The Victorian Government has announced the full timetable for Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel, which will deliver more than 1000 extra weekly services on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines.
The “Big Switch” will happen on Sunday February 1, when the new timetable kicks off and fully integrates the tunnel into Victoria’s wider train network.
The way that half of all commuters move around Melbourne will change, and passengers are encouraged to consult the timetable to plan their journeys.
All services on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines will switch to run exclusively through the new tunnel.
The government said this will become a “turn-up-and-go” network with trains arriving at each new Metro Tunnel station as often as every three minutes during peak times.
Trains will run at least every 10 minutes between Watergardens and Dandenong stations in both directions from 6am to 9pm through the Metro Tunnel.
The Big Switch will also mark Frankston line services returning to the City Loop, improving access to the CBD for thousands of passengers on one of Melbourne’s busiest lines.
The Werribee and Williamstown lines will temporarily run directly to Flinders Street, before connecting with the Sandringham line later in the year to form a new cross-city service.
Regional passengers will benefit from additional services, allowing better access to the five new stations, including 18 additional services on the Traralgon Line, 10 new services along the Seymour Line and four new services on the Echuca Line.
More services will be added to the network from the middle of 2026, including on the Werribee, Sandringham, Craigieburn and Upfield lines.
More than 500,000 passengers have visited the new Metro Tunnel stations and trains, travelling more than 64,000 kilometres through the tunnel since it opened on November 30.
Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams said: “We’re excited for passengers to be able to enjoy more of the benefits of the Metro Tunnel with more than one thousand extra services being added from February in the biggest change to our network in 40 years.”
Chief Executive of the Public Transport Association of Australia and New Zealand (PTAANZ) Lauren Streifer said the Big Switch is a win for commuters and communities across Melbourne.
“1000 new weekly services mean Melburnians will enjoy more seamless interchange between more trains, buses and trams,” she said.
“This means more access to opportunities, more fun in the city, and faster journeys home.
“The biggest transport change in 40 years might take a bit of getting used to, but soon we’ll wonder how we ever managed without it.”
