Melbourne’s new Metro Tunnel to open in early December, timetables released

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After months of speculation, the opening date for Melbourne’s $15 billion Metro Tunnel has been revealed, with Premier Jacinta Allan announcing the cross-city rail line will take passengers from early December.

The Victorian government has been tight-lipped about the date, other than promising it would take passengers before the end of the year.

Allan announced this morning that the Metro Tunnel will open in “early December”.

During the “summer start” period in the first few weeks, trains will only run through the tunnel from Westall and West Footscray every 20 minutes between 10am and 3pm on weekdays.

On weekends, they will run every 20 minutes from 10am to 7pm, and extend to East Pakenham every 40 minutes and Sunbury every 60 minutes.

A full timetable will start on February 1.

From February, trains will run at least every 10 minutes from 6am to 10pm between Watergardens and Dandenong, with services every three to four minutes in rush hour.

Frankston trains will also return to the City Loop when the full timetable commences, and the government on Tuesday also promised improved timetables for buses, trams and V/Line services.

The Age revealed in June that the project was planning a “soft opening” with reduced train frequency before implementing a full timetable early next year.