A long, dark era in St Albans’ history has ended with two of the state’s worst level crossings now gone forever.
Patient local commuters celebrated the re-opening of the St Albans and Ginifer train stations last Tuesday, which also marked the end of level crossings on Main and Furlong roads.
But the elation was mixed with sorrow, especially for Dianne Dejanovic, mother of Christian, who died at the crossing in 2012 when he was struck by a train.
Mrs Dejanovic broke down when she spoke to
Star Weekly.
“I was so elated to see it [the new St Albans station] – it was so wonderful, so beautiful,” she said.
“But it’s never going to stay that perfect.
“What a magnificent achievement by the community – we are forever grateful.
“It’s a big machine that gets this work done, driven by community and, yes, politicians.
“I have to say though, coming home through the station, the elation shifted to sorrow and tears, as it often does when I think of Christian, and I said to myself: ‘Too little, too late’.”
Mrs Dejanovic posted pictures on social media about her first trip on a train that pulled into the new St Albans train station.
The new station will eventually include a 700 square metre retail hub with as many as seven new stores, plus a memorial plaque for the 16 lives lost at the level crossing.
A meeting was held last night to discuss further details of the planned memorial.
The new Ginifer station is about 200 metres closer to Sunshine Hospital.
It will have 350 car spaces – 110 more than the old station – and a new walking and cycling path will connect it to St Albans station.
There’s still a little more pain ahead for commuters with Main Road at the old crossing closed last Friday so the old tracks can be removed and the road resurfaced.
It is expected to be reopened on November 28.
Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said the St Albans level crossings were two of the state’s most dangerous and congested.
She said there had been about 80 recorded near misses at the crossing in the past decade alone.
The state government estimates that 18 Olympic-sized swimming pools could be filled with soil and rock removed from the sites to lower the rail line and allow trains to run under Main and Furlong roads.
All works are due to be completed by the middle of next year.
Go to www.levelcrossings.vic.gov.au for the latest information.
