Melbourne commuter chaos looms for months as Metro Tunnel nears completion

Melbourne commuters can expect headaches for the rest of the year as the $15bn Metro Tunnel opens in stages.

Passengers on three different train lines will have to switch at either of two different stations as the first trains carrying passengers through the new tunnel are opened to the public.

Speaking to media on Saturday, Transport Infrastructure Minister, Gab Williams, said the amount of disruptions owing to the state’s massive infrastructure projects was too long to list.

“You’ve probably already seen the media release with an outline of many of the disruptions that will be taking place over the winter break, because we have a huge winter of work,” she said.

“So I won’t go through all of them. I will choose to single out a few, but in short, we are ensuring you know the final stretch and opening, getting ready to open, the Metro Tunnel project and of course as well the West Gate Tunnel.”

On June 21, the train-carrying Metro Tunnel will run a “dress rehearsal”, however the tunnel hasn’t yet been signed off to transport passengers.

On this one rehearsal day, passengers on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines will have to switch trains at Caulfield or Footscray stations. The empty trains will then continue on through the tunnel as a sort of dry run.

There are two AFL games in Melbourne on that Saturday, being contested by four Melbourne-based teams. Ms Williams said staff will “be out in force” at the stations where passengers have to get off the train to tell people where to go, on top of the usual announcements ringing out.

This June 21 trial marks the first in a string of major transport disruptions over the next six months. Final works on the West Gate Tunnel will cause lane closures on outbound arterial routes later in the year.

Sections of the Eastern Freeway will be shut during the weekends in August and buses will replace trains on the Hurstbridge line in July.