Tbh whenever i see the metro tunnel entrances now in 2025, it just feels different compared to 2023 and 2024. Nice one! Also do you consider doing a video on the SRL project this year as it would be interesting.
Think of the London Underground, and how stations all typically look different - (particularly the ones that are *actually underground*) - they are made to look distinctively different so that people with reading difficulties - (ie: can't read the station names on platform signs) - can tell the stations apart. For example: "I need to get off at the red station". It's also why Flagstaff, Museum, and Parliament look so different from each other.
That's true if you're talking about telling stations apart when you're on a train about to stop at them. My view is that the stations look sufficiently different to each other on the inside anyway. In terms of from the outside, I think the priority should be identifying the line, rather than identifying the station. If I'm a tourist needing to get to Clayton from Federation Square, I'm probably going to be confused as to where Town Hall station actually is, and why it isn't Flinders St. I don't think that Town Hall's entrance being purple will help me, because it still just looks like a station entrance. However, if Town Hall's entrance was light blue, that would be the same colour as the Pakenham line is showing up as being on whatever app I'm using to navigate, so I would be assured that I'm in the right spot!
For the progress of the State Library station, it was clear to see through several weeks/months ago and it looked like the escalators had been or were in the process of being installed.
CoM did a bit of a "what uses do people want at University Square" last year. I suggested a bowling club (which is what it was originally - the Carlton Bowls Club ;))
Thank you very much for the lovely update and great video in my opinion I reckon it won't be until the end of the year judging by what I've seen in your video it's a long way off getting done at the moment despite train to running through the tunnel it will be interesting once it's all open because I can do my review on the stations
FYI There is a free talk at State Library of Vic by the artist Danie Mellor about the works installed at Library Station. Wed 12 Feb at 6.30pm. Event is called Landscape and Remembering. Tickets through Eventbrite. See you there ;)
Nice update! At the South Kensington tunnel exit, even though the project is obviously >99% complete, there are still some remnants of construction. There is a vehicle ramp with a flimsy, temporary looking gate that seems to be guarded 24x7 by guys sitting in adjacent cars. And there are still some orange barriers and portaloos next to the ramp. I can't work out if this is all meant to be permanent :-). Now, since you asked for corrections... in the spirit of petty pedantry I will note that asphalt is pronounced "ASS-falt", not "ASH-falt" as many people say it. Keep up the good work. Thanks!
I know exactly what you mean. I wanted to film from the fence there, but the seccies wouldn't let me. It must cost heaps of money to have them stationed there!
With the fed square entrance while its probably not going to open until late this year or early next year, the rest of town hall (excluding the osd) will most likely open earlier probably either in june or july, and fyi provisional acceptence is when most construction is expected to be complete so with a late april handover june-july is when im guessing we'll see the project open
Thanks for the great insight! I did hear someone else somewhere say that the Fed Square entrance might open later than the others, but forgot about it. June/July would be awesome if it eventuates!
when the City Loop opened in the early eighties, the stations were opened in stages and trains ran past dark platforms. First was Museum (Melb Central), Parliament and Flagstaff was opened (seems) a long time later. I remember the comment that the stationss looked nicer than Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs Railway which were more utilitarian.
I'll check this tunnel out when this tunnel opens (Despite me being on the Mernda line - it'll be a fun ride and will be amazing experience). Hopefully us on the Clifton Hill and the Burnley group passengers will receive a project similar to this and new trains soon
9:16 Most commentary I've seen regarding Town Hall accepts that the Fed Square entrance isn't opening with the rest of the station. Seems Metro is fine with holding off on the exit opening until early next year to focus on the main entrances via the Degraves subway and City Square.
Surrounding sheds and makeshift offices have been dismantled at Fed Square this week. Seems like the shed will begin to be pulled apart in the next few days.
Great work! , takes hours to put such quality content Does this mean that there are no trams running between flinders station and Anzac for now ?, if yes any idea until when ? the official disruptions on PTV or even call center blokes have no idea
Thanks, and great question! As far as I'm aware, trams are running along Swanston St between Flinders St and Anzac. As you saw in the video, construction is basically done at Anzac, and I can't see why the construction at Town Hall would affect the trams. That's just my guess though.
We may see it be a case of functional but not finished. Sort of like how some Skyrail stations would open and accept people but still have alot of work to do.
