Last month, crews successfully ran test trains two minutes apart between West Footscray and Hawksburn stations, using high-capacity signalling technology that may have the ability to revolutionise Melbourne’s train network.
Crews have clocked over 16,500 kilometres running through the tunnels since July last year – paving the way to begin trial operations with drivers and station staff by year’s end.
As one of two stations coming to life deep beneath Melbourne’s CBD, State Library Station was excavated to the deepest level of the Metro Tunnel project at around 40 metres – deeper than the height of Marvel Stadium. 600 workers are currently employed on the station’s construction.
26,000 people a day are expected to use State Library Station, which will showcase a grand main entrance near the corner of La Trobe and Swanston Street, complete with spectacular cathedral-like arched ceilings at platform level.
In addition to the station’s 27 escalators and 19 lifts, an underground walkway will connect the station to Melbourne Central Station for an easy transfer between Metro Tunnel and City Loop services without passing through Myki gates.
The Victorian Government’s Metro Tunnel will connect the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines through a new tunnel under the city, creating an end-to-end rail line from the north-west to the south-east – freeing up space in the City Loop and creating capacity to run more trains more often.