Metro Tunnel opening set for December with phased timetable
After months of anticipation, Melbourne’s flagship Metro Tunnel is scheduled to welcome passengers in early December. Premier Jacinta Allan confirmed that the cross-city rail line will begin service as part of a staged rollout, with trains running more frequently as the system proves itself in operation. The soft opening marks a major milestone for Melbourne’s transit network, but commuters should plan for a gradual ramp-up rather than a full timetable immediately.
What the early timetable looks like
During the initial weeks of the “summer start,” trains will operate through the tunnel from Westall and West Footscray every 20 minutes. This window is limited to off-peak hours, with weekday services between 10am and 3pm. Weekend operations will extend slightly, with trains every 20 minutes from 10am to 7pm. In addition, the service will connect East Pakenham every 40 minutes and Sunbury every 60 minutes on weekends.
Limited hours, limited frequency
The decision to begin with a 20-minute headway reflects the need to validate the new infrastructure, test integration with existing lines, and iron out any early issues. For many commuters, this means planning around a reduced service until the full timetable is ready to go.
February full timetable — what to expect
From February 1, a full timetable is planned to come into effect. While the exact schedule has not been released, government officials have signaled a dramatic step up in service levels. Trains are expected to run at least every 10 minutes from 6am to 10pm on the section between Watergardens and Dandenong. During peak periods, services are anticipated to run every three to four minutes, reflecting the high demand in Melbourne’s core corridor.
Additionally, Frankston trains will return to the City Loop with the full timetable, improving connectivity for commuters who rely on the broader network to reach the inner city and beyond. The anticipated improvements extend beyond passenger trains, with promised upgrades to buses, trams, and V/Line services as part of the same overall timetable refresh.
What this means for the CBD and cross-city travel
The nine-kilometre cross-city tunnel will connect the Sunbury and Pakenham/Cranbourne lines, creating five new underground inner-city stations. Town Hall and State Library stations, completed recently, will anchor the CBD connections, linking the tunnel to Flinders Street and Melbourne Central. Once fully operational, the Metro Tunnel is expected to transform how Melburnians move across town during peak periods, reducing congestion on surface lines and providing faster cross-city options.
Pre-opening considerations
Premier Allan emphasized a cautious, staged approach to ensure reliability. By opening the tunnel first and then implementing the big timetable switch, authorities hope to minimize disruption and maximize on-time performance as passenger demand grows. The milestone has been a long time coming, with the Andrews Government flagging the project since 2015 and closely managing the transition to full operations over several months.
What riders should plan for now
As December nears, commuters should plan for a temporary, lower-frequency service and gradually adjust to the forthcoming faster, more frequent schedule in February. The government’s broader timetable improvements for buses and trams are also intended to complement the new cross-city rail capacity, offering better multimodal integration and a more reliable city-wide network fitness test before the next phase of expansion.
For daily updates and a detailed breakdown of services, track the official announcements and local transport coverage. The Metro Tunnel represents a significant upgrade to Melbourne’s transport backbone, and early intelligence suggests the system will become a vital artery for residents and visitors alike, once the full timetable takes effect.
