Level Crossing

Southern Programme Alliance, Australia

The Victorian Government's Level Crossing Removal Project is overseeing the largest rail infrastructure project in the state’s history. It will see the removal of 75 of Melbourne's most dangerous and congested level crossings by 2025. The project will also see the upgrading or building of more than 27 train stations, laying many kilometres of new track and making associated rail improvements. Removing the level crossings will reduce risk for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists as well as creating new community spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy.

  • VALUE

    AUD$1.4bn

  • REGION

    APAC

  • SERVICE

    Cost Engineering Services, Project Controls

  • COUNTRY

    Australia

  • Contract

    Bespoke

The background

The Southern Program Alliance (SPA) is removing level crossings on the Frankston line. The Alliance partners are Lendlease, Acciona/Coleman Rail, WSP, Metro Trains Melbourne and the Level Crossing Removal Project, tasked with delivering the $588m Initial Works Package and the $536m Additional Works Package 1.

The general scope for the initial works package:

  • Remove four level crossings at Mascot Avenue, Bonbeach and Station Street and Eel Race Road, Carrum and Seaford Road, Seaford.
  • Extend McLeod Road, Carrum to the Nepean Highway.
  • Build a new road bridge across the Patterson River in Carrum connecting Station Street.
  • Remove the Carrum train storage facility to a purpose-built facility in Kananook.
  • Rebuild Carrum Station.
  • Revitalise Seaford including upgrading RF Miles reserve and constructing a new cycling and walking path from Eel Race Road all the way to Frankston.
  • Revitalise Carrum’s local community and business activity centre through improved amenity, creation of open spaces and beautification works.

The scope for the Additional Works Package includes:

  • Removing three level crossings at Balcombe Road, Mentone, and Charman and Park roads in Cheltenham.
  • Lowering the rail line into trenches and allow the construction of new Cheltenham and Mentone stations.
  • Retain and restore the heritage-listed station buildings at Cheltenham and Mentone as part of the design of the new station precincts, while a third track will be built at Cheltenham Station to allow for increased train services along the Frankston line.
  • Create more than three kilometres of walking and cycling paths connecting the stations.

Our clients’ role on project

Benefits

  • Safer separation of trains from road traffic with level crossings removed in Carrum, Seaford, Cheltenham, Mentone, Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach
  • New stations at Carrum Cheltenham, Mentone, Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach
  • Moving train stabling facility from Carrum (residential area) to Kananook.
  • Reduced congestion on local roads
  • Improved safety around train lines
  • New open space for the community
  • Legacy left with local stakeholders including schools and businesses
  • Preservation of historical buildings
  • Improved connections between public transport, stations, local shops and amenities such as the beach
  • Improved reliability of train services
  • Modern train stations with latest functionality for DDA passengers

Our role on project

  • We developed and then led a comprehensive Cost Planning process during the design stage, which involved reviewing revised drawing packages prior to finalisation to provide a ‘Design Stage Forecast’.
  • The Cost Planning process was accompanied by our team developing a detailed knowledge of the overall cost plan, and a comprehensive breakdown thereof into geographic and task specific portions.
  • This Design Stage Forecast then enabled an early identification of potential cost increases in proposed design solutions, compared to approved cost plan.
  • That early identification then enabled alternative solutions to be cost tested and reviewed / changed if necessary to still comply with the contracted scope requirements and without impacting on the programme for procurement or delivery.
  • Our role also then evolved into the interface with the Engineering led forecasting teams and included change management processes.