The ultimate guide to Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel opening
Jugglers, ballerinas and musicians will entertain thousands of Victorians who are expected to flock to the opening of the $15.5bn Metro Tunnel on Sunday. Here’s all you need to know about the grand opening.
Jugglers, ballerinas and musicians will entertain thousands of Victorians who are expected to flock to the opening of the $15.5bn Metro Tunnel on Sunday.
The Allan government is planning to put on a show for passengers taking the inaugural ride through its signature rail project, which began construction eight years ago and will transform the metropolitan rail network.
As well as roving entertainers and musicians at the five new stations, which are due to open at 9am – more than an hour before trains are scheduled to arrive – there will be a limited number of souvenir pins handed out along with commemorative newspapers and flags.
Free coffee and cookies will be available at East Pakenham and Sunbury stations, where rail enthusiasts can take the first passenger train from either end of the network.
Services will run about every 20 minutes through the 9km tunnel – which connects the Sunbury line in the northwest to the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines in the southeast – as operators iron out bugs ahead of the introduction of a full-scale timetable overhaul in February.
Public Transport Users’ Association spokesman Daniel Bowen said rail fans had pored over timetables to check which train would actually hit the new tunnel first.
Sunbury passengers in the city’s northwest, leaving on the 9.28am train, will arrive shortly ahead of passengers coming from the southeast at East Pakenham, who will be on the 9.03am train.
“It’s obviously a huge bit of infrastructure and these projects don’t come along every day, so it’s going to be big; they may find some of the trains are actually quite crowded,” Mr Bowen said.
Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams urged passengers to be patient and allow extra travel time.
“Tomorrow will be a big day for Victoria – Melbourne’s underground rail system will double in size so that we can deliver more trains, more often,” she said.
“We’re delivering the biggest transformation of Victoria’s rail network in more than 40 years – five new stations, more services, and a transport network that keeps pace with our growing state.”
The first three months of Metro operations coincides with free weekend public transport, which means barriers will be left open on Sunday and anyone who taps on will be charged a “$0 tariff”.
Family-friendly events in school holidays are also planned, such as a scavenger hunt running from January 12-25.
Passengers can also collect a Metro Tunnel “passport” during that period and get it stamped at the five new stations, with prizes on offer.
Over summer, 240 extra weekly services will run alongside existing City Loop trains, while from February 1 there will be 1000 extra weekly services across the network
How to be one of the first to catch a train through the Metro Tunnel
Thousands of Victorians are expected to flock to the new Metro Tunnel and ride the rails through the $15.5bn project for the first time on Sunday.
The project has connected the Sunbury line in the northwest of Melbourne to the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines in the southeast, via a 9km tunnel, and will ease pressure on the City Loop.
Five new stations have been built; Arden in North Melbourne, Parkville, the State Library, Town Hall, and Anzac near the Shrine. Here’s what you need to know about the first day of operations.
How do I catch the very first train?
From the northwest, the first train scheduled to go through the tunnel leaves Sunbury at 9.28am.
This should see passengers enter the tunnel shortly after 10am and be at Arden Station at 10.09am.
From the southeast, the first train scheduled to go through the tunnel leaves East Pakenham at 9.03am. This should see passengers reach Anzac Station, near the Shrine, at 10.12am.
Can I join the first train from somewhere else?
Yes, the trains running through the tunnel will be stopping at all stations up to that point.
On the Sunbury line, the last station at which you can hop aboard before the train goes into the tunnel would be Footscray Station, and it leaves at 10.04am. From East Pakenham, the final opportunity to get on the first train would be at Malvern Station, also at 10.04am.
What if I miss the first train?
If you miss the scheduled departure time on either line, or if the first train is full, there are plenty more opportunities to ride through the new tunnel.
The second train to depart Sunbury is scheduled for 9.48, and the second train to depart East Pakenham is scheduled for 9.18am.
From then, trains will run on a limited weekend services.
The plan is for services to run about every 20 minutes between Westall (southeast) and West Footscray (northwest) on weekends, between 10am and 7pm.
Services will run at least every 40 minutes from East Pakenham and at least every 60 minutes from Sunbury.
Check timetables online for up to date schedules.
Why don’t trains run more often?
Thegovernment calls the soft launch of the Metro Tunnel a “Summer Start”, with more regular trains and a full timetable overhaul due in February.
Until then, about 240 services a week will be slotted in-between regular services.
This provides operators time to iron out any bugs before peak hour services run, and continue to test the new technology and systems in real-life scenarios.
The February timetable change is being called “the Big Switch” and would see new services added across the network and trains running through the tunnel every three or four minutes during peak hours.
Click here to see full details of Metro Tunnel map.
When do the new stations open?
The five new Metro stations — Anzac, Town Hall, State Library, Parkville, and Arden — will open about an hour before first services are scheduled, at 9am.
On weekdays, they will open at 7am, even though trains won’t be running until 10am.
Some stations have large concourses that don’t require touching on a myki to enter.
For example, Parkville station is built to enable people to walk beneath Sydney Rd to the hospital precinct without having to go through public transport barriers, and Anzac Station’s concourse enables a traffic light-free crossing under St Kilda Rd.
But isn’t travel free anyway?
Only on weekends, and only during summer.
From the first public transport service this Sunday morning until February 1, passengers can travel for free on weekends.
That’s across all modes of transport. Barriers will be left open, and passengers will be reminded not to tap on with their myki.
If they do, a “zero tariff” will be applied, meaning you won’t be charged.
What if I want to get to the City Loop?
Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham line passengers will still have regular City Loop services running during the Summer Start.
The Metro Tunnel trains are slotted in between regular services, which is possible because they only run off-peak for now.
If passengers are on a train that is heading into the tunnel but they want to go to the City
Loop instead, there are options to switch trains at interchange stations — such as Caulfield or Malvern in the southeast and Footscray stations in the northwest.
What if I live on a different rail line?
There are opportunities to crossover to the new tunnel and its five grand stations in the CBD, or at interchange stations.
For example, Melbourne Central and State Library stations are interconnected so passengers can swap lines there.
The same can be done at Flinders St Station, which is connected to Town Hall via new underground walkways.
Frankston line passengers can switch to tunnel services at Malvern Station.
Werribee and Williamstown line passengers can swap at Footscray Station.
Regional passengers on lines that intersect with the Cranbourne, Pakenham, or Sunbury lines can also switch to the tunnel before they get to the CBD.
How do the new platform screen doors work?
If you’re hopping aboard a train at one of the five new Metro stations, you will notice platform screen doors.
They are designed to boost safety and reduce noise and wind.
They will also include information screens above the doors, to show which carriages are likely to be less congested.
When a train stops, the doors of the carriage will open at the same time as the platform screen doors.
Will CBD landmarks reopen on Sunday?
City Square will reopen to pedestrians on Sunday, but parts of Federation Square and the construction site next to Young and Jacksons pub will remain off limits due to ongoing construction and site demobilising.
City Square has been given a makeover and includes native species of plants and trees, as well as an interactive version of the Mockridge fountain and a permanent Smoking Ceremony dish developed with Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Joy Wandin Murphy.
Underneath the square will be one of the new retail precincts unveiled for Sunday’s opening — but many shops are still being fitted out.
There are other underground access points being opened too, including the refurbished Campbell Arcade.
Take a peek: What the new stations look like
ARDEN STATION
PARKVILLE STATION
STATE LIBRARY STATION
TOWN HALL STATION
ANZAC STATION
Originally published as The ultimate guide to Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel opening
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