Level Crossing Removal Project

Level Crossing Removal Project
The logo of the Level Crossing Removal Project, showing multiple small red circles and black text for the project name.
The newly elevated Reservoir railway station showing the project's elevated designs with a road in the foreground.
Elevated rail near the rebuilt Preston station.
Project overview
FormedMarch 2015
TypeProject team
JurisdictionMelbourne
HeadquartersMelbourne
EmployeesIncrease 382 (June 2018)
Minister responsible
Project executive
  • Matt Thorpe[1], Acting CEO
Parent departmentDepartment of Transport and Planning
Parent authorityMajor Transport Infrastructure Authority
Websitebigbuild.vic.gov.au

The Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) is an infrastructure upgrade program by the Government of Victoria, Australia, to remove and grade-separate 110 level crossings and to rebuild 51 railway stations on the metropolitan and regional rail network of the state capital Melbourne. The project aims to improve network efficiency, rail safety, and reduce traffic congestion.

After pledging the removal of 50 level crossings at the 2014 Victorian state election, the Andrews Government committed $2.4 billion in the 2015–2016 budget to remove the first 20 crossings by 2018. The next 30 crossings were notionally funded through the hypothecation of the sale proceeds from the privatisation of the Port of Melbourne.[2] Prior to the 2018 state election, the government committed to remove a further 25 level crossings, using a new prioritisation framework.[3] In 2021, the government announced a further ten level crossing removals and four level crossing closures would occur by 2025, bringing the total planned level crossing removals to 85 by 2025.[4][5] In 2022, the Andrews government announced the removal of an additional 25 level crossings by 2030, bringing the total to 110.

Previously its own administrative agency, in 2019 the LXRP became a project within the Major Transport Infrastructure Authority, an office of the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning.[6] As of August 2024, 84 crossings have been removed and 48 train stations have been built or rebuilt as part of the project.[7]

  1. ^ "Melbourne residents angry over new train station metres from their balconies".
  2. ^ "About – Level Crossing Removal Project". Level Crossing Removal Authority. Archived from the original on 12 December 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Ten More Level Crossings To Go By 2025 | Premier of Victoria". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  5. ^ Fowler, Michael (29 July 2021). "Big Build swells: Andrews adds $2.5b, five new stations and 10 level crossing removals". The Age. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  6. ^ Department of Transport (September 2019). "Annual Report 2018-19" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Level Crossing Removal Project". Victoria’s Big Build. 26 October 2022. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.