Several metropolitan and regional train services will be disrupted over the next nine days, as construction and trial operations continue within the Metro Tunnel and along the future continuous line from Sunbury to Cranbourne and Pakenham.
Buses will replace metropolitan trains at the following times:
- on the Sunbury Line between North Melbourne and Sunshine from 11pm Friday, 4 July to the last service on Sunday, 13 July
- on the Werribee and Williamstown lines between North Melbourne, Werribee and Williamstown from 11pm Friday, 4 July to the last service on Sunday, 6 July
- on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines between Parliament, Caufield and Westall from the first service on Monday, 7 July to 1.30am on Saturday, 12 July.
Cranbourne and Pakenham trains will terminate and originate at Caulfield from 1.30am on Saturday, 12 July to the last service on Sunday, 13 July. Passengers should switch to a train on the Frankston Line for travel between the city and Caulfield.
Buses and coaches will replace V/Line trains on Saturday, 5 and Sunday, 6 July:
- on the Bendigo and Echuca lines between Gisborne and Southern Cross. Trains will operate between Bendigo, Echuca and Gisborne.
- on the Swan Hill Line between Bendigo and Southern Cross. Trains will operate between Swan Hill and Bendigo.
- on the Ballarat, Ararat and Maryborough lines between Caroline Springs and Southern Cross. Trains will operate between Ararat, Maryborough and Ballarat and Caroline Springs.
- on the Geelong Line between Sunshine and Southern Cross. Trains will operate between Waurn Ponds and Sunshine.
- on the Warrnambool Line between Waurn Ponds and Southern Cross. Trains will operate between Warrnambool and Waurn Ponds.
V/Line passengers are encouraged to check the temporary coach replacement timetables before travelling, and to allow extra time for their journey. Coaches may depart earlier than normal train timetables to meet their connecting service.
During the first weekend of works, crews will conduct tie-station works at Kensington, including excavating in the rail corridor, installing rail signalling assets, and track tamping.
Trial operations will continue from Monday, 7 July to Sunday, 13 July. This includes operating trains without passengers using the new signalling system, and running through a wide range of scenarios involving the five new underground stations, and practicing emergency responses to major incidents so staff are fully prepared when the Metro Tunnel opens in 2025.
The Metro Tunnel will deliver twin 9km tunnels and five new CBD stations, connections to the City Loop and will enable more trains to run more often across Melbourne.
While trains aren’t running on the Werribee and Williamstown lines, Metro Trains will conduct maintenance works and level crossing removals will continue at Maddox Road, Newport.
Real-time traffic conditions are available at traffic.transport.vic.gov.au. The latest public transport information and network status is available at ptv.vic.gov.au or in the PTV mobile app.