17 Aug 2020
The new Cheltenham Station is now open to the public with trains running in the new rail trenches and stopping at the station from Sunday 16 August.
The station opening follows the recent removal of three more level crossings on the Frankston line and the early opening of Mentone Station, after two months of intensive work from May to July.
It’s a major milestone on the project where work has continued with strict safety measures, supporting jobs and businesses through the pandemic.
The new Cheltenham Station has two sets of lifts and stairs and a new forecourt and community open space along Charman Road featuring the much loved and iconic station palm trees. A multilevel rail passenger car park is set to be completed in mid 2021.
It is the eighth of 12 new stations to be built on the Frankston line as part of a $3 billion rail infrastructure investment that also includes removing 18 level crossings, more than on any other rail line.
Finishing touches to the Cheltenham and Mentone stations, landscaping and a new 3.5 kilometre walking and cycling path between Cheltenham and Mentone will continue until late 2020.
Locals have already seen an improvement in local traffic with all three roads re-opened boom gate free in mid-June. Previously, the boom gates at Cheltenham and Mentone could be down for up to 49 minutes in the morning peak – causing delays and frustration for the 38,000 vehicles that cross the rail line each day.
The new modern stations in Cheltenham and Mentone are five-star Green Star design rated and include solar panels, water saving and rainwater collection, and will significantly reduce potential greenhouse gas emissions.
