The Metro Tunnel project in Victoria, Australia, is on track to open later this year—a full year ahead of schedule—following the successful completion of extensive testing. During a 10-day trial phase, trains traveled more than 35,000 kilometers and completed over 2,600 trips, marking a significant milestone for the project.
Acting Premier Ben Carroll and Acting Minister for Transport Infrastructure Melissa Horne announced the progress during a visit to Anzac Station. As part of the trials, crews conducted 160 hours of operational testing to ensure the system’s readiness.
Trains ran between Hawksburn and West Footscray through the newly constructed tunnels, linking the Sunbury and Cranbourne/Pakenham lines. Services operated at frequencies of eight to 12 trains per hour, with plans to increase trial frequencies in the coming months as further refinements are made.
The trials also focused on staff training, with 46 additional train drivers completing training to operate the new High Capacity Metro Trains. This brings the total number of trained drivers to around 200, ensuring the system is fully staffed upon opening.
Throughout the year, over 100 additional exercises are planned to simulate various operational scenarios. These include testing manual operations of platform screen doors, intruder detection systems, and large-scale evacuation drills for both trains and stations.
Construction continues at the two remaining stations, Town Hall and State Library, which are located beneath Melbourne’s central business district. Once completed, the Metro Tunnel will significantly expand Melbourne’s train network capacity, reduce congestion on the City Loop, and provide better transport links to key employment, healthcare, and education hubs.
Acting Premier Ben Carroll highlighted the project’s progress, stating, “Our test trains have traveled further than the distance to London and back in just 10 days, passing their biggest test yet. This project is set to open this year—one year ahead of schedule.” He added, “While the Liberals opposed this project and claimed it would be disastrous for Melbourne, we’re delivering it ahead of time. We build, they block.”
Acting Minister for Transport Infrastructure Melissa Horne emphasized the project’s benefits, saying, “Thousands of Victorians will use this tunnel every day. We’re moving full steam ahead, training staff and testing advanced technology that has never been used on our rail network before.”
The Metro Tunnel project represents a major step forward in Melbourne’s public transport infrastructure, promising to transform the city’s rail network and improve connectivity for residents and visitors alike.
