11 May 2026
We're building a brand new underground station at Burwood
The SRL East station at Burwood will deliver a direct train connection to Deakin University for the first time and open up destinations across Melbourne for Burwood locals.
SRL will ensure the area is a vibrant community for generations to come, with more homes and jobs in the neighbourhoods surrounding the new underground station.
Tunnelling starts this year
Major construction of SRL East is well underway, with tunnel boring machines (TBMs) arriving on site and tunnelling to start this year.
The site at Burwood is one of SRL’s TBM launch sites, operating like a mini city with its own power, water, and traffic management systems – to support construction. Excavation of the underground station ‘box’ - where the station will be built - is underway.
The TBMs are being assembled on-site in Burwood and will be lowered into the launch site ready for tunnelling towards Glen Waverley. Acoustic sheds are being constructed to minimise noise, dust and light from the works.
Construction of a second TBM launch site is also underway. This is where TBMs will launch to tunnel between Burwood and Box Hill.
Burwood construction timeline
Upcoming works in Burwood
Station box and northern tunnel boring machine (TBM) launch site excavation
Day/night works: Ongoing 24 hour works
SRL Burwood worksite
Continuing through 2026
- Excavating the Burwood station box, a large underground space where the new station will be built
- Piling and installing steel structure supports to reinforce the ground and enable construction of the underground station
- Completing concrete works to construct the northern TBM launch site and the station box
- Transporting excavated material from site in covered trucks
- Works involve noise, dust, vibration, and trucks entering and exiting the site.
Tunnelling preparation
Day/night works: Ongoing 24 hour works
SRL Burwood worksite
Continuing through 2026
- Assembling TBMs, the large specialised machines used to excavate the SRL tunnels
- Installing and testing tunnelling support equipment, including conveyor systems to remove excavated soil and rock from the tunnels, and installing services and systems required for TBM launch
- Constructing and fitting out acoustic sheds, which are enclosed structures built around key work areas to reduce construction noise and dust
- Works involve noise, dust, vibration and ongoing overnight activity
- Once preparation is complete, tunnelling will commence from Burwood toward Glen Waverley.
TBM artist profile: Hayden Roberts
What is an acoustic shed and why are we building them?
Acoustic sheds are large, purpose-built structures designed to reduce noise, dust and light from construction activities.
They are commonly used on major infrastructure projects, including the Metro Tunnel, where they proved effective in minimising, noise, dust and light impacts on nearby homes and businesses.
The SRL site in Burwood will have 3 acoustic sheds:
- One over the southern tunnel boring machine launch site before tunnelling begins in 2026
- One to support soil removal during tunnelling
- One built once excavation starts for the second TBM launch site at the northern end of the site.
On average, building an acoustic shed takes approximately 3 to 4 months. Both sheds are expected to be completed later this year.
These steel sheds will enclose noisy equipment and activities during 24-hour tunnelling operations, helping to reduce the impact of construction noise on nearby homes and businesses.
Burwood progress update
Community Crew lends a helping hand
Community organisations, business owners and residents living and working near SRL East construction sites are receiving hands-on help from our ‘Community Crew.’
The Community Crew supports locals with window, house and car cleaning, gardening, deliveries, graffiti removal and more helping to reduce the impacts of construction during project delivery.
