The inaugural Metro Tunnel services departed East Pakenham at 9.03am and Sunbury at 9.28am, arriving a minute apart at Town Hall Station in the heart of the city, before continuing their journeys.
The twin 9km tunnels and five underground stations have doubled the size of Melbourne’s underground rail network, providing access to new destinations and allowing passengers to cross the city from Arden Station in north Melbourne, to Anzac Station on St Kilda Road in just 12 minutes.
The Metro Tunnel project was announced in 2015 and built by the Cross Yarra Partnership comprising Capella Capital, Lendlease, John Holland, Bouygues and John Laing. During construction 1.8 million m3 of rock and soil were excavated, 754,000m3 of concrete and 157,000 tonnes of steel used, and l40km of track laid.
Travel on the network is free during weekends in December and January.
Melbourne’s West Gate road tunnel is due to open before the end of the year.
