Berwick underpass cuts commuter delays on Pakenham Line

The Clyde Road level crossing in Berwick was removed in February 2022 by building a road underpass beneath the rail line.

This work matters now because the Pakenham Line reached a level-crossing-free state in 2025, and Berwick residents continue to use the completed infrastructure daily in 2026. Earlier, around 22,000 vehicles passed through the crossing each day with boom gates down for up to a third of the morning peak.

Station precinct changes improve access

Berwick Station received a new bus interchange that includes more sheltered seating, a drop-off area, bicycle storage and fresh pedestrian links. The former bus interchange site became a car park with 140 additional spaces, better CCTV coverage, upgraded lighting and improved paths to the platforms. Total parking at the station now exceeds 1,400 spaces.

These upgrades replaced the old at-grade crossing setup with separated road and rail movements. The approach relies on an underpass rather than an overpass, which kept the rail corridor at its existing level while allowing traffic to flow beneath.

Planting and park work complete the precinct

More than 37,000 trees, shrubs and grasses were planted across the site, including a new pocket park on Clyde Road. The plantings add green cover around the station and along the underpass approaches.

Similar cities overseas have tested both underpass and overpass designs for rail crossings, yet Berwick's choice delivered the underpass and station bundle on the reported timeline without further disruption to rail services. The project forms part of the wider Level Crossing Removal Project managed through bigbuild.vic.gov.au.

Commuters can now use the expanded car park, bus interchange and pocket park without the previous gate delays. Ongoing maintenance of the underpass, lighting and plantings will keep the facilities operating for daily travel on the Pakenham Line.