Melbourne Metro
What's happening
Melbourne Metro is a priority project for the Victorian Government. The 2012/13 State Budget has allocated $49.7 million to protect the corridor for the proposed nine-kilometre rail tunnel and five new underground stations.
The Victorian Government is now preparing to proceed with the formal planning process. This will involve a thorough assessment of the project’s benefits and impacts and will include a range of environmental, technical and social investigations.
Extensive community and stakeholder engagement will also be undertaken during this process. A key part of the engagement process will be the establishment of a Community Reference Group which will help PTV obtain community feedback about the project.
Project description
Melbourne Metro is a critical city-shaping project that will create the capacity needed to expand the rail network and increase services to Melbourne's growth areas in the north, west and south east.
The project requires the construction of a nine kilometre rail tunnel through the heart of Melbourne that will link the Sydenham (soon to be Sunbury) and Dandenong rail lines. The project will include five new underground stations to be located at North Melbourne, Parkville, CBD North, CBD South and Domain.
The rail tunnel will join the Dandenong lines south east of South Yarra station and the Sunbury line west of South Kensington station.
Along with additional rail works and operational changes to the existing network, Melbourne Metro will enable the creation of four independent rail lines which will greatly improve train punctuality and deliver increased passenger capacity across the network.
Importantly, Melbourne Metro will provide extra trains to Melbourne's key growth corridors in Wyndham, Hume, Sunbury, Casey and Cardinia.
Furthermore, Melbourne Metro will improve public transport access to the commercial and education precincts in Parkville and along St Kilda Road, while also alleviating pressure on the St Kilda Road tram routes.
Through the provision of $40 million in development funding from the Commonwealth Government, the formal planning process will commence in 2012.
Project benefits
- Untangle the inner core of the rail network and create additional capacity to respond to the growing demand for increased public transport to Melbourne’s north, west and southeast.
- Create additional space for more train services on the Craigieburn, Sunbury, Werribee, Williamstown, Upfield, Frankston and Sandringham lines and allow longer trains to operate through Melbourne’s CBD on the Sunbury, Pakenham and Cranbourne lines. The additional capacity created will be able to accommodate an extra 24,000 passengers each hour on these busy lines.
- Improve the performance and reliability of the entire metropolitan rail network.
- Improve public transport access to the commercial and education precincts in Parkville and along St Kilda Road, and alleviate congestion on the St Kilda Road tram routes.
- Facilitate more effective use of land within Melbourne for housing and employment by improving access to key locations, such as North Melbourne.
Maps
- Melbourne Metro alignment map (PDF, 268 KB)
Publications
- Melbourne Metro e-newsletter: edition 1 (PDF, 416 KB)
→ Subscribe to future editions of the Melbourne Metro e-newsletter
Video: Melbourne Metro - Transforming Melbourne's Rail Network
More information
Contact us
For more information about Melbourne Metro, please call 1800 800 007 or email melbournemetro@ptv.vic.gov.au
