Melbourne's Metro Tunnel: Full Operations Commence with Varied Initial Impact
Melbourne's Metro Tunnel has officially commenced full operations, introducing new timetables and over 1,200 additional weekly services across the public transport network. Activated on a Sunday, the project rerouted several major train lines through the tunnel, aiming to establish a "turn up and go" service model for many commuters. While some reported reduced travel times, the first week also saw varied commuter experiences and a significant service disruption due due to an overhead power fault.
Full Activation and Network Restructuring
The $15 billion Metro Tunnel project, initially announced in 2015-2016 and exceeding its initial $10.9 billion estimate, is now fully operational. This marks:
"the most significant upgrade to Melbourne's public transport system since the City Loop opened in 1981."
Limited services through its five new stations began in November, with full integration taking effect recently. The new timetable aims to reduce network congestion and establish a "turn up and go" schedule, particularly for lines utilizing the Metro Tunnel, where trains are expected every 10 minutes throughout the day.
Key Line Adjustments
- Sunbury, Cranbourne, and Pakenham Lines: These lines now operate directly through the Metro Tunnel. This change adds 1,000 weekly services, with trains running every 5-10 minutes during peak hours on the Sunbury line and every 4.5 minutes during peak hours on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines. Services on these lines will bypass the City Loop and stations such as North Melbourne, Richmond, and South Yarra. Passengers from the Sunbury line can change at Footscray for Werribee or Williamstown services or utilize new pedestrian links between Melbourne Central and State Library stations, or Flinders Street and Town Hall stations, for City Loop access.
- Frankston Line: All services now run through the City Loop via Parliament, Melbourne Central, Flagstaff, Southern Cross, and Flinders Street. These services no longer extend to Werribee or Williamstown. An additional 12 weekly services are planned following level crossing removals.
- Werribee and Williamstown Lines: Trains on these lines now terminate at Flinders Street Station. A temporary timetable is in place until late April due to ongoing level crossing removal works. These lines are projected to connect with the Sandringham line later in the year to form a new cross-city service.
- Craigieburn and Upfield Lines: New timetables are in effect to improve train frequency and reliability by no longer sharing the City Loop with the Sunbury line.
Service Enhancements and Planning
Beyond the Metro Tunnel lines, hundreds of additional trips are being introduced across other rail, bus, and tram routes. Over 270 bus and coach timetables in regional Victoria and inner-city Melbourne have been updated. Specific regional additions include 18 weekly Traralgon services, 10 weekly Seymour line services, and four weekend Echuca services. Further bus timetable changes for Melbourne's outer and middle suburbs are planned for later in the year.
Stuart Johns, executive director of modal planning at the Department of Transport, stated that the new timetable, described as a "generational change," was developed over three-and-a-half years and involved "hundreds if not thousands of iterations" due to its complexity. The department utilized the Victorian Integrated Transport Model to forecast demand based on patronage and population data through the 2050s, supported by advanced software and human feedback to refine timetables around network constraints. Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams affirmed that the Metro Tunnel provides "foundational" infrastructure for network growth and ongoing service expansion.
Commuter Experiences and Initial Impact
The first Monday morning peak following the full timetable implementation saw varied experiences among Melbourne commuters. A Metro Trains spokesman reported that 99 percent of services through the tunnel ran on time during Monday morning, a period the Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen noted is typically quieter for train patronage.
Reported Travel Time Changes
- Some commuters reported reduced travel times, including a 15-minute reduction for a traveler from Caulfield to Parkville and a university student anticipating a 15-minute saving on their journey to the University of Melbourne.
- Conversely, some commuters experienced increased travel times. A traveler from Cranbourne to Collingwood faced a new three-train journey, adding an estimated 25 minutes to their morning commute, while another commuter estimated a five-minute addition to their trip from Caulfield to South Yarra due to new interchange requirements.
Congestion and Adaptation
- Congestion and confusion were observed at Caulfield station as passengers navigated new platforms, though station staff provided guidance. Some passengers reported missing trains due to platform gate crushes.
- One train reportedly departed Arden station without stopping due to a door fault on Monday.
- Project staff were observed adapting to the new system, with one customer service officer initially giving incorrect directions.
Areas Not Immediately Affected
While many lines saw immediate changes, some areas experienced minimal initial adjustments. Eastern Melbourne lines, including Belgrave, Lilydale, Alamein, and Glen Waverley, saw no immediate changes in February. Similarly, the Hurstbridge and Mernda lines did not receive initial updates. Spokespersons noted that eastern and north-eastern suburbs, including areas beyond Ringwood, may still experience significant waiting times, with some Sunday morning gaps remaining at 40 minutes. Among the new Metro Tunnel stations, Town Hall is the only one operating during night network hours, while Parkville Station remains closed overnight.
Service Disruption and Responses
Days after the full capacity activation, an overhead power fault at Armadale on Tuesday evening disrupted services through the Metro Tunnel, affecting the Cranbourne, Pakenham, and Sunbury lines. Thousands of peak-hour commuters were impacted. Approximately 600 passengers were stranded on two trains for up to two hours in 30-degree Celsius heat without air-conditioning before being evacuated and walked along the tracks to the nearest station. Other services were cancelled, and Metro Tunnel services remained suspended for the remainder of Tuesday night.
Metro Trains CEO Raymond O'Flaherty attributed the shutdown to an entangled overhead wire and pantograph. He apologized to all commuters, specifically acknowledging the stranded passengers, and defended the evacuation time by citing the complexity and safety considerations of working between two stations on a live track with active adjacent lines and fallen electrical wires. Premier Jacinta Allan also issued an apology on Wednesday, confirming that investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fault and examine issues with passenger information screens.
During the disruption, passenger information displays reportedly continued to show trains running as normal for up to 40 minutes after lines were shut down, contributing to confusion. Staff were observed verbally directing passengers. The state opposition criticized the government, alleging that existing infrastructure is not adequately prepared for the new high-capacity metro trains. Metro Trains indicated that compensation for affected passengers would be considered.
Future Developments
Future timetable changes are planned, including extra evening and weekend trips on the Upfield and Craigieburn lines later this year, which aim to reduce maximum wait times from 40 minutes to 20 minutes across the day. The integration of the Werribee and Williamstown lines with the Sandringham line for a new cross-city service is also slated for later in the year. Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams stated that the current activation marks "just the beginning," indicating that timetables are subject to continuous adaptation and improvement to accommodate ongoing service expansion.
Passenger Information
Passengers are advised to consult the Transport Victoria website or app for journey planning due to the significant changes across the rail network.