Melbourne’s Sandringham train line to close for three weeks

More Metro Tunnel train pain is scheduled for next month when another suburban route is closed for weeks, with buses to replace trains and passengers warned to allow an extra hour for their journey.

Sandringham line commuters were left waiting for hours during this month’s rail meltdown. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

More Metro Tunnel train pain is scheduled for next month when another suburban route is closed for weeks.

With major works ramping up again at South Yarra, buses will replace trains on the Sandringham line in Melbourne’s southeast between May 21 and June 9.

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It comes amid construction of a new Town Hall station in the CBD, which has caused parts of Federation Square to be turned into a work site for piling ahead of excavation for tunnelling.

And the eastbound section of La Trobe St will be shut for a month between Swanston and Elizabeth streets from May 20 as the first stage of building an underground connection between Melbourne Central and a new State Library station.

Disgruntled Sandringham line commuters early in April. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

The Melbourne Metro Tunnel will see 9km twin tunnels built under the city, connecting South Yarra to Kensington via five underground stations.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the government had no choice but to close rail lines and city streets to manage construction, but it would be managed with City of Melbourne.

“We’re going to have to ask Victorians for their patience and for them to make alternative arrangements to deal with the pace that we are doing,” he told reporters today.

“If we don’t have some construction related disruption now, we’ll have nothing but disruption and congestion into the future.”

Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said the government was appreciative of commuters’ patience during shutdowns.

Earlier this month, rail lines along the busy southeastern corridor including to Cranbourne and Frankson were shut for weeks.

Buses replaced trains, with up to an hour added to journey times for many people.

Commuters are being told to plan ahead. Picture: Penny Stephens

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It also comes after the city was thrown into chaos following a peak-hour incident on the Sandringham line two weeks ago.

Thousands of commuters were left waiting for hours on Princes Bridge after the line was shut down on April 15 and replacement buses shuttled people home.

The South Yarra works are to build a roof slab for the eastern tunnel entrance.

Buses will run between Flinders St and Sandringham stations, with passengers advised to add an extra hour to their travel times.

The government used the rail news to unveil plans to close Swan St between Punt Rd and Cremorne St between May 19 and May 24, as part of a project to fix Hoddle St.

It said there would also be buses replacing trains on the Frankston line from May 24 to May 26 due to level crossing removal works, and that East Brunswick tram stops along Nicholson St will be closed for a week from May 11.