Melbourne Metro Tunnel: Transforming Rail Services in Victoria, Australia

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Introduction

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has announced that the Melbourne Metro Tunnel will open in early December, a year ahead of schedule, providing passengers with hundreds of additional weekly services.

Opening Timeline

The exact opening date will be confirmed after the completion of necessary testing, staff training, and safety preparations. Premier Allan and Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams announced the Summer Start program for the tunnel’s December opening, followed by the Big Switch – a full timetable integration – on 1 February 2026. During the “Summer Start” period, trains will run every 20 minutes, delivering over 240 extra services per week. On 1 February, the Metro Tunnel will be fully integrated into the transport network, delivering over 1,000 new weekly train services.

Tunnel Infrastructure

The 9 km twin rail tunnels beneath Melbourne’s CBD include five new underground stations, connecting Arden station (Sunbury Line) to Anzac station (Cranbourne and Pakenham lines). Passengers will experience the new Metro Tunnel and its five stations, with additional services during off-peak periods and weekends on the Cranbourne, Pakenham, and Sunbury lines. The completion of Town Hall and State Library stations on 6 October marked the completion of all five new Metro Tunnel stations.

Station Completion

The Government of Victoria stated that the CBD location and depth of the two city stations meant a longer and more complex build compared to Arden, Parkville, and Anzac stations. With all five stations complete, preparations are underway for the Metro Tunnel’s opening later this year. The Metro Tunnel’s opening will be the most significant transformation of Melbourne’s rail network since the City Loop.

Service Operations

Until the full integration in early 2026, 240 additional weekly services will operate through the tunnel between West Footscray and Westall, with some end-to-end services on weekends. These services will run alongside the existing timetable, allowing passengers on the Cranbourne, Pakenham, and Sunbury lines to choose between current services and those operating through the Metro Tunnel. Services through the tunnel will run primarily between West Footscray (Sunbury Line) and Westall (Cranbourne and Pakenham lines), with some extended services.

Future Network Integration

From early 2026, trains on the Cranbourne, Pakenham, and Sunbury lines will be removed from the City Loop and will instead run exclusively through the Metro Tunnel.

Conclusion

The Melbourne Metro Tunnel is scheduled to open in early December, with a phased integration of services culminating in a full timetable change on 1 February 2026. The project includes 9 km of twin rail tunnels and five new stations. Initially, the tunnel will add 240 weekly services, increasing to over 1,000 weekly services after full integration.

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Company Summary

Government of Victoria: The governmental body responsible for overseeing the Melbourne Metro Tunnel project and the broader transport infrastructure within the state of Victoria.

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