations to connect passengers to train services.
Transport infrastructure minister Jacinta Allan said they had made great work with level crossing removal across the state.
“We’ve removed 43 level crossings and built 28 new train stations – delivering better connections, supporting thousands of jobs.”
“One dangerous set of boom gates on Bell Street is now gone for good – and we’re now getting rid of its neighbour in Preston, with this notorious arterial road to be totally level crossing-free by 2022.”
