Mernda rail extension to open six months ahead of schedule, station names updated
The day after Urban.com.au took a look at the swathe of construction images for the South Morang to Mernda railway line extension project, Spring Street has announced the project is running 6 months ahead of schedule and that test trains will be running on the extension by September said the Mernda rail extension project will be operating by September.
At the same time, local MLAs Danielle Green and Lily D'ambrosio who also holds the suburban development ministerial portfolio joined the Minister for Public Transport to confirm the new station names - Hawkestowe, Middle Gorge and Mernda.
We’re getting it done – Mernda Rail Extension is ahead of schedule, creating thousands of jobs and giving people in our fastest growing suburbs the transport they deserve. https://t.co/tWWNIqEKgQ #springst pic.twitter.com/xhqAKkWa0h
— Jacinta Allan (@JacintaAllanMP) April 2, 2018
Middle Gorge has previously been referred to as Marymede on Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA) website.
The LXRA are also running construction bus tours between Thursday 12th of April and Saturday 14th of April at 10am and 2pm each day - the tours last for 1.5 hours and interested parties need to register here.
The final introduction of the new timetable to allow South Morang trains to run to the new terminus at Merna will be confirmed over the next few months according to a Spring Street media release.
Clayton Road now level crossing free
The Premier and Minister for Public Transport also made a trip to Clayton on Tuesday to inspect works on the new station at Clayton where work on the station's new canopy is complete.
The boom gates at Centre Road are set to be removed today and the level crossing will be removed with boomgates to be removed at Clayton Road within days as well.
The Clayton section of the level crossing removal project will be the second to open after the Noble Park elevated track and the new station opened in February.
Rail services will resume at the new Clayton station on Monday April 16th.