Melbourne’s long-awaited Metro Tunnel opened to passengers this morning, marking a major milestone despite a few minor issues.
The $15 billion project, delayed several times over the years, has introduced five new underground stations, with the first trains operating just after 9 a.m. Massive crowds gathered across the network to experience the new line.
Early operations saw delays of up to 15 minutes after a fire alarm near Anzac Station forced trains to halt temporarily, though services are now clearing, according to Metro Trains.
There were also escalator outages reported at Parkville and State Library stations, The Age reported.
The remaining new stations—Town Hall and Arden—also opened today, with the new line now stretching nearly 100 kilometres. It represents the biggest upgrade to Melbourne’s rail system in 40 years, doubling the size of the underground network and easing pressure on the city loop.
Construction began in 2019, with tunnel-boring machines digging up to 40 metres below ground to create the nine-kilometre twin tunnels that now form the heart of the extension.
However, the launch has not been without controversy. The firefighters’ union called for the opening to be delayed, citing alleged dangerous radio communication faults in the new network.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan dismissed the claims as a scare tactic aimed at securing better pay, noting that the rail safety regulator had rejected the union’s concerns.
“These claims are being made perhaps more for industrial purposes than anything else,” she said.