It's entirely possible that the tunnel will open with only some of the stations open - when the city loop first opened, only Melbourne Central (then called Museum) was open. It took another year or two for both Parliament and Flagstaff (in that order) to open. However, I can't see the tunnel opening until at least one of Town Hall or State Library being ready to open. They'd have to have at least *one* station usable in the CBD.
in the fullness of time… I’m reminded of the episode in Yes Minister about a new hospital that had 500 staff and had no patients, but Sir Humphrey said it was efficiently run. So the new stations could have 500 staff but no passenger services for several months.
17:00 At LAST the MET livery has been updated into a simpler set of shapes ( not quite enough though!). @ 5:47 who ever thought this was a good look for the buses?...with livery, ads, route numbers & lights all jockeying for the limelight...usually covered in diesel soot. Two steps forward, one step back.
Some transparency to the traveller's on the Cranbourne, E. Pakenham and Sunbury line what the Metro Rail Tunnel is going to mean to their daily travel, I have spoken to hundreds of people on the Cranbourne and E Pakenham line that regularly travel on that line and have not been informed that their train travel is going to change when the Tunnel is opened, the Metro Rail Tunnel should just call it the Inner Circle Line 2.0, and look what happened with the first one.
Thanks for your comment, but I have to say that I disagree with you Sandra. There are plenty of posters at stations throughout the network which are informing people of the changes the Metro Tunnel is bringing about. I also don't see how the Metro Tunnel is anything like the Inner Circle Line. The Inner Circle Line was fine while it lasted, until it got made redundant by the more direct line into the city. The Metro Tunnel is a direct line into the city. I just can't see the comparison
Lol started the video "at the South Yarra site"...where there should have been the initial station on the whole new line in the FIrst place! Instead we see the trains diving below one of the busiest locations (and public transport bottlenecks) in the central city area. What a complete FARCE. It was Dan Andrews who *totally* screwed up the decision not to put the first station at Sth Yarra! So the State gov needs to hurry up and FIX this debacle. Just MO!
@@dylanshadowstar9779 There have been plans drawn for a new Sth Yarra station for a considerable time. Supported by the State opposition. This was the number one use case and design flaw of the entire project from day 1 so the State Gov transport authority has known about it for a decade. My personal opinion is to build over the top of the current area (where the trains 1st dive and tunnel down) - a bit like Federation square. Joining Toorak Rd at the old station - right across up until the Jam Factory area/Chapel St. And drop down to the trains below from the new station above at current ground level. Connecting the new with the old stations at the newly created "ground level" with interconnector flat escalator walkways like they have in modern airports. You could fund the project by selling off the new real estate footprint created for hi end retail, even apartments above. As this is one of the most prime locations in Melb. This concept also has the advantage of getting rid of the current "wasted space ugly gully" of tracks you see from the vantage point of the tunnels first taken in this video. The new station could be just about right where you see that first train in the video. Before it dives into the tunnel. Just needs some vision. Cheers.
There were plans in the very early stages to actually HAVE an interconnect at South Yarra but then the costs became to much. There were talks to be able to do that at a future date and make it a massive interconnect precinct, but I don't see that happening at least in the foreseeable future. People on the Dandy line are encouraged to now change at Caulfield for city loop services once the tunnel opens. That's what had been previously communicated. @wapphigh5250 in regards to Dan, he has set the development of railway infrastructure & growth backwards & made it extremely UNeconomical to upgrade between Caulfield and Pakenham when he had the opportunity to triplicate the line at various locations to allow for express services, VLine and the goods train without being delayed or stuck behind the Metro Trains. High Capacity Signalling can only take you so far. The other lost opportunity was on the Frankston line, to have it triplicated as was the original vision back in the 1980's up to Mordialloc but they ran out of funds at Moorabbin Station but the land existed and the bridge over Nepean Hwy at Mordialloc already had the butts for the 3rd rail that are visible. This would have assisted with express trains and the goods train that run on the Frankston line and the duplication with electrification to Baxter. So yeah, he has screwed up massively and actually did a disservice to the future generations of Victorians.
From memory, they did a cost benefit analysis for putting in a station at South Yarra on the Metro Tunnel, but it would have returned something really small like $0.20 for every $1 invested. However, part of the 'cost' was that of demolishing the Jam Factory (in terms of lost business). The Jam Factory is pretty much being demolished and rebuilt now anyway, and has been pretty dead for years! Therefore, I think the costs were exaggerated in the cost benefit analysis, although even then, the station might now have been justified.
