Melbourne Metro Tunnel opens

Suburban trains on the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines started operating through the 9km, AUD 12.8bn, Metro Tunnel (Arden–Anzac) serving five new underground stations with platform doors from 30 November with a 20-minute service from Sunbury to Pakenham 10.00-15.00 (19.00 at weekends) to bed in the new facility. Trains run under CBTC control. There is interchange with the existing Loop at State Library/Melbourne Central and Town Hall/Flinders St. 70 000 passengers used the new stations on opening day. A new timetable with more trains will be introduced in February 2026, with Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham line trains using the new Metro Tunnel. V/Line suburban trains are free every weekend until 1 February. Detailed planning for the project started in February 2015. Work started to build the tunnels in 2019 and was completed in 2021, with station construction following. 3500 people were employed on the project. The first test train ran in July 2023. It was originally hoped to open the line to passengers in September 2024, but this deadline proved impossible to meet. The final hurdle the government had to overcome was reservations from the fire brigade over passenger evacuation in an emergency. 

 

The 429km Melbourne suburban train network includes 16 lines serving 225 stations operated by 226 six-coach trains. The 1600mm-gauge system has been operated by MTR of Hong Kong on behalf of the Victorian State Government since 2009.