Emerson railway station is located on the Seaford and Flinders lines.

Debate occurred during planning for the duplication of the then Brighton Line in 1949, that a level crossing should be avoided due to the expected resulting congestion and an overhead railway bridge was proposed by the Highways Department.

[4] In September 1952, a conference was held to discuss the Emerson Rail Crossing where once again a grade separation was proposed via an overland bridge or a subway.

[5] A bridge was not built at this stage, with automatic gates being installed instead with coordinating traffic lights.

The device activates when there are two trains in the vicinity by sounding an alarm and lighting up the warning message where people cross at the pedestrian maze.