13 October 2021

We’re removing the dangerous and congested level crossings at McGregor Road, Main Street and Racecourse Road by building a rail bridge over the roads and building new stations at Pakenham and East Pakenham.

The Victorian Government has fast-tracked these level crossings for removal as part of a $15 billion investment to upgrade the Pakenham Line which will be boom gate free by 2025.

Why these level crossings need to go

  • 63,000 vehicles use these crossing each weekday
  • Boom gates down for more than 30 minutes of the morning peak
  • 170 Metro and V/Line trains pass through the level crossing daily
  • 90,000 passengers use the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines each day
  • 2 serious crashes since 2005
  • 10 near miss accidents since 2012.

With modern facilities and more services, the new premium Pakenham Station will create safer and more direct links between public transport, the town centre and additional parking.

We’ve heard from the Pakenham community about what features you want in your new station precinct. Responding to community feedback, we have now released new station designs which reflect the regional and metropolitan character of Pakenham.

The iconic roof is inspired by Pakenham’s landscape of rolling hills and bronze sunsets. Opening in 2024, the light-filled station will feature 14 skylights, while prominent signs will mark the heart of the town centre. The precinct will include a new forecourt complete with seating and landscaping and an integrated bus interchange.

Pakenham Station's new features

Car parking and transport connections

We heard you want a station with better connections. There will be a new bus interchange closer to the station, creating easier and safer local connections. We'll move the new Railway Avenue bus interchange away from local traffic, improving safety and reducing congestion.

Dedicated pick-up and drop-off zones will allow passengers to be easily dropped off and collected close to the station. Existing car spaces will be retained, and an additional 450 car spaces added to the station car park accessible from Bald Hill Road.

Improved facilities

The new Pakenham Station will include improved facilities, such as public toilets, a ticket office and kiosk. An enclosed and climate-controlled waiting room on street level and covered sections of the platforms will shelter passengers from weather.

Lighting and Safety

We heard you want a safe station precinct. Passenger safety will be enhanced with upgraded lighting and CCTV cameras around the station precinct, including platforms, the forecourt and surrounding car parks.

The premium station will be staffed from first train in the morning until last train in the evening. A Protective Services Officer (PSO) office will also be part of the new station.

Station accessibility

The new Pakenham Station design meets Australian design standards for accessibility and mobility. The lifts at each station entrance will be big enough to accommodate mobility scooters, wheelchairs and prams. Stairs and lifts will connect passengers to each platform and allow for all-ability access to trains. People with a disability will have access to clearly marked parking close to the station entrances.

Walking and cycling

The local community wants to see better connections for cyclists and pedestrians to safely move around the area. With more bike facilities and improved walking and cycling paths, there will be more ways for locals and visitors to get to Pakenham Station and around the town centre.

There will be a new Parkiteer cage to provide safe and secure bike storage, plus more bike hoops outside the station. A new walking and cycling path will be built along the rail line throughout Pakenham.

More green spaces

The design incorporates community feedback by including green, landscaped spaces around the station precinct. Landscaping and seating areas around the station will create a look and feel that locals can enjoy throughout the year with vegetation along walking paths, the shared use path and station entrances. By building a rail bridge over 3 roads across Pakenham, the project will create 6 MCGs of new open space.

Project Timeline

2020

  • Site investigations
  • Technical and engineering assessments
  • Community engagement

2021

  • Community engagement
  • Further engineering investigations
  • Project designs
  • Construction begins

2022

  • Construction

2023/2024

  • Construction
  • Boom gates gone

2024

  • Pakenham and East Pakenham stations open
  • Community space open for locals to enjoy

*Timeline above subject to change.

Keeping in touch