On Saturday 22 July, our teams achieved a major milestone with handover of the tunnels to Metro Tunnel Melbourne. This paved the way for dynamic testing to begin, and on Monday night, our teams gathered at Arden for the thrilling task of sending the first trains into the tunnels. This is a remarkable accomplishment that we can all be proud of as it marks the start of train testing in the rail tunnels, a critical phase of the project.

Around 2am on Tuesday 25 July, the first train entered the eastbound tunnel from the Eastern Portal, moving at a speed of 25km per hour. Soon after, the second train followed in the westbound tunnel. 

Premier Daniel Andrews and Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan visited Anzac Station and boarded the first train stabled at its platform. They were welcomed by Metro Tunnel project leaders, who gave them a tour of the station and explained its features. The Premier was so impressed by the train that he snapped a few selfies on it before addressing a huge media pack at a press conference on the platform. The Premier praised the upcoming dynamic testing works and the High-Capacity Metro Trains (HCMT), which will provide more capacity and reliability for Melbourne’s transport network. He also thanked and congratulated the project staff for their outstanding work that made this incredible milestone possible.

This feat is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication by everyone in the Cross Yara Partnership team. The project teams have overcome many challenges and worked collaboratively with Rail Projects Victoria, Rail Network Alliance, Metro Tunnel Melbourne, and the new Tunnel Access Coordination Office to ensure the safe and successful delivery of the project. They have coordinated significant efforts across all alignment precincts, completed the complex tunnel fitout, and prepared the tunnel for this exciting stage of the project.

Congratulations to the whole team on this amazing achievement – we commend them all on their contribution and commitment to one of the biggest Victorian rail projects which will transform Melbourne’s transport network.

See the first trains enter the tunnel in the following  video :