The Allan Labor Government's Metro Tunnel will open early, in November, one year ahead of schedule - delivering hundreds of new services a week and doubling the size of Melbourne's underground rail network forever.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined Premier Jacinta Allan, Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams and Minister for the SRL Harriet Shing today to announce the Metro Tunnel will open early on Sunday, 30 November, as part of the Summer Start program - with free public transport every weekend for every Victorian, everywhere, until Sunday, 1 February.
With full accreditation now granted by the National Rail Safety Regulator, the final countdown is on - drivers and station staff are being rostered, training is continuing, and shops are being fitted out.
The Metro Tunnel is the biggest transformation of our rail network in 40 years and when services begin five brand new stations will open their doors - Arden, Parkville, State Library, Town Hall and Anzac - slashing travel times and connecting people to jobs, hospitals, universities and arts precincts.
A decade of vision, determination and around 7,000 workers has brought this transformational project to life. Since first being announced in 2015, Victorians have watched workers:
- Carve out 1.8 million cubic metres of rock and soil beneath the CBD
- Build twin 9-kilometre tunnels and lay 40 kilometres of Australian-made track
- Pour 754,000 cubic metres of concrete and install 157,000 tonnes of steel.
Sitting up to 40 metres below some of Melbourne's busiest streets, the five new underground stations will become iconic city landmarks that will free up space in the City Loop to run more trains, more often, on more lines.
High-capacity signalling has been rolled out across the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines, unlocking fast, frequent, turn-up-and-go services fit for a global city.
As part of the Summer Start, more than 240 extra services will run along the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury corridor every day - stopping at all five new underground stations - on top of existing services.
In addition to existing services through the City Loop, services will run through the Metro Tunnel every 20 minutes from 10:00am to 3:00pm on weekdays, and from 10:00am to 7:00pm on weekends between Westall and West Footscray, with some weekend services extending to East Pakenham and Sunbury.
Big crowds are expected on opening day with passengers encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra time to enjoy the celebrations.
From 1 February, the Big Switch will fully integrate the Metro Tunnel into the network. The Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines will run exclusively through the tunnels, supported by a new timetable and more than 1,000 extra weekly services.
The Big Switch is also the day when Frankston line services return to the City Loop and a new timetable will be in place everywhere - including buses, trams, regional and metropolitan trains.
That's a massive change that will cause flow on effects to the whole system.
Never forget, the Liberals called the Metro Tunnel a "hoax". The Victorian Liberals said it would divide the city, while the Federal Liberals refused to fund it. Never in their wildest dreams did they think it would actually get built.
Labor will open it in two weeks.
As stated by Premier Jacinta Allan
"The Metro Tunnel will open early in November, starting a new era for our city and state."
"The Metro Tunnel sets Victoria up for the future - slashing travel times, taking pressure off the City Loop and paving the way for more trains, more often, right across our network."
As stated by Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams
"The Metro Tunnel will transform Melbourne, cut congestion and get you to work, uni and home sooner - and it opens later this month, a year ahead of schedule."
"The Liberals called it a hoax, refused to fund it, and said it would never happen. While the Liberals blocked, Labor built - and Victorians will be able to ride the Metro Tunnel in just two weeks."
As stated by Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop Harriet Shing
"Opening day will be something Victoria has never seen before. We're expecting huge crowds as Victorians step onto the platforms for the very first time - taking in the incredible architecture, the art, the scale and the atmosphere of a world-class rail system built for our future."