The tunnel opening is gonna add so much time to my daily commute which is already two and a half hours a day; so, I’m crossing my fingers they take as long as possible to open.
@@Chestnuts_theWalrus Dandenong to Southern Cross will require a train change. Train changes in Melbourne are a nightmare compared to any other network I’ve used. I really do not look forward to my daily commute hitting 3 hours when this inevitably adds 15 minutes each way.
@@melbournerailwayvideos yeah, if my train no longer goes directly from my home station to my job’s station, it’s gonna make my already long commute longer.
@TiasVsEverything if you are commuting in the morning, you should be able to change at Caulfield onto a Frankston train in a few minutes. You are right that this will add time, but if both services get increased frequency, there shouldn't be too much time on the platform
Victoria has overfunded roads for years now, and they still are. It's funny how the North East Link and the Westgate Tunnel have not faced anywhere near the same level of criticism as the Metro Tunnel or SRL, despite having very questionable justifications for their construction.
@melbournerailwayvideos I'd agree that there have been some poor road investments. Rail is unquestionably a better choice where appropriate. But. Victoria is bankrupt, and it has a populist government throwing money at state employees. Basically Peronist. It will be the rail costs which bring Victoria to its knees. And I like public transport, just not scoundrels in charge of the purse.
Patience is wearing thin get it open already. Unfortunately unions have destroyed all Big Build operations. Over cost over budget and never on time. Ticketing systems terrible time to get rid of myki and use credit cards. Sydney metro going great guns. Melbourne so far behind
@@MichaelSmith-px1ev good news, the Metro Tunnel is likely ahead of schedule - now due for completion in 2025; its original completion was slated for 2026. No doubt this will make you happy.
A net increase in population needs new infrastructure. As a society we are happy with the new houses or apartments to be funded by debt (paid for by future earnings), the new subdivision roads by debt worked into the land price, and the (small) growth area contribution by debt on the land price. But the State government is chided by for any debt taken on to fund the State-provided infrastructure of roads, railways, schools and hospitals. Each new house requires about $100,000 in new infrastructure but the Growth Area fund is only 10-20% of this, the remainder is either services expected but not provided, or debt taken on by the State. Melbourne's population has doubled since 1974 but only about 10 new rail stations have been added in this time. We need this new infrastructure and unfortunately don't have much choice other than to take on debt to do so. Most of us would like to purchase our first house debt-free, but reality is different, and it's the same at the State level.
So roads and car spaces in the inner city is wasted space, but patches of grass are good use of space? Right. The city is not the countryside. Space is at a premium, turning it into strips of grass helps no one. The ideological hatred of cars by transport enthusiasts is so insufferable. Both have their place. Leicester Street on the other side of University Square used to be two lanes with parking, but they reduced it to one, for no reason whatsoever except to spend rate payers money. You will be pleased to know that they demolished the lawn bowls club on University Square, turned it into a useless patch of grass and concrete and built a multi-story car park under it. So all that really happens is the parking is pushed underground. The cars are still there.
Wrong. Green space in the city is at a premium. With proper public transport, cars in the middle of the city are the undesirable things. This movement is nothing new - look at the closures of Swanston St and the Bourke St mall to cars. Despite screams of protest that it would kill the local businesses, the exact opposite happened. Both of these are now much more vibrant and interesting places to visit - especially considering how seedy parts of Swanston St used to be.
@@rjch0173 There is loads of green space around Parkville already, that is why it is called Parkville. Barry Street which is to be closed already runs along the park that is University Square. Thet don't need more park there. And what is your point about Swanston Street and Bourke Street? They aren't green space last time I looked, they are concrete and asphalt. Swanston Street isn't even really all that closed to traffic, parts of it are open to taxis and delivery vehicles and you can't really just walk on the road carefree.
My point about Bourke St and Swanson St is that by closing two previously major thoroughfares, traffic in the city didn't grid to a halt and kill all the businesses in the area. Yes, Bourke St isn't a green space, but Swanson St is considerably more green than it used to be. My point is that making a city more walkabout makes the city more usable for more people than having cars choke the CBD.
