The first three completed stations on the Metro Tunnel Project – Arden, Parkville and Anzac – have officially been handed over to Metro Trains in preparation for the tunnel opening later this year.
The handover, which means Victoria’s rail workers can start operating and managing the stations’ assets and systems, was announced by Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams during a recent visit to Parkville Station.
“We’ve got the keys from the builders, now our rail workers can move in and start getting ready for passengers,” Allan said.
“The Metro Tunnel will cut congestion and get you to work, uni and home sooner – and it opens this year.”
The announcement comes as testing ramps up for the new technology in the trains, tunnels and stations, with buses replacing trains on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham Lines at times this month.
Crews are also making progress to complete construction on the final two stations, Town Hall and State Library, which sit directly underneath Melbourne’s CBD.
The Metro Tunnel includes five new underground stations and will be the biggest upgrade of Melbourne’s train network since the City Loop opened in 1981.
