Metro Tunnel opening

The Metro Tunnel will open to passengers in early December, with trains stopping at all 5 new stations.

The opening of the Metro Tunnel will be the biggest network change since the City Loop 40 years ago. A new timetable and broader network changes will be introduced in early 2026.

Until then, 240 extra services a week will run through the Metro Tunnel between West Footscray and Westall, with some end-to-end services on weekends. These services will run alongside the existing timetable, allowing passengers on the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines to choose between existing services and a Metro Tunnel service.

How will services operate when the Metro Tunnel opens?

When the Metro Tunnel opens, services through the tunnel will run mainly between West Footscray (on the Sunbury Line) and Westall (on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines), with some longer services.

Monday - Friday

Services will run between Westall and West Footscray every 20 minutes from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, stopping at all 5 new Metro Tunnel stations.

Weekends

Services will run about every 20 minutes between Westall and West Footscray from around 10.00am to 7.00pm.
Services will run about every 40 minutes from East Pakenham and about every 60 minutes from Sunbury.

You will be able to plan your journey closer to the opening at the Transport Victoria website.

Onboard train display indicating the train is arriving at Arden Station.

From next year

From early 2026, Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury Line services will come out of the City Loop and run exclusively through the Metro Tunnel.

There will also be major changes to the public transport timetable including:

Over 1000 new weekly services added on the Sunbury Line.
Over 100 new weekly services added to the Cranbourne and Pakenham timetable.
Frankston Line trains will return to the City Loop.
Werribee and Williamstown line services will run direct to and from Flinders Street.

This increase in services means passengers from West Footscray to Dandenong will have a train at least every 10 minutes all day, every day of the week. Peak services will be on average every 3 to 4 minutes for passengers between Watergardens and Dandenong.

What changes will there be to current services?

For now, the existing Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham line services will continue as previously, with these lines running through the City Loop on the current timetable.

This means there is no change in service for people on those lines unless they choose to switch to Metro Tunnel services at an interchange station, such as Caulfield, Malvern, Footscray, Flinders Street or Melbourne Central.

The same applies to passengers travelling on all other lines. Nothing changes – except they have the option to change to a Metro Tunnel service at Flinders Street or Melbourne Central.

Explore the ways you can travel through the Metro Tunnel

Why take this approach?

Separating the opening of the Metro Tunnel and major network changes, including a new timetable, allows time to bed down the new infrastructure, technology and procedures. It also enables the stations to open soon after safety approval has taken place and gives passengers a chance to familiarise themselves with the Metro Tunnel and the 5 new stations, in preparation for the major network change.

This is an international best-practice and common-sense approach to opening the Metro Tunnel. It is an approach that has worked successfully with several major infrastructure projects overseas including London’s Crossrail.

Chandelier lights at State Library Station

All 5 Metro Tunnel stations finished