Hundreds of drivers are now trained and ready to take passengers through the Allan Labor Government's Metro Tunnel ahead of the project opening later this year - one year ahead of schedule.
Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams visited Anzac Station to announce that nearly 500 drivers are ready to take passengers through the new twin tunnels and five underground stations.
Around 100 new drivers were recruited in 2022 to support the opening, completing an intensive 44-week program that included classroom, simulator and on-the-job training.
Hundreds more drivers have been trained on the Metro Tunnel's state-of-the-art systems, including High Capacity Metro Trains, new signalling technology and Victoria's first platform screen doors.
Drivers have clocked up thousands of hours behind the controls as part of trial operations, with test trains already travelling more than 265,000 kilometres - equivalent to more than six laps of the world.
While driver training ramps up as part of the project's trial operations phase, station staff are also being trained in the many processes and procedures that will be needed to operate the new stations safely.
More than 200 station staff, including Station Masters, Senior Station Officers, Station Officers and Station Assistants, will work across the five new stations - Arden, Parkville, State Library, Town Hall and Anzac.
The Metro Tunnel is the biggest transformation of Melbourne's rail network in more than 40 years and will free up capacity in the City Loop to run more trains more often across more lines.
Never forget, the Liberals called the Metro Tunnel a "hoax", said it was going to be an "an absolute disaster" and refused to fund it while in office. Labor funded it, Labor built it - Labor will open it.
As stated by Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams
"Our drivers have been helping us ramp up trial operations of the Metro Tunnel ahead of it opening later this year - with trains travelling the equivalent of more than six laps of the world."
"The Metro Tunnel will do what the City Loop did in the 1980s - transform the way people move around Melbourne and make room for more trains, more often."
"The Liberals called the Metro Tunnel a hoax. Well, we've got the drivers trained, trains tested, and a project ready to open later this year, a year ahead of schedule."
