First Metro Tunnel station completed

Arden Station has been finished after six years of construction on the project, marking a step towards Metro Tunnel opening to passengers next year.

Since excavation started on Arden Station in 2018 construction, teams have removed 330,000 tonnes of rock and soil; built a massive brick archway and facade; poured the concrete for the station platforms; laid lengths of steel rail through the tunnels; and installed escalators, lifts and platform screen doors.

In recent weeks crews worked on the finishing touches at Arden Station. Below ground they installed paving, seating and passenger information displays. Above ground, work took place on landscaping, paving, and installing signs, seating and bicycle hoops.

Work is continuing on the other four underground stations – Parkville, State Library, Town Hall and Anzac – with Parkville expected to be the next station to be finished.

Arden Station’s completion was brought forward so it could become a test case for the remaining stations. Over the coming months, the project team will test station systems, including passenger information displays, platform screen doors and ventilation.

The tunnels and stations contract is being completed by Cross Yarra Partnership, a consortium of Lendlease Engineering, John Holland Bouygues Construction and Capella Capital.

The Metro Tunnel is the first step towards a metro-style rail network for Melbourne. It includes twin 9km tunnels from the west of the city to the south-east and five underground stations. The four TBMs completed tunnelling in May 2021.