Melbourne’s new St Albans station, which was constructed over 50 kilometres away in Kilsyth, is now in place.
VIC Acting Public Transport Minister Luke Donnellan visited St Albans, where the station building had been lowered into position over the week.
Mr Donnellan said, “We’re getting rid of this deadly level crossing and rebuilding the station, to reduce congestion, improve public transport and save lives.
“Building the stations off site using the latest technology is quicker, safer and smarter, and it means they’ll be open sooner.”
The new St Albans Station – as well as the new Ginifer Station being built as part of the Furlong Road level crossing removal – was built in a factory in Kilsyth using cutting edge 3D modelling.
Prebuilding the stations inside boosts efficiency by enabling multiple works to occur at the same time, meaning the stations will be installed and open to passengers sooner.
It also improves the quality and safety of the construction process, by removing variables like weather conditions and space-constraints on site.
The pre-fabricated station was driven across town early on Monday morning in four giant segments by a convoy of six trucks and lifted into place by a 200 tonne crane.
The construction team are now completing the final fit outs of the station, and installing lifts, ramps and stairs.
The new station is part of the removal of the Main Road level crossing – one of the most congested and dangerous crossings in Victoria.
There have been two deaths and more than 40 near misses at the Main Road crossing in the last 10 years.
The boom gates are down for 65 minutes between 7am and 9am, closing Main Road – which is used by 210 trains and 20,000 vehicles a day – for more than half the morning peak.
More than 2,000 staff have been involved in the package of works to remove the level crossings in St Albans, with the project on track to be complete by mid next year.
VIC Member for St Albans, Natalie Suleyman, said “This crossing clogs our community and puts lives at risk every day. It needs to go and after years of excuses and inaction, we’re getting rid of it.”
“We’re also rebuilding the station, to make it quicker and easier to get the train, and get home again at the end of the day safer and sooner.”
