The Allan Labor Government's Metro Tunnel Project is heating up this winter as it undertakes a full day of trial operations on Melbourne's rail network for the very first time.
On Saturday, 21 June, the Metro Tunnel team will test all the new systems and infrastructure for an extended period of time - with more trains set to run throughout the day compared to a usual Saturday timetable.
Trains running on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines will be travelling through the Metro Tunnel - so passengers will need to interchange at Footscray and Caulfield to complete their journey, as crews continue works in the two new CBD stations.
Information displays on the trains and platforms will reflect future services, so station staff will be out in force to help people understand how their journey is affected - and passengers are urged to pay careful attention to live announcements.
The new High-Capacity Metro Trains have already travelled more than 140,000 kilometres inside the tunnels, and while trials continue there will be disruptions on the Sunbury, Cranbourne, Pakenham and Gippsland lines.
From Friday, 29 August to Friday, 5 September, buses will replace trains on the Cranbourne, Pakenham, Traralgon and Bairnsdale lines as Suburban Rail Loop crews start continue work at Clayton Station to prepare for tunnelling to begin next year.
As the West Gate Tunnel nears completion, there will be some outbound lane and ramp closures on the West Gate Freeway. Outbound travel will be reduced to three lanes between Williamstown Road and Millers Road, with the Williamstown outbound onramp to be closed, along with the Millers Road exit ramp.
Two more level crossings will be removed in the north west and testing of the locally built X'Trapolis 2.0 will continue, with buses to replace trains on sections of the Sunbury, Cranbourne, Pakenham, Frankston and Werribee lines.
As tunnelling continues to forge ahead on North East Link, drivers will move onto new Bulleen Road lanes, and the first completed section of a major new interchange on the Eastern Freeway in July.
In late August, two new walking and cycling bridges will take shape at Estelle Street and Heyington Avenue, with works requiring a weekend closure of the Eastern Freeway between Doncaster and Tram roads, as well as regular night-time closures.
In July, crews will continue work to extend a rail tunnel to connect the North East Link tunnels with the M80 Ring Road, with buses replacing trains on sections of the Hurstbridge line.
Crews on the Clyde Road Upgrade in Berwick will close the Princes Freeway citybound exit ramp onto Clyde Road from mid-June to November and the Clyde Road entry ramp onto the Princes Freeway Warragul-bound from July until October.
To find out more and to check before you travel, visit bigbuild.vic.gov.au/map.
As stated by Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams
"The Metro Tunnel Project is gearing up for its first full day of trial operations as it prepares to open to passengers later this year - one year ahead of schedule."
"A huge amount of work is underway this winter, with the finish line in sight for Metro Tunnel and West Gate Tunnel - city-shaping projects that will ease congestion and cut travel times."
"The Liberals opposed the Metro Tunnel and West Gate Tunnel and we are getting on to deliver both of them later this year - we build, they block."
