As summer in Melbourne heats up, so too does the huge push to get the mega Metro Tunnel projects ready for operation next year, as Victoria’s Big Build continues to deliver significant transport improvements across the city.
Read more below about the major planned disruptions coming up in inner, west, north and east, and south east Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Inner Melbourne
The Metro Tunnel has entered a new phase known as trial operations – the ‘dress rehearsal’ for the project, which will continue into next year. It’s the first time the station staff, operators, maintenance staff and drivers will be involved.
Major construction has finished on three of the five new underground stations, with work continuing on the two CBD stations – Town Hall and State Library. Flinders Street will be reduced to one lane between Russell and Swanston streets westbound until late 2025. There will also be a full westbound closure between Swanston and Elizabeth streets.
Melbourne’s west
Metro Tunnel and Level Crossing Removal works will also impact the Sunbury Line at various times over summer. Work to remove four level crossings in Melton and a new Melton Station will also ramp up over summer with a construction blitz in January. Watsons Road in Diggers Rest is closed until late 2025 while the road bridge is built.
Melbourne’s south east
Metro Tunnel works will impact the Cranbourne/Pakenham lines this summer. From 2 to 11 January, Cranbourne/Pakenham passengers will interchange at Caulfield Station for Frankston Line services to the city.
With the final tunnelling contract for the first stage of the Suburban Rail Loop now locked in, crews are moving utilities and preparing sites for major construction and tunnelling. Works are underway at all 6 Suburban Rail Loop East stations sites between Cheltenham and Box Hill and the train stabling facility.
Melbourne’s north and east
Tunnelling is powering ahead on North East Link, with 2 tunnel boring machines well on their way from Watsonia to Bulleen, digging the 6.5km tunnels.
Buses will replace trains on sections of the Hurstbridge Line for 8 weeks in February and March.
Regional Victoria
Level crossing removal works will also impact sections of the Bendigo Line in December.
Coaches will also replace trains on the Echuca, Swan Hill and Shepparton lines at various times over summer.
