By ANEEKA SIMONIS
WITNESSES who sat in fear watching motorists cross one of Pakenham’s most dangerous level crossings despite an approaching V/Line train have been assured train mechanics were not at fault.
It was reported to the Gazette that about 3.45am on Thursday 4 February, the boom gates at McGregor Road in Pakenham failed to trigger for an oncoming V/Line train.
Boom gates for the train and pedestrian gates were in place for metro trains passing through, but were raised to motorists who began to pass through the crossing ahead of the city-bound V/Line train.
The issue sparked criticism from Bass MP Brian Paynter, who said he was left “fuming” after hearing the news which might have resulted in near fatality at the problem crossing.
However, a Public Transport Victoria (PTV) spokesperson explained the gates were operating as normal at the time – with no possible risk of accident.
“There was no malfunction of the level crossing signalling system at McGregor Road, and both trains entered and exited the crossing safely,” the spokesperson said.
“The V/Line train was waiting at a red signal while a Metro train passed through the McGregor Road level crossing.
“The level crossing activated correctly, lowering and raising the boom gates to allow safe passage of the Metro train.
“A short time later, the V/Line train received a signal to proceed. The level crossing was activated again, lowering and raising the boom gates to allow the V/Line train to cross safely.
“This sequence of events is part of normal operation of the signalling system and posed no safety risk.”
However, boom gates that failed to be triggered in Dandenong in recent weeks did pose a danger to motorists. It was reported a V/Line train failed to signal the gates at Dandenong to lower in mid January, resulting in a number of the regional trains being pulled off the tracks. The incident came as V/Line had already withdrawn a number of trains from its fleet to undergo urgent wheel damage repairs.
Mr Paynter went on to point out other faults with the line which is often the cause of major delays, resulting in frustrated motorists often riskily passing through the crossing or stopping on the tracks when it is not safe to do so.
“This crossing is mayhem at the best of times but this is crazy,” he said.
“In December, I attended the Heritage Springs Residents Association Christmas party and I had many residents speak to me about the need for the McGregor Road crossing to be fixed.
“Sometimes, it can take up for 30 minutes to get from Henry Road to the highway, on one road.
“That is ridiculous.”
The traffic bottleneck, according to Mr Paynter, is a “nightmare” for about 15,000 motorists that use the busy thoroughfare daily.
Funding pleas have been made to the State Government to duplicate the single-lane passage at the track, but they have not yet been successful.
The State Government has also made commitments to remove 50 level crossings, including several on the busy Pakenham-Cranbourne line, however McGregor Road is not one of them.
It is estimated the bypass linked to McGregor Road will be used by 32,000 vehicles per day by 2021.