Tbh whenever i see the metro tunnel entrances now in 2025, it just feels different compared to 2023 and 2024. Nice one! Also do you consider doing a video on the SRL project this year as it would be interesting.
Thank you! I am indeed thinking of doing an SRL update at some point, although it's a lot harder to get to all of the construction sites
Love your work! Will be glad to finally say farewell to the Fed square shed soon..
Thank you! Yes, it'll be great to have an unobstructed view again
Think of the London Underground, and how stations all typically look different - (particularly the ones that are *actually underground*) - they are made to look distinctively different so that people with reading difficulties - (ie: can't read the station names on platform signs) - can tell the stations apart. For example: "I need to get off at the red station". It's also why Flagstaff, Museum, and Parliament look so different from each other.
unlike Washington DC, where every station looks like Battlestar Galactica from the late 1970s ;)
That's true if you're talking about telling stations apart when you're on a train about to stop at them. My view is that the stations look sufficiently different to each other on the inside anyway. In terms of from the outside, I think the priority should be identifying the line, rather than identifying the station. If I'm a tourist needing to get to Clayton from Federation Square, I'm probably going to be confused as to where Town Hall station actually is, and why it isn't Flinders St. I don't think that Town Hall's entrance being purple will help me, because it still just looks like a station entrance. However, if Town Hall's entrance was light blue, that would be the same colour as the Pakenham line is showing up as being on whatever app I'm using to navigate, so I would be assured that I'm in the right spot!
It would only work in a small network. I've never been to London, but I don't think you can assign different colours to hundreds of stations.
I was talking to my friend about Anzac Station today. Great timing
Hahaha what a coincidence!
For the progress of the State Library station, it was clear to see through several weeks/months ago and it looked like the escalators had been or were in the process of being installed.
Good to know!
CoM did a bit of a "what uses do people want at University Square" last year. I suggested a bowling club (which is what it was originally - the Carlton Bowls Club ;))
That explains the rectangular shape of it. Great historical insight!
Would be good to see the Domain Rd tram back.
Agreed!
I feel like the colours of the station are meant to reflect the area. Blue for unimelb, red for rmit, green for the gardens
You are correct. I see the merit in doing that, however I think a uniform colour scheme would make for easier wayfinding
Thank you very much for the lovely update and great video in my opinion I reckon it won't be until the end of the year judging by what I've seen in your video it's a long way off getting done at the moment despite train to running through the tunnel it will be interesting once it's all open because I can do my review on the stations
Thanks so much!
Thanks mate for your tunnel video update. I look forward to the opening of the tunnel & be able to travel & take some video footage
Cheers
FYI There is a free talk at State Library of Vic by the artist Danie Mellor about the works installed at Library Station. Wed 12 Feb at 6.30pm. Event is called Landscape and Remembering. Tickets through Eventbrite. See you there ;)
Great to know!
Let’s just appreciate that 2 days after this was uploaded. The Degraves street subway reopens
Absolute classic!
Nice update! At the South Kensington tunnel exit, even though the project is obviously >99% complete, there are still some remnants of construction. There is a vehicle ramp with a flimsy, temporary looking gate that seems to be guarded 24x7 by guys sitting in adjacent cars. And there are still some orange barriers and portaloos next to the ramp. I can't work out if this is all meant to be permanent :-).
Now, since you asked for corrections... in the spirit of petty pedantry I will note that asphalt is pronounced "ASS-falt", not "ASH-falt" as many people say it.
Keep up the good work. Thanks!
I know exactly what you mean. I wanted to film from the fence there, but the seccies wouldn't let me. It must cost heaps of money to have them stationed there!
Can confirm that the Degraves St subway is now open! Campbell Arcade is still being finalised
Your comment led to me making a supplementary video. Thanks!
With the fed square entrance while its probably not going to open until late this year or early next year, the rest of town hall (excluding the osd) will most likely open earlier probably either in june or july,
and fyi provisional acceptence is when most construction is expected to be complete so with a late april handover june-july is when im guessing we'll see the project open
Thanks for the great insight! I did hear someone else somewhere say that the Fed Square entrance might open later than the others, but forgot about it. June/July would be awesome if it eventuates!
June is a bit tight in my opinion
when the City Loop opened in the early eighties, the stations were opened in stages and trains ran past dark platforms. First was Museum (Melb