UPDATE: The highly anticipated Metro Tunnel will officially open on December 1, 2023, heralding a transformative shift for Sunbury Line travelers. Starting early next month, this new infrastructure will introduce hundreds of additional train services every week, enhancing connectivity across the region.
From December 1, services will run every day of the week, stopping at all five new underground stations: Arden, Parkville, State Library, Town Hall, and Anzac. During weekdays, trains will operate every 20 minutes from 10 AM to 3 PM between Westall (on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines) and West Footscray (on the Sunbury line). Weekend schedules will feature similar frequent services, ensuring passengers can travel smoothly from 10 AM to 7 PM on Saturdays and Sundays.
The Victorian government has confirmed more than 240 extra services will be available each week on the Sunbury, Cranbourne, and Pakenham lines, significantly improving travel options for thousands of commuters. Existing Sunbury line services will continue as normal through the City Loop throughout December, allowing easy connections to the Metro Tunnel at key interchange locations, including Footscray and Caulfield stations.
“This is an early Christmas gift for everyone on the Pakenham, Cranbourne, and Sunbury lines, who will see hundreds of new services weekly starting December 1,” stated Premier Jacinta Allan. “Victorians have been patiently waiting for this tunnel to be built, and now they will reap the benefits.”
Looking ahead, on February 1, 2024, a comprehensive overhaul of Victoria’s entire train network will take place, featuring thousands of timetable changes. Over 1,000 new weekly train services will be implemented, fundamentally reshaping travel plans. The Sunbury, Cranbourne, and Pakenham lines will exclusively operate through the Metro Tunnel, with a “turn-up-and-go” network designed to have trains running at least every 10 minutes between Watergardens and Dandenong from 6 AM to 9 PM. During peak hours, trains will arrive every three to four minutes.
Additionally, these timetable revisions will extend to buses, trams, and regional and metropolitan train services, representing a significant enhancement to public transport options in the area.
Stay tuned for more updates as these transformative changes unfold. This new Metro Tunnel initiative is set to revolutionize travel for Victorians, making daily commutes more efficient and accessible than ever before.
