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Embedding People and Place in Infrastructure Design
Background and rationale
The Bell to Moreland Level Crossing Removal project, part of Victoria's Big Build, involved removing four level crossings on the Upfield train line in Melbourne's north: Bell Street, Munro Street, and Reynard Street in Coburg, and Moreland Road in Brunswick. The crossings were removed by elevating the rail line, creating a 2.5 km section of elevated rail and building new stations at Coburg and Moreland. Connecting the stations is a transformed ground plane with a network of connective pathways, parks, playgrounds, and public amenity.
The space was commissioned by the Level Crossing Removal Project and designed by Tract Consulting. It includes a series of new recreation areas – two new playgrounds, fitness stations, a dog park and active recreation facilities including basketball courts and urban play spaces that make the train line a destination in itself. This new network of activity nodes offers a welcome respite for the growing population, servicing the community at a time when open space for local walks, picnics and hangouts is of utmost importance.
Outcomes and impact
The Bell to Moreland Level Crossing Removal Project in Melbourne has brought transformative improvements to safety, connectivity, and urban design along the Upfield rail corridor. By removing four dangerous level crossings, the project has eased traffic congestion and significantly improved conditions for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. What was once a congested and neglected rail line has been reimagined as an open, welcoming corridor for all.
The main urban design feature of the project is the activation of the space beneath the elevated rail. This area has been transformed into a vibrant public realm, with walking and cycling paths, playgrounds, fitness zones, and green spaces. These additions promote active lifestyles, support community wellbeing, and create new opportunities for recreation. Sustainability was central to the project’s vision. Solar panels, water-sensitive landscaping, and native vegetation were integrated throughout, earning one of the highest sustainability ratings from the Infrastructure Sustainability Council.
A co-design process with Wurundjeri Traditional Owners helped shape the project’s relationship to Country. Additionally, heritage elements were respected and restored, with historic station buildings refurbished for community use. Together, these elements demonstrate a holistic and forward-thinking approach to infrastructure – one that prioritises people, place, and sustainability.
Investment and funding
The Bell to Moreland Level Crossing Removal Project was funded by the Victorian Government as part of its broader Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP), which aims to eliminate 110 dangerous and congested level crossings across Melbourne by 2030.
Enablers and lessons learned
By prioritising community needs and local context, the project moved beyond a transport upgrade to deliver lasting social and environmental value. Early and ongoing engagement with stakeholders, including a co-design process with Wurundjeri Traditional Owners, ensured the design was grounded in cultural and community values.
The transformation of underused rail land into active public space was made possible through integrated planning that placed equal weight on movement, amenity, and green infrastructure. Sustainability targets such as using renewable energy, incorporating water-sensitive urban design, and achieving a 6-star green star rating, were not treated as add-ons but embedded from the outset. One of the key lessons learned is that elevating people and place-based outcomes within large-scale infrastructure projects can deliver broader benefits across health, wellbeing, biodiversity, and climate resilience. This holistic approach not only supports long-term community use and acceptance but also helps redefine what good infrastructure looks like in dense, urban settings.
Further information
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Last updated29 June 2026