Under Melbourne: the construction of the City Loop

MELBOURNE’S City Loop changed the face of the city. Hundreds of workers took 14 years to bring the project to life, which was finished by 1985. Take a look underground during the construction of the loop.

MILLIONS of trains have passed through its four tunnels and countless millions more commuters have relied on it to travel to, from and around the heart of the city.

It’s Melbourne’s City Loop.

London had an underground as early as 1863, and Paris, New York, Boston and Budapest all followed suit around the turn of the century — but work didn’t begin on Melbourne’s loop until 1971 and it took 14 years to build.

As Melburnians prepare for the construction of the Melbourne Metro Rail Tunnel — which is set to disrupt the city for the next decade — take a look back at the construction of Melbourne’s City Loop.

A map of the Proposed Underground Northern City Railway from 1929 from the Plan of General Development.

The idea for an underground train tunnel was first raised in 1929 around the time the city was proposing the electrification of the train network.

Flinders St was dubbed the most congested station in the world, and because it was at the end of the line into the city, all trains had to be shunted back out — meaning platforms could only handle 10 trains an hour.

Many trains were routed from the southern and eastern suburbs through to the north and west, but the flow was imbalanced and a number of trains were required to reverse direction.

Once the plans for a loop were on paper, it took another 14 years before it was completed — and the original cost estimate of $80 million turned into a whopping $650 million.

Throughout its construction, it faced opposition from many who criticised the ballooning costs — which put the state into massive debt and potentially stunted further growth of the train network, which hasn’t had a new line since the 1930s.

A worker digging the pilot tunnel for the Melbourne Underground Rail Loop in 1972. Picture: PROV.

A tunnel boring machine digging out the City Loop. Roughly 900,000 cubic metres of earth was excavated in the construction process. Picture: PROV.

Melbourne's underground railway taking shape in 1972. The 19ft high concrete tunnel was built high enough to take double decker trains (if they are ever introduced). This is the Caulfield tunnel.

An excavator clearing part of the rail tunnel in North Melbourne in 1978.

Before the tracks: a worker crouches in the loop in 1978. Picture: PROV.

The first completed tunnel was the Burnley Loop, with the final breakthrough made in June, 1977, near Museum Station (now Melbourne Central).

Of the three new stations, Museum was built using the cut and cover method in a 26 metre deep box, while Flagstaff and Parliament were excavated using mining methods.

Museum Station (now Melbourne Central) was built using a cut and cover method with a 26 metre deep box constructed. Picture: PROV.

Digging up Spring Street for Parliment Station in 1982. Picture: PROV.

The construction of Parliament Station in 1982. Mining methods were used to dig deep under the city. Picture: PROV.

A truck converted for use as a railway vehicle during construction of the loop in 1979. Picture: HWT Library.

During the excavation of Museum Station, La Trobe Street and its tram tracks were temporarily moved until 1978 — causing trams and traffic to snake around the construction site.

La Trobe Street trams and traffic were diverted during construction of Museum Station, now Melbourne Central. Notice Coop’s Shot tower in the top left of the photo. Picture: PROV.

Museum Station and an altered Latrobe Street. Picture: PTV.

The major stage of the construction phase was completed in November 1980 and three weeks later the first test train took to the loop for its maiden voyage.

The first City Loop train arrives at the Museum Station in 1980. Picture: HWT Library.

The City Loop was opened gradually between 1981 and 1985, with Museum Station and the Burnley and Caulfield tunnels opened first.

Official opening of the City Loop in 1981. Nothing gets people more excited about rail infrastructure that a few models in bikini bottoms. Picture: PROV.

The City Circle tunnel opened with special services in 1981, with trains running in a circle around the loop continuously (this was eventually stopped).

Clifton Hill services then started using the loop in 1982, Parliament Station opened in 1983 and then Flagstaff station was completed by 1985.

Photo of the escalator being installed at Parliament Station in 1983. They were reportedly the longest escalators in the southern hemisphere when installed. Picture: PROV

A platform being constructed at Flagstaff Station in 1982. Picture: PROV.

The original entrance to Flagstaff Station in the 1980s. Picture: PTV.

CITY LOOP’S HISTORY

1929: Melbourne Town Planning Commission proposes building an underground railway to overcome congestion at Flinders St Station.

March 1956: A Parliamentary Works committee recommends a three-track underground railway be constructed in a loop around the Melbourne business district.

June 22, 1971: Work on Melbourne’s Underground Loop project officially begins.

December 4, 1980: First train travels through the City Loop.

January 26, 1981: Regular services begin and Museum Station officially opened.

October 31 1982: Clifton Hill loop line opens and City Circle services start.

January 22, 1983: Parliament station opens.

May 27, 1985: Flagstaff station opens.