Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel and West Gate Tunnel Set to Transform City Commutes – But at What Cost?
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Melbourne commuters are poised to experience a significant shift in their daily travels as the long-awaited Metro Tunnel opens this Sunday, followed by the West Gate Tunnel in December. The Victorian government is heavily invested in the public’s embrace of these multi-billion dollar projects, so much so that Premier Jacinta Allan publicly acknowledged her predecessor, Daniel Andrews, with a 2015 photograph celebrating the Metro Tunnel’s completion – a move considered a break from typical political protocol.
The opening of the Metro Tunnel, almost a year before the next state election, comes after years of disruptive roadworks and construction. In a gesture aimed at easing public frustration, weekend public transport will be free for the first two months, described by officials as a “thank you” for enduring the prolonged disruption.
A Major Overhaul of Melbourne’s Rail Network
Billed as the largest overhaul of Melbourne’s transport network since the City Loop opened in the 1980s, the 9km Metro Tunnel will connect the Sunbury line in the west to the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines in the south-east. The project includes five brand-new underground stations: Anzac (on St Kilda Road), Arden (in North Melbourne), Parkville – providing crucial rail access to the city’s medical and research precinct – and State Library and Town Hall stations, connecting to existing hubs at Melbourne Central and Flinders Street.
Initially, trains will operate every 20 minutes through the tunnel, running from Westall (Cranbourne-Pakenham line) and West Footscray (Sunbury line). The tunnel is designed to increase service frequency and alleviate capacity constraints on the City Loop. However, the full benefits will not be realized immediately.
Phased Rollout and “Summer Start”
During the initial “summer start” phase, Metro Tunnel trains will operate between 10am and 3pm on weekdays, with 20-minute service intervals between Westall and West Footscray. Weekend services will run every 20 minutes from 10am to 7pm, extending to East Pakenham every 40 minutes and Sunbury every 60 minutes. Weekend travel across the entire public transport network will be free during this period.
The “big switch” is scheduled for February 1st, when the Cranbourne-Pakenham and Sunbury lines will transition entirely to the Metro Tunnel, freeing up the City Loop for the Frankston line. During peak hours, service frequency will increase to every three to four minutes – a “turn up and go” schedule. A comprehensive overhaul of the metropolitan and regional train, bus, and tram timetables is also planned for this date, with the government promising 1,000 additional weekly services, including trains running every 10 minutes between Watergardens and Dandenong from 6am to 10pm. “It is a massive change. It will cause flow and effects to the entire system,” a senior official stated in October.
West Gate Tunnel to Ease Road Congestion
Following the Metro Tunnel’s opening, the West Gate Tunnel is slated to open by the end of the year. The project comprises 6.8km of tunnels and 9.2km of elevated roads, providing a new river crossing and an alternative to the West Gate Bridge. The government anticipates the tunnel will alleviate traffic congestion and remove trucks from local streets in the inner-west through a 24-hour ban.
Future Expansion and Mounting Debt
The Metro Tunnel is envisioned as a crucial component of future transport expansions, including the long-awaited rail line to Melbourne Airport and the ambitious Suburban Rail Loop – a proposed 90km underground railway line connecting Cheltenham and Werribee.
However, both the Metro Tunnel and West Gate Tunnel have faced significant challenges, including delays and substantial cost overruns. The Metro Tunnel, initially proposed in 2008, has undergone numerous revisions and funding disputes. The final cost to the state is $13.48 billion, though the total project cost is higher, with contributions from the builder. The West Gate Tunnel has experienced even more pronounced cost increases, reaching $10.2 billion for the state due to the discovery of toxic soil and subsequent legal battles.
These projects have contributed to the state’s growing debt, currently forecast to reach $194 billion by 2028-29. Despite these financial concerns, the government remains optimistic that voters will prioritize the benefits of the new infrastructure over its price tag. Behind closed doors, sources suggest there is hope that the Metro Tunnel will bolster support for the Airport Rail and Suburban Rail Loop projects, making them more tangible for voters. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently used the tunnel as a backdrop to announce further federal funding for the Suburban Rail Loop in May.
Image of Arden Station
Video: First look inside the city’s new metro stations
