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.
Summer Start
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 through the Metro Tunnel will run between Westall and West Footscray every 20 minutes from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
- Services to the City Loop on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines will run to the current weekday timetables.
Weekends
- Services through the Metro Tunnel will run about every 20 minutes between Westall and West Footscray from around 10.00am to 7.00pm.
- Services through the Metro Tunnel will run about every 40 minutes from East Pakenham and about every 60 minutes from Sunbury.
- Services to the City Loop on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines will run to the current weekend timetables.
- All public transport will be free on weekends until 1 February 2026.
You will be able to plan your journey closer to the opening at the Transport Victoria website.
What changes will there be to current services?
Until 1 February 2026, existing Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham line services will run through the City Loop on the current timetable.
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.
