Degraves Street Subway reopens at Flinders Street Station after two years

The Degraves Street Subway at Flinders Street Station has reopened to the public after more than two years of being closed for Metro Tunnel works — so, why is it still covered in dirt and grime?

The Degraves Street Subway at Flinders Street Station has reopened after more than two years of being closed to commuters.

The underpass connects all the platforms below ground at about the midway point on each platform, parallel to the Elizabeth St pedestrian underpass.

The Degraves Street Subway and Campbell Arcade were closed at the start of August 2022 to accommodate for Metro Tunnel works, with announcements at the time promising the underpass would be reopened in 2024.

The Degraves Subway at Flinders Street Station has re-opened after closing in August 2022 to accommodate for Metro Tunnel works. Picture: Grace Frost, , --

The Metro Tunnel project team first told the Herald Sun that the subway had reopened to passengers “on schedule”.

But then the spokesperson backtracked when sent original project timelines still visible online.

“Working in a very old underpass, while ensuring adherence to heritage requirements, meant some additional work was required,” a Metro Tunnel spokesperson said.

“The underpass was opened as soon as it was safe and ready for passengers.”

New ceilings, drainage and passenger lifts were installed in the subway during its closure. Picture: Grace Frost

Six new passenger lifts have been installed linking the subway to the platforms above — making the Degraves St link accessible for people with mobility needs for the first time in the station’s history.

The subway has also been fitted with shiny new downpipes and drainage infrastructure — a welcome change with the subway’s history of flooding — as well as new ceilings, lighting, ventilation, fire and security systems.

The Metro Tunnel team also said it had restored original tile work and other heritage features in the Degraves Subway.

But a quick stroll through the subway reveals the underpass remains in dire need of a clean, with much of the tiling still covered in thick dirt and grime.

The Degraves St link is accessible for people with mobility needs for the first time in the station’s history. Picture: Grace Frost

Once the Metro Tunnel is up and running, commuters will be able to jump off the train at Town Hall Station and use the opened underground connection, to be known as the “Flinders Link”, for direct access to Flinders Street Station.

This will allow commuters to swap from Metro Tunnel services to City Loop services and vise-versa without the need to tap off and on their myki.

Commuters will also be able to scan off and walk through Campbell Arcade from Flinders Street Station for access to Degraves St.

Campbell Arcade remains shut to the public, but will eventually link through to the new Town Hall Station. Picture: Grace Frost

For now, the only section of the underpass open to commuters connects all platforms at Flinders St, but does not have access through to Degraves St.

The heritage-listed Campbell Arcade, which is undergoing restoration works, is scheduled to re-open by the middle of this year.

The Degraves Subway at Flinders Street Station has reopened after closing in August 2022 to accommodate for Metro Tunnel works. Picture: Grace Frost

The government confirmed previous tenants who ran their cafes and businesses in the Arcade would be given the opportunity to lease the restored heritage shopfronts once it reopens.

Expressions of interest open in the coming months.

It comes after the final stations to be constructed as part of the $15bn Metro Tunnel project were revealed to be running 12 months behind schedule.