Metro Tunnel

Metro Tunnel
Metro Tunnel
	Map of the Metro Tunnel in blue and existing railway lines in grey.
Overview
Other name(s)	Melbourne Metro Rail
Status	Under construction
Locale	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Termini	South Kensington; South Yarra;
Stations	5
Website	Official website
Service
Type	Rapid transit ; Suburban rail
System	Melbourne rail network
Services	Sunbury; Pakenham; Cranbourne; Airport (Proposed);
Rolling stock	High Capacity Metro Trains
History
Commenced	2018
Planned opening	2025 (scheduled)
Technical
Line length	9 km (5.6 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Character	Underground
Track gauge	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Victorian broad gauge
Electrification	1,500 V DC from overhead catenary
Signalling	Bombardier CITYFLO 650 CBTC
Route map
Route map
	Legend
	Sunbury/Werribee/Williamstown/Airport lines
	Footscray
	Werribee/Williamstown lines
	North Melbourne
	City Loop
	Flagstaff – Parliament
	City Loop & other lines
	Southern Cross – Parliament/Jolimont/Richmond
	Frankston line
	South Yarra
	Cranbourne/Frankston/Pakenham lines
	Hawksburn
	This diagram: view; talk; edit;

The Metro Tunnel, formerly known as Melbourne Metro Rail (MMR), is a underground heavy rail project currently under construction in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It involves the construction of twin 9-kilometre (5.6 mi) rail tunnels between South Kensington (north west of the Melbourne central business district) and South Yarra (in the south east) with five new underground stations. The tunnel will connect the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines with the Sunbury line, creating a new high-frequency cross-city line that bypasses Flinders Street station and the City Loop. The line is also planned to serve Melbourne Airport via a new branch line west of Sunshine.^[2]

The project will enable the operational separation of various existing lines on Melbourne's rail network and increase the capacity of the system to allow metro-style frequencies. The Metro Tunnel project includes the installation of high-capacity signalling and platform screen doors. With the delivery of other associated projects including accessibility upgrades, the introduction of High Capacity Metro Trains, and the removal of all level crossings across the Pakenham, Cranbourne and Sunbury lines, it will allow the corridor to run to rapid transit standards.^[3]

The state government began planning the project in 2015. Initial construction works commenced in early 2017. Sections of the Melbourne central business district, including City Square and parts of Swanston Street, were closed to enable construction of the tunnel and stations. Tunnelling began in 2019 and was completed in 2021. The project was originally expected to be completed in 2026, but has now been brought forward to 2025.^[4]^[5] The project is being delivered by Rail Projects Victoria, formerly the Melbourne Metro Rail Authority, at an estimated cost of $9 to $11 billion.^[6]

^ Barrow, Keith (19 April 2018). "Bombardier to maintain Melbourne Metro Tunnel signalling". International Railway Journal. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^ "Station plans released for Melbourne Airport Rail". ArchitectureAU. Archived from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
^ "Metro Tunnel Project Business Case". Victoria’s Big Build. 17 March 2022. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
^ Chalkley-Rhoden, Stephanie (23 July 2017). "Melbourne Metro Rail Tunnel project to create 7,000 jobs: Premier". ABC News. Archived from the original on 8 January 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
^ Jacks, Timna (20 February 2018). "Melbourne Metro a year ahead of schedule, Premier says". The Age. Archived from the original on 8 January 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
^ Carey, Adam (19 November 2015). "Private sector called on to fund multibillion-dollar Melbourne Metro rail tunnel". The Age. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2015.

[1] Barrow, Keith (19 April 2018). "Bombardier to maintain Melbourne Metro Tunnel signalling". International Railway Journal. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.

[2] "Station plans released for Melbourne Airport Rail". ArchitectureAU. Archived from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.

[:0-3] "Metro Tunnel Project Business Case". Victoria’s Big Build. 17 March 2022. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.

[ABC_jul_2017-4] Chalkley-Rhoden, Stephanie (23 July 2017). "Melbourne Metro Rail Tunnel project to create 7,000 jobs: Premier". ABC News. Archived from the original on 8 January 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2018.

[Age_Feb_2018-5] Jacks, Timna (20 February 2018). "Melbourne Metro a year ahead of schedule, Premier says". The Age. Archived from the original on 8 January 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2018.

[6] Carey, Adam (19 November 2015). "Private sector called on to fund multibillion-dollar Melbourne Metro rail tunnel". The Age. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2015.

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