The Metro Tunnel is open to passengers, in a historic moment for the thousands of Victorians who worked on the project over the past 10 years, and the millions who will use it for the next 100.
Passengers can now catch a train through the twin 9 kilometre tunnels and 5 state-of-the-art underground stations – slashing travel times and connecting people to jobs, hospitals, universities and arts and entertainment precincts.
To celebrate the opening, weekend travel is free for all Victorians from the first service on Saturday to the last service on Sunday throughout December and January.
The inaugural Metro Tunnel services departed East Pakenham at 9.03am and Sunbury at 9.28am, arriving a minute apart at Town Hall Station in the heart of the city, before continuing their journeys.
Explore the Metro Tunnel with free travel during the Summer Start
Sunday marked the beginning of the Metro Tunnel’s Summer Start where extra and extended services will run alongside the existing timetable. Passengers on the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines can choose between existing services or a Metro Tunnel service.
- 240 extra services a week through the Metro Tunnel between West Footscray and Westall
- Extended weekend services through the Metro Tunnel to Sunbury and East Pakenham
- Free weekend public transport from 30 November 2025 until 1 February 2026
The Summer Start is key to the Metro Tunnel opening safer, smoother and sooner, giving passengers time to familiarise themselves with the new stations and technology.
If were unable to join the opening day celebrations don’t worry, there’ll be lots of time to explore the Metro Tunnel with free travel on Saturdays and Sundays in December and January.
Head to the Transport Victoria website to plan your journey.
On 1 February 2026, the Big Switch will introduce a new timetable across buses, trams, regional and metropolitan trains, and connect the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines with all services on those lines running through the Metro Tunnel.
A city shaping project 10 years in the making
Opening the 5 underground stations to passengers has doubled the size of Melbourne’s underground rail network, providing access to new destinations and allowing passengers to cross the city from Arden Station in North Melbourne, to Anzac Station on St Kilda Road in just 12 minutes.
Since the Metro Tunnel was first announced in 2015, workers have excavated 1.8 million cubic metres of rock and soil, built twin 9km tunnels, used 754,000 cubic metres of concrete and 157,000 tonnes of steel and laid 40km of Australian-made rail, creating around 7,000 jobs including hundreds for apprentices, cadets and trainees.
