The Australian Government has announced that five railway crossings in Victoria will receive upgrades through the Regional Level Crossing Upgrade Fund.

The Regional Level Crossing Upgrade Fund (RLCUF) aims to improve safety features at regional level crossings to reduce serious and fatal accidents.

Three crossings near Beaufort and one at Serviceton will see upgrades, as well as one on the Puffing Billy railway east of Melbourne.

A commitment of $160 million over four years from the federal government is to assist state and territory governments with funding up to 50 per cent of the cost of railway crossing upgrades.

The Victorian Government will fund 50 per cent of projects costs and receive $5 million in the first round of funding, which will go towards a proposed program of works across regional Victoria.

The proposed list includes five priority areas for railway crossing improvements to tourist and heritage projects in regional and urban areas.

Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said this funding will provide upgrading of treatments such as signage, boom gates, flashing and rumble strips, to better alert motorists and pedestrians approaching regional railway crossings.

These upgrades include installing boom barriers, axle counters, and a pedestrian maze with automatic gates and electromagnetic latches on the emergency exit gates.

Give-way signs at two sites will also be upgraded to boom barriers and flashing lights.

The Victorian state government has welcomed the funding.

“This is great news for Victoria and the railway crossing upgrades will deliver a huge boost for the priority locations that we have identified across our state,” Acting Victorian Public and Active Transport Minister Melissa Horne said.

The level crossings funded under this program are:
  • Lawrence Street, Beaufort

  • King Street/Havelock Street, Beaufort
  • Racecourse Road, Beaufort
  • North Serviceton Road, Serviceton
  • Wright Road (Dalziell Road), Avonsleigh

Article published in conjunction with Western Victorian Railfan Guide. Map based on data from Open Street Map.