How we know test trains will run through Metro Tunnel soon

Builders have handed control of the Metro Tunnel’s underground track to Melbourne’s rail operator, signalling test trains will run through shortly.

After eight years of planning and construction, the Metro Tunnel Project is getting ready to test trains. Picture: Supplied

Builders have handed over control of the Metro Tunnel’s underground track to Melbourne’s rail operator in a sign test trains running through the mega project are imminent.

Documents show that last night John Holland handed over it’s management of the newly-built addition to railway network to Metro Trains.

This paves the way to run trains through the 9km twin tunnels between Kensington and South Yarra for months of testing of equipment and signalling underground.

Signallers at a Sunshine control room will now be in charge of “occupations” in the tunnel, which will allow testing to occur.

The builders will remain in charge of the stations and surrounding areas as they continue construction.

Builders have handed over control of the Metro Tunnel’s underground track to Melbourne’s rail operator. Source: Supplied

A government spokeswoman said: “After eight years of detailed planning and intensive construction, the Metro Tunnel Project is getting ready for the test trains to begin running deep beneath Melbourne’s CBD – a year ahead of schedule.”

The trackwork on the Metro Tunnel was completed earlier this month, meaning there is now 87km of continuous railway running from Sunbury, through the tunnel under the CBD and Domain and then out to Pakenham.

No start date has been set for test trains but the Metro Tunnel has advertised that this work was “about to start” and “we’re moving into the exciting phase of train testing”.

Speculation is mounting the move could be just days away.

Engineers working on the Metro Tunnel have also detailed in a video for the first time how the testing will work.

Over the testing period, one of the government’s High Capacity Metro Trains will be brought in to one of the tunnels and sent backwards and forwards along the route.

This happen over one to three weeks to look for faults and issues.

They will then take the train, put it into the other tunnel and go through the same tests, with the process repeated several times.

There are two 9km tunnels as part of the project, one each for services heading north or south.

Key tests will include whether there is enough power to run the trains, that they stop accurately at platforms, how they communicate with the rest of the network.

Key tests will include whether there is enough power to run the trains. Picture: Supplied

Eventually more trains will be brought in and tested at faster speeds, including trials of the high capacity signalling that will allow trains to run much more closely together than currently possible.

Steven Padget, the project’s dynamic testing and commissioning manager said in the video the testing would have to be ramped up in stages.

“You don’t wait for your dessert to come out before you start your entire or your mains,” he said.

“As the tunnel becomes more mature and we get more systems that are at a higher-level functionality, we aim to test those.

A major hurdle for the project is the rollout of high capacity signalling and getting it to talk Melbourne’s more than a century-old railway network.

The technology was a major problem for London’s Elizabeth line and ongoing issues delayed that project by years and led to massive cost blowouts.

Victorian engineers have been working hard to avoid similar problems, but there have been some teething issues so far.

Earlier this month, the Cranbourne and Pakenham line’s had to run to a reduce timetable after the new signalling was installed and hit unforeseen software issues.

In a sign things are moving ahead, high capacity signalling will be switched on next week between South Yarra and Clayton.