Metro Tunnel opening date revealed, taking passengers earlier than expected

3 months ago 21

Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel will be taking passengers from November 30, more than a week earlier than expected.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined Premier Jacinta Allan on Sunday in announcing the opening date for the $15.5 billion project.

The pair met at Sunshine station, where both levels of government are funding a $4 billion upgrade of the rail network in the region, and caught a train into the tunnel before disembarking at the new State Library station for a tour.

The state government had previously revealed services would start from December, and it was widely believed the opening date would be on a Saturday or Sunday when services were less frequent.

A key milestone was receiving final safety approval from the national rail safety regulator.

But Allan revealed passengers would instead be able to travel on the new underground rail line under Melbourne’s CBD from November 30.

The tunnel will not be used at full capacity when it first opens, with limited services representing about a quarter of its potential through December and January.

The initial timetable will have 30 off-peak services each weekday, with a full timetable not starting until February 1.

During the summer soft launch, trains will run every 20 minutes between 10am and 3pm on weekdays from Westall and West Footscray stations.

Premier Jacinta Allan at Town Hall station last month.

All trips during this period will be in addition to existing Sunbury and Pakenham/Cranbourne timetabled services, which will continue to operate through the City Loop until February, when they are switched over to run exclusively through the Metro Tunnel.

The full timetable has not been released, but the government said that from February, trains would run at least every 10 minutes from 6am to 10pm between Watergardens and Dandenong, with services every three to four minutes in peak hours.

The Metro Tunnel project comprises a nine-kilometre rail tunnel between Kensington and South Yarra, with five new underground stations: Anzac (opposite the Shrine of Remembrance), Town Hall, State Library, Parkville and Arden (in North Melbourne).

More to come

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