The Allan Labor Government has unveiled the Metro Tunnel's Big Switch timetable which will fully integrate the Metro Tunnel into Victoria's train network - delivering more than one thousand extra weekly services.
Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams today released the new timetable - passengers can find out how their journey will change and where to interchange when new services are added to the network on Sunday, 1 February.
The Big Switch will integrate the Metro Tunnel into the wider transport network, implementing thousands of individual timetable changes at once, including the first of 260 new bus timetables to better connect to Metro Tunnel services - directly changing the way half of all commuters move around Melbourne.
All services on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines will switch to run exclusively through the new tunnel and 1,000 new weekly services will be added to these lines to kick off a turn-up-and-go-network.
During the peak, a train will arrive at each of our new Metro Tunnel stations up to every three minutes. Trains will run at least every 10 minutes between Watergardens and Dandenong stations in both directions between 6:00am to 9:00pm through the Metro Tunnel.
The Big Switch is also the day when Frankston line services return to the City Loop, improving access to the CBD for thousands of passengers on one of Melbourne's busiest lines.
The Werribee and Williamstown lines will temporarily run directly to Flinders Street, before connecting with the Sandringham line later in the year to form a new cross-city service.
Regional passengers will benefit from additional services, allowing better access to the five new stations, including 18 additional services on the Traralgon Line, 10 new services along the Seymour Line and four new services on the Echuca Line.
The Big Switch is just the first installment of more services that will be added to the network - with more frequent services across the network to come from the middle of the year including on the Werribee, Sandringham, Craigieburn and Upfield lines.
Victorians are already loving the Metro Tunnel, with more than 500,000 passengers visiting the new Metro Tunnel stations and trains travelling more than 64,000 kilometres through the tunnel since it opened in November.
Never forget, the Liberals called the Metro Tunnel a "hoax". They consistently refused to fund it. Never in their wildest dreams did they think it would actually get built. It's now open and delivering more services for Victorians.
For information on the new timetable and to plan your journey on the Metro Tunnel, visit transport.vic.gov.au/news-and-resources/projects/metro-tunnel/more-ways-to-move.
As stated by Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams
"We're excited for passengers to be able to enjoy more of the benefits of the Metro Tunnel with more than one thousand extra services being added from February in the biggest change to our network in 40 years."
