Trains will start running on the new elevated Upfield line on 2 November, signalling that construction will soon enough turn to the new bike trail that will run underneath the new tracks.
The 2.5km of elevated track over Bell Street, Munro Street and Reynard Street in Coburg and Moreland Road in Brunswick is opening two weeks early.
Although the tracks are nearly completed, stations at Coburg and Moreland will not be operating until later.
If you were thinking about riding your bike to these station when they reopen, keep in mind that the bike parking is probably not going to be installed until into next year.
As workers put the finishing touches on the rail line, buses will replace trains between North Melbourne and Upfield from Monday 26 October to Sunday 1 November.
There is still much work to be done under the tracks and in the station precincts over the coming months.
In the past two weeks the project has installed signalling equipment and architectural screening, been restoring the heritage buildings at Coburg and Moreland stations, continued works on the new stations and removed hardstands.
Over the next fortnight it will be be putting the finishing touches on signalling, removing more hardstand, starting landscaping and continuing work on the new Coburg and Moreland stations.
The new open space areas and improved Upfield trail running beneath the trains will be opened towards the end of the project, probably during Autumn 2021.
The existing detours for riders in the precinct will remain in place for now, with some refreshing of signs and marking.
Riders should be aware that there will be considerable construction activities ongoing, with the pending removal of the turn-back facility at Anstey a likely cause of disruption.
The Upfield Trail will be closed between Tinning and Hope streets from 5pm Sunday 25 October to 7am Monday 2 November. The railway crossing at Tinning Street will also be closed during that same period.
Other works, including the reinstatement of the roads that run under the elevated tracks, will be proceed apace.
- Bell Street, Coburg will be closed at the rail crossing from 7pm Friday 30 October until 6am Wednesday 4 November.
- Munro Street, Coburg will be closed at the rail crossing from 6am Sunday 8 November until 7pm Thursday 19 November.
- Reynard Street, Coburg will reopen 5am Friday 6 November.
- Moreland Road, Brunswick will be closed at the rail crossing from 7pm Friday 27 November until 6am Wednesday 2 December.
- The Carron Street crossing between Moreland and Reynard Streets will be closed at times until late 2020.