Melbourne Metro Milestone: Keys Handed, Progress Celebrated

There’s something special about watching a city rise to meet the demands of its future. And last Thursday marked just such a moment for Melbourne, as the keys to three brand new Metro Tunnel stations—Arden, Parkville and Anzac—were officially handed over to Metro Trains. This significant milestone is one of the final steps in delivering the $13.48 billion Metro Tunnel Project, an ambitious infrastructure investment that’s set to transform how Melburnians move across the city.

When the Metro Tunnel opens later this year, it will connect the city’s northwest to the southeast like never before. The new rail link will run from Sunbury to Cranbourne and Pakenham, linking the Sunbury line at Kensington with South Yarra via two 9-kilometre twin tunnels and five new, state-of-the-art underground stations. Designed with the future in mind, the Metro Tunnel will streamline travel, ease congestion and reduce commute times for tens of thousands of Victorians.

Now that the handover of these stations is complete, Metro Trains can begin their crucial preparations for the tunnel’s opening. This means moving in, managing station assets and systems, and ensuring everything is ready for passengers from day one. It’s the beginning of the final leg in what has already been a monumental engineering and logistical effort.

Since testing began in mid-2023, trains have clocked over 100,000 kilometres inside the Metro Tunnel—an extraordinary achievement that reflects both the complexity of the system and the dedication of the project teams. These trials are a vital part of commissioning, ensuring every element—from signalling to ventilation—is working seamlessly before the first passengers step onboard.

Of course, the journey hasn’t been without its hurdles. Like many large-scale infrastructure projects across the globe, the Metro Tunnel faced significant challenges due to COVID-19, which contributed to delays and increased costs. The project is currently tracking $4 billion over budget and is approximately a year behind its original schedule. Yet even amid these setbacks, the momentum never faltered, thanks to the resilience and cooperation of the Cross Yarra Partnership—an alliance led by Lendlease Engineering, John Holland, Bouygues Construction and Capella Capital.

The government’s continued support has been clear, with Premier Jacinta Allen acknowledging the latest milestone with optimism: “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.”

The Metro Tunnel isn’t just about steel, concrete and tunnelling. It’s about empowering communities, connecting opportunity, and laying the tracks—quite literally—for a more efficient, liveable and accessible Melbourne. As the final stages of the project unfold, excitement is building, not just among engineers and planners, but for the people who’ll benefit every day from a faster, smarter network.

For those in construction, engineering and project delivery, this milestone is also a moment of pride. It reflects the tenacity, collaboration and excellence that define our industry—and it shows what’s possible when we work together to shape the future.