Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel is now running a full timetable, with more than 1000 extra weekly services added to the network.
As of “The Big Switch” on February 1, 2026, the twin nine-kilometre tunnels and five new stations – Arden, Parkville, State Library, Town Hall, and Anzac – are fully integrated into Victoria’s wider train network. The way that half of all commuters move around Melbourne has changed, with changes across metropolitan and regional trains as well as trams and buses.
All services on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines have switched to run exclusively through the new tunnel, with trains arriving at each of the new Metro Tunnel stations as often as every three minutes during peak times. Trains are running at least every 10 minutes between Watergardens and Dandenong stations in both directions from 6am to 9pm through the Metro Tunnel.
The Big Switch also marks Frankston Line services returning to the City Loop, which is improving access to the CBD for thousands of passengers on one of Melbourne’s busiest lines, the Victorian Government said.
Meanwhile the Werribee and Williamstown lines are temporarily running directly to Flinders Street, before connecting with the Sandringham line later in the year to form a new cross-city service.
Regional passengers are also benefitting from additional services, 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.
Since it opened to the public on November 30, 2025 in a soft launch known as “The Summer Start”, the Metro Tunnel has been used by more than 500,000 passengers.
Rail Express caught up with some of those passengers to see what they had to say:
- “I usually drive to work but I went out of my way to take a Metro Tunnel train just because I was curious to see what it was like! It was pretty cool, I like that the trains are clean and new.”
- “I’ve used the tunnel once. The platforms and concourses are huge, far bigger than anything I have seen anywhere else in the world when it comes to underground stations.”
- “I think the connection between the CBD stations is excessively long – maybe that’s just me!”
- “I just took my first trip through the Metro Tunnel and I thought it was a very quiet and smooth journey.”
- “I like the full-length doors separating the platform from the tracks, it makes it look more modern and safer.”
- “The orange ribs at State Library Station are striking and I also like the lamps to the side – they give an art deco feel that reminds me of classic rail stations.”
- “I like the automatic doors to the trains, and it’s now easier for me to get from the north side of the CBD to the western suburbs.”
- “My granny is in hospital in Parkville so it’s way faster for me to go over to visit her now, which is great!
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