By Corey Everitt
The landscape of Pakenham has been transformed as trains now run overhead with the two brand-new stations and rail bridge officially open.
This week’s Monday morning commute was a bit more interesting for some locals with trains returning through town at around 4am in the morning of Monday 3 June, after several weeks of a construction blitz that saw the old station and rail track torn up and the new stations set for operation.
This removal of trains over Main Street, McGregor and Racecourse Road brings the tally of level crossing removed in Melbourne to 80 since 2015.
The Pakenham Line is now extended two kilometres with the new East Pakenham Station which will service the new suburb as it grows into the future.
Local Malcolm caught the train at Pakenham Station in the rainy morning, he has been familiar with the station for some time. It was quite impressive to see the station now as he waited on the platform.
“I remember when this was all just bushland,” he said.
Some were catching the train just to experience the new station, Peter campaigns for development on the Melbourne transport system through his X account ‘Melbourne on Transport’. On Monday he rode from East Pakenham through to Pakenham documenting the first morning.
He made note of the roof of Pakenham Station which reminded him of Southern Cross Station and was scoping out the new connectivity of the stations.
Many had jumped on the train before the morning peak hour including Pakenham MP Emma Vulin who boarded the very first train out of East Pakenham Station.
Premier Allan stopped by on Sunday before to have a sneak peak joined by the local MPs and workers.
With the level crossing gone, the around 63,000 vehicles which pass through them are now freed from the boom gates which previously were down for 30 percent of the morning peak.
More is to be done with the outbound side of Pakenham Station to be finished, while the completion of 450 additional car parks is set for spring.
Reportedly six MCGs worth of open space will be made under the rail bridge which will include a basketball court, a playground, parklands and a shared use path, all set to be completed later this year.
For commuters returning to Pakenham it’s advised to depart from East Pakenham or Cardinia Road Station as the outbound side of Pakenham station will only have a temporary staircase while it is being completed. There are shuttle buses to Pakenham from Cardinia Road Station.
The Pakenham Line now runs with a five-to-10-minute frequency during peak hours and 20 minute intervals outside of the peak. The line is set to improve from the opening of the Metro Tunnel which will create an unbroken line between Pakenham and Sunbury.
