Mernda line commuters have been spared a chaotic ride home after angry Reservoir traders trying to block trains in protest against level crossing works were moved on by police.

About 20 traders stood on the Mernda line tracks at Reservoir station at 3pm on Monday to peacefully protest against the government works but were moved off the tracks by police after about eight minutes.

The Mernda traders' level-crossing protest lasted all of eight minutes. Credit:Chris Hopkins

The traders are warning that the level crossing works will kill their businesses, with Broadway Lotto owner Simon Alan saying the move was a last-ditch attempt to be heard over the four-month closure of the High Street intersection, which funnels customers from the Western Ring Road.

He said business owners had not been consulted and only discovered last month that the work to remove the level crossing would completely close the intersection until late December.