Melburnians are urged to plan ahead and allow for extra travel time this week, as the Metro Tunnel will be closed for five days. From 8:30pm tonight (Tuesday, July 7) to the last service on Sunday, July 12, the Metro Tunnel will be closed, affecting passengers on the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines. During this time, there will also be bus replacements for Werribee, Laverton, Williamstown and Sunbury passengers. Here’s what to expect.
Metro Tunnel closed from July 7 to 12
Trains will not run through the Metro Tunnel during this time, with crews removing infrastructure used during the construction of the tunnel. They will also be removing temporary tracks and rail infrastructure in Kensington, replacing it with new permanent tracks near the Metro Tunnel entrance.
There will be shuttle buses running between Flagstaff, Parkville, Arden and North Melbourne.
Cranbourne and Pakenham lines
During this time, people travelling to the city on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines will need to get off at South Yarra. From there, you can take a City Loop service or a direct train to Flinders Street via the Frankston or Sandringham lines.
On top of that, there will also be bus replacements between Caulfield and Westall from 8:30pm on Wednesday, July 8 to the last service on Thursday, July 9.
Sunbury line
There will be bus replacements:
- Between Flagstaff and Sunshine (Tuesday, July 7 to Friday, July 10)
- Between North Melbourne and Sunbury (Friday, July 10 to Sunday, July 12)
- Between North Melbourne and Sunshine (Sunday, July 12 from 5am to last service)
Werribee and Williamstown lines
There will be bus replacements this week due to maintenance works. On weekdays, buses will replace trains between North Melbourne, Laverton and Williamstown, from 8:30pm on Tuesday to 11pm on Friday. Buses will also replace trains between North Melbourne, Werribee and Williamstown from 11:30pm to last service each night.
On the weekend, buses will replace trains between North Melbourne, Newport and Williamstown from 11pm on Friday, July 10 to last service on Sunday, July 12.
Additionally, trains will not stop at Footscray on Saturday, July 11.
Upfield line
Buses will replace trains between North Melbourne and Upfield from 8:30pm on Friday, July 10 to last service on Sunday, July 12.
Meanwhile, planned works this weekend will also affect customers on the Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Traralgon lines.
Find out more details about the planned works here, or look out for any disruptions on your line here.
