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Box Hill transport planners weigh integration steps after interchange station work starts
The opening of the new rail station in 2035 will require choices on bus routes, tram connections and road management to address existing volumes.
How we reported this
Construction has begun on the Suburban Rail Loop East's first underground interchange station at Box Hill, which will link directly to Cheltenham once complete in 2035. The project adds a new rail option to the existing underground station served by the Belgrave and Lilydale lines.
Box Hill already functions as a major transport hub in Melbourne's east. It contains the city's only underground suburban railway station and the second busiest bus interchange, which handles 20 routes. Tram route 109 also terminates there after its extension in May 2003. These facilities make public transport the main commute choice for many workers, yet the suburb shows higher private vehicle use and lower walking or cycling rates than comparable centres.
Current road volumes shape daily movement
Traffic counts highlight the pressure. Elgar Road carries more than 30,000 vehicles each day while Whitehorse Road carries 20,000. Morning speeds on Windsor Road have fallen to 21.8 km/h. These figures come from local traffic studies and help explain why residents and visitors often mix rail, bus and tram trips with car travel.
The combination of high vehicle numbers and limited active transport options creates pinch points around the station precinct. The bus interchange and tram terminus sit close to the rail lines, so any change in one service affects the others.
Integration choices lie ahead
Officials must decide how to align the new SRL station with the existing Belgrave and Lilydale services, the 20 bus routes and tram route 109. They will also need to consider how road space on Elgar Road and Whitehorse Road can support transfers without adding further delays. The Whitehorse City Council and state transport agencies hold the main responsibility for these plans.
Residents can track updates through the council's transport reports and the Suburban Rail Loop authority website. Public submissions on station design and bus timetable changes are expected to open in stages before the 2035 opening.