More trains are taking to the air in Melbourne's south-east after the latest stretch of the state government's controversial sky rail was opened to the public – and nearby residents are mostly happy about it.

The newly rebuilt Clayton station – which looms high above the ground like the new Noble Park facility – welcomed its first passengers on Monday, as another level crossing was removed on the busy Cranbourne-Pakenham line.

As Metro and V/Line trains whizzed past overhead, road traffic on the ground was also moving smoothly through the former Clayton Road level crossing.

Until the project, boom gates had kept cars stationary for 82 minutes of the 120-minute morning peak. A similarly congested level crossing at Centre Road has also been removed.