Test trains are running through the tunnels and on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines between West Footscray and Hawksburn.

The rigorous testing program will continue throughout 2024 to ensure all the Metro Tunnel’s new infrastructure and systems are working together and are seamlessly integrated into the network.

That includes the platform screen doors and High Capacity Signalling (HCS) technology – both firsts for the Victorian rail network.

In mid-2024 testing shifted into a new phase that will involve repeatedly running all the systems and technology to ‘stress test’ it over many months.

When the first test trains entered the twin tunnels in July 2023 they were travelling at low speeds and being driven manually without using the tunnels’ high capacity signalling system.

Since then, test trains have moved to line speed of up to 80km/h, with 2 trains in each tunnel controlled by the high-tech signalling system.

The team has conducted hundreds of tests so far.

Test types

• Testing that 2 trains are communicating with each other to maintain a safe distance, including the distance widening or narrowing depending on the trains’ speed.
• Testing that the trains are sending information to the Sunshine Signal Control Centre about their speed, track conditions and track gradient.
• Platform screen door pressurisation tests to ensure the doors operate in the same way regardless of differences in air pressure in the tunnels, with air pressure rising as a train approaches another train stopped at a station.
• Using specialised equipment to test that the devices that sit on top of the trains (called pantographs) are connecting properly with the overhead bar that runs through the tunnel to transfer power to the trains.
• Repeated testing and software updates to fine tune the exact stopping position of the trains to line up with the platform screen doors.
• ‘Systems integration’ testing to ensure the trains, signalling, platform screen doors and passenger information displays are all working seamlessly together.
• Running 2 test trains loaded with 134,500kg of water in small tanks to test how the trains perform in the tunnel with the weight of a full passenger load.

Trial operations

Beginning later in 2024, Trial Operations will involve train services running from Clayton to West Footscray through the Metro Tunnel using the new signalling system, with station staff and drivers.

This will be the ‘dress rehearsal’ before opening the Metro Tunnel and 5 new stations. It will trial timetabled services and a range of scenarios to confirm that everything is ready for a safe and efficient passenger service to begin when the Metro Tunnel opens in 2025.

Previous testing

Between 2020 and 2022, 2 X’Trapolis test trains were fitted with High Capacity Signalling. New trackside equipment was also installed. This testing allowed us to prove the new technology worked as expected with the existing signalling system.

Rigorous testing continued for over a year on a 4.5km section of track on the Mernda Line, between Epping and South Morang stations. Further testing on the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines followed.

Throughout 2022, we tested HCS and trains on the Cranbourne/Pakenham Line between Flinders Street and Westall. The new HCMTs were put through hundreds of different scenarios to ensure the HCS and the existing signalling system would work together.

Testing took place on the existing network during the first half of 2023, on weekends and overnight. Initial tests were between Flinders Street and Westall stations, before moving to between South Kensington to Tottenham stations.

The first test trains entered the Metro Tunnel in July 2023, kicking off rigorous testing of the signalling and other systems which continued into the first half 2024. This included:

• testing 1 train at low speed using minimal power, through to multiple services in the tunnel at greater speeds
• ensuring the train doors open and close automatically at the same time as the platform screen doors when stopping at the stations
• testing all electronic systems at the stations – such as passenger information displays, phones, the public address (PA) systems, lifts and escalators, lighting and security systems.