Call to upgrade deadly rail crossing

THE federal government has offered to hold bipartisan talks in an effort to fix a Melbourne railway crossing that has claimed 16 lives.

Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese inspected the St Albans crossing in Melbourne's west on Sunday and said he was prepared to sit down with his state counterpart to discuss how to improve it.

"This is obviously one of the worst in the country," he told reporters in Melbourne.

"I know the state government made commitments about dealing with this issue prior to the last election.

"I've raised the issue myself with state minister Terry Mulder and I want to see a solution."

Mr Albanese was joined by local federal MP Bill Shorten, who said both parties were guilty of neglecting the crossing for decades.

The crossing falls under the state government's responsibility and at the last election both parties had pledged to do something about it, Mr Shorten said.

"But we're still here, we're still watching people forced to engage in a proposition of Russian roulette," he told reporters.

"The message is very clear to premier (Ted) Baillieu - now is the time for bipartisanship, now is the time on something as important as life and death.

"Let's get on and talk constructively about how we can fix what I believe is the most dangerous level crossing in Victoria, if not Australia."

Dianne Dejanovic, whose 31-year-old son Christian was killed at the crossing a year ago, said people's lives are at risk every day.

"We want the Victorian state government to step up to the mark," she said.

The state government has said it will fund the St Albans Main Rd crossing, with planning work and construction to start in this term of government, but to date no money has been allocated.

The government has been contacted for comment.

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