“Sleepless nights” for Boronia cafe owner as station works cut off 50 percent of customer base

A mum of three who poured her savings into taking over a local coffee shop says impacts to access have left her facing an uncertain future.

Author

Matthew Sims
April 14, 2026

Boronia cafe owner Kalyani Parkele says she has lost 50 percent of her sales revenue since rail station upgrades began, closing the main pedestrian walkway to her coffee shop in late March.

With completion timelines changing, Parkele isn’t sure how she’ll keep the lights on before the crucial access point is reopened.

👷 What’s happening? Cranes, trucks and workers have descended on the Boronia station precinct as part of a $60 million rail upgrade, including a landscaped plaza between the station and Dorset Road, widening of the station concourse and new platform shelters.

  • Boronia station will be closed from 11.30pm on Friday May 8 to late 2026, with a shuttle bus running commuters between Boronia, Bayswater and Ferntree Gully.

🗓️ Changing dates: In works notices seen by the Eastern Melburnian, the Big Build Rail team notified businesses in January that Lupton Way would be closed from February 24 to March 11.

  • However, in March, the project team returned to say the thoroughfare would instead be closed from March 27 to late September.

  • According to a public notice, the Big Build Rail team would “be in touch with impacted traders directly and work to mitigate this impact”. 

  • The Eastern Melburnian has reached out to the Big Build Rail team for further comment.

📉 Dribs and drabs: Parkele said the morning traffic of commuters on the way to their train had “reduced drastically” since works began on March 27.

  • A mother of three, Parkele opened the business last July, leaving her full-time job and investing her family’s savings.

  • 🗣️ “There’s lots of stress and sleepless nights,” said Parkele. “I put my heart and soul into this business.”

❤️ Happy patrons: Regular customer Theresa Dolphin said it would be a shame to lose the cafe.

Boronia local Theresa Dolphin

  • 🗣️ “It's as good as if her business was built into the station,” Dolphin said.

⏭️ What’s next? Parkele said the Big Build Rail team had offered no compensation, with support including pre-purchasing coffees for workers and spending $250 for free coffees.

  • 🗣️ “That doesn’t help me pay any bills,” said Parkele. “I have to somehow stay afloat for the next six to eight months.”