The keys to the first three completed stations on the Allan Labor Government's Metro Tunnel Project - Arden, Parkville and Anzac - have been handed over to Metro Trains in preparation for the tunnel opening this year.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams today visited Parkville Station and met with Metro Trains station staff, who will now be based at the station as they trial day-to-day operations.
The transfer of management from the builder to the Government is another big milestone in the Metro Tunnel's completion - and it's more than symbolic.
The handover marks the moment Victoria's rail workers can 'move in' and start operating and managing the station's assets and systems, to get familiar with the new stations ahead of day one.
In another big milestone, trains have now travelled more than 100,000km inside the Metro Tunnel - the equivalent of two-and-a-half trips around the Earth's circumference.
This testing has continued progressively since the first trains entered the tunnels in mid-2023, ensuring equipment and systems are working as designed.
As testing and trial operations continue along the length of the future continuous line from Sunbury to Cranbourne and Pakenham, there will be disruptions on the lines over three days next week - 14, 15 and 17 April.
Crews are also making progress to complete construction on the remaining two stations, Town Hall and State Library, which sit directly underneath Melbourne's CBD.
The Metro Tunnel includes five new underground stations and will be the biggest upgrade of Melbourne's train network since the City Loop opened in 1981.
Never forget, the Liberals called the Metro Tunnel a "hoax", said it was going to be an "an absolute disaster" and refused to fund it while in office. Labor funded it, Labor built it - Labor will open it.
As stated by Premier Jacinta Allan
"The Metro Tunnel will cut congestion and get you to work, uni and home sooner - and it opens this year."
"We've got the keys from the builders, now our rail workers can move in and start getting ready for passengers."
As stated by Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams
"The Metro Tunnel will be a game-changer for our city, creating capacity for more services and connecting Victorians to jobs, education and hospitals."
"The Victorian Liberals abandoned the Metro Tunnel when they were in power, Peter Dutton sat around the Cabinet table and ripped money out of it - and they'd do it all again in the future. They don't believe in public transport."
