Residents will wait less than a month until trains will move across the skyline with the State Government announcing the official opening date of the two brand new Pakenham and East Pakenham stations is set for Monday, 3 June.
The new elevated Pakenham Station will become a centrepiece for the growing suburb and now includes a new integrated bus interchange – creating easier and safer connections for passengers.
Melbourne’s newest station at East Pakenham will cater for the growing suburb, which is expected to have 7,200 new homes built in the coming years and it will also help improve reliability for metropolitan and regional train services, allowing trains to bypass each other – reducing congestion and delays.
“As works near completion it will be a huge win for Pakenham, as three level crossings are removed and two new stations open. I look forward to welcoming passengers to our new stations from next month,” Pakenham MP Emma Vulin
Work is also progressing to remove three level crossings at Main Street, McGregor Road and Racecourse Road, with a final major construction blitz taking place from 9.30pm, Friday 17 May until the last service on Sunday, 2 June.
Buses will replace trains on sections of the Pakenham Line as crews work around the clock to demolish the current Pakenham Station, complete the elevated 2.5-kilometre rail bridge, and prepare the new stations for passengers.
There will also be short road closures at Pakenham’s level crossings in May, and Main Street and McGregor Road will close again in June and July for line marking and road resurfacing works.
When trains resume service on Monday 3 June, Pakenham will be boom gate free and final works at Pakenham Station will continue to install lifts and permanent stairs. A shuttle bus will connect Pakenham with nearby stations for those who cannot use stairs.
All Pakenham Line services will run through to the new East Pakenham Station from Monday 3 June, continuing the 5-10 minute frequency in weekday peaks, and a 20-minute frequency off peak weekdays and weekends.
Passengers can view the new timetable for East Pakenham Station from 17 May at ptv.vic.gov.au. On the V/Line network, Gippsland Line Upgrade crews continue to carry out complex signalling work, safety testing and driver training while coaches replace trains between Southern Cross and Bairnsdale until Tuesday 18 June. The works also include completing new duplicated track at Bunyip and Longwarry stations.
Pakenham Line trains will travel through the Metro Tunnel and its five new underground stations when the tunnel opens in 2025 – connecting passengers to St Kilda Road and Parkville for the first time.
