By rosebell
The date of openning Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel to passengers is early December, with trains stopping at all five new stations.
Being named as the summer start, this opening is due to be the biggest transformation of the city’s rail network since the City Loop 40 years ago. The launch will be followed by the big switch in February next year with the introduction of a new timetable and broader network changes integration.
According to Premier Jacinta Allan’s office: “International best practice made it clear that the best way to ensure a smooth service was to open the tunnel and run services first, then make the big timetable switch afterwards – not attempt them simultaneously. It also saves time. Instead of the tunnel sitting idle during the lead-in time for the new timetable, we can open it immediately upon safety approval and get people moving sooner on hundreds of new services.”
Allan also added: “What an incredible moment for our state – Victorians have patiently waited for this tunnel to get built underneath their feet and behind big sheds, and now they’ll be able to use it. The Metro Tunnel will transform Melbourne, cut congestion and get you to work, uni and home sooner, and it opens in early December, a year ahead of schedule.”
Linking the east and west of Melbourne, construction of this twin 9km-long tunnels was up to the Cross Yarra Partnership comprising Lendlease Engineering, John Holland Bouygues Construction and Capella Capital and in May 2021 four TBMs completed tunneling process.
During the fit-out stage a robot equipped with cameras and a laser scanner was used to document progress.
