Early designs reveal a nature-inspired Melbourne train station upgrade on the Hurstbridge Line.
The Victorian government has released the first concept designs for a new rail bridge in Macleod, which will permanently remove the Ruthven Street level crossing and reshape the surrounding Melbourne train station precinct. Construction is set to begin later this year, with the project expected to wrap up in 2027.
The new rail bridge will separate trains from road traffic at the point where Ruthven Street and Chapman Street meet the rail line, easing congestion for the 12,600 vehicles that pass through the crossing every day. According to the Level Crossing Removal Project, boom gates at the site currently block traffic for almost 30 minutes during the morning peak alone.
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How the new Melbourne train station precinct will look
Design details draw heavily from the surrounding natural environment. The rail bridge concept takes visual cues from the nearby Rosanna Parklands, with the aim of blending the structure into Macleod’s leafy landscape. Underneath the bridge, a new landscaped community space will feature native and indigenous plantings, creating usable green space where boom gates and traffic queues once dominated.
A new walking and cycling path along Ellesmere Parade between Ruthven Street and Davies Street will improve active transport connections, while a signalised pedestrian crossing on Ruthven Street will make it safer and more convenient to access the station and surrounding area. It’s a similar approach to precinct upgrades already underway at Boronia, where a new plaza and pocket park are transforming the station surrounds.
Level crossing removals across Melbourne’s north east
The Macleod project builds on previous level crossing removals along the Hurstbridge Line at Grange Road in Alphington and Lower Plenty Road in Rosanna. It also complements the Hurstbridge Line Duplication, which delivered new stations at Greensborough and Montmorency and added duplicated track to allow more frequent services. Two Melbourne train lines are already completely boom gate free, with the Lilydale and Sunbury lines cleared of every level crossing.
Across the broader network, 88 of a planned 110 level crossings have already been removed, with the Victorian government targeting full completion by 2030. Major projects continue at Newport, where rail bridges are under construction, and a new elevated station is planned for Spotswood by 2028. The Melton Line is also seeing significant investment, with longer VLocity trains set to boost capacity by 50%.
Have your say on the Macleod rail bridge
The designs have been shaped by community feedback and local input, and residents can now view the concept plans and provide further comment. Information sessions and feedback opportunities are available online.
For more information, head here.
