Forty dangerous rail crossings across regional Victoria have now been upgraded as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s Safer Country Crossings program, with a further 37 expected to be complete by the end of next year.
The $50 million program is now more than halfway complete, with another 10 crossings slated for upgrades before the end of the year.
The program is upgrading passive level crossings in regional Victoria into active level crossings with booms, bells and flashing lights to improve safety for motorists and passengers.
So far $27 million worth of safety upgrades have been delivered to boost safety at 32 road crossings, in addition to eight upgraded pedestrian crossings.
The upgrades will provide better warning of trains approaching the level crossing, with motorists no longer having to rely on their own line of site to know whether it is safe to cross the railway line.
The upgrades have also improved safety for passengers and staff on board V/Line trains passing through the crossings, providing a further boost to safety for regional rail travel.
Upgrades to pedestrian crossings have provided automatic gates and emergency exits to keep pedestrians away from the track when a train is approaching.
The Labor Government is also investing $10 million to upgrade a further 12 crossings along the Warrnambool line, with six upgrades already complete and the remainder expected to be delivered by the end of the year.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan
“We said we’d improve safety at 77 country crossings throughout regional Victoria and we’re more than halfway there – we’re getting it done.”
“With 40 crossings complete and the remainder to be finished by the end of the year – we’re delivering vital safety upgrades for regional motorists, pedestrians and passengers ahead of schedule.”
“We’re upgrading every regional rail line, removing dangerous level crossings, building better stations – to get Victorians home safer and sooner.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020