A site near Marymede Catholic College has been chosen as the location of a secondary station between South Morang and the planned Mernda Station, off Bridge Inn Road.

The site was picked over a station near Hawkstowe​ Parade because of the greater availability of space for car parking combined with a strong community preference to be able to drive to the new station.

Concept plans revealed during a community consultation session on Saturday also showed elevated and underground opinions were being considered for rail crossings at Hawkstowe Parade in South Morang and Bridge Inn Road in Mernda.

An elevated railway was also depicted over The Parkway (a main road in Mernda) and the nearby Simons Creeks.

An artist's impression of an elevated rail design option for Hawkstowe Parade in South Morang. Photo: Supplied.

South Morang and Mernda Rail Alliance spokesman Darren Peters said residents were concerned there would be sky rail built through areas, including Hawkstowe Estate. He said the strong community preference would be for the entire rail line to be lowered into the ground.

"I think it would be highly likely people would be upset if there is sky rail. Part of the character of Mernda is open parklands and protected river red gum," Mr Peters said.

More than eight kilometres of sky rail was recently announced for three sections between Caulfield and Dandenong stations, prompting community outrage. Detailed plans are not yet available for the new South Morang-to-Mernda line, but it is understood many kilometres of sky rail would be unlikely.

The government has promised to build screens to protect the privacy of adjacent backyards where the rail line overlooks people's properties.

An artist's impression of an underground rail option for Bridge Inn Road in Mernda. Photo: Supplied.

It was the government's pledge to build only one additional station between Mernda and South Morang – since announced as Marymede. But community pressure to also build the second option at Hawkestowe is growing.

"If the suburb is already established, why are we waiting another five years to get a station that we need now?" Mr Peters said.

"We should be doing it when all the equipment is there. It will save hundreds of millions of dollars."

Photo: Level Crossing Removal Authority.

It came as Premier Daniel Andrews called for expressions of interest to build the $600 million project, saying he wanted the project under construction next year and fully finished in 2019. Mr Andrews said given the strong level of community support for a third station, bidders would be required to investigate and price the proposed station near Hawkstowe Parade as part of the tender.

A spokesman for Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said an announcement on the timing of the third new station was expected shortly, and in the documents released to the community on Saturday it was labelled as a "potential" station.

The new eight-kilometre dual rail line to Mernda is expected to be completed in mid-2019, with construction set to begin next year.

The Level Crossing Removal Authority's Mernda project director, Graeme Chambers, said in the coming weeks the authority would be out in the community seeking feedback on the proposed early design concepts.

"The project team is currently assessing all the options for the project, and will need to consider constraints such as geology, underground utilities and pipes, and appropriate rail gradients," Mr Chambers said.

"The proposed rail alignment is primarily within an existing corridor zoned for railway use. This land has been earmarked as a future rail corridor since the closure of the Whittlesea line in 1959."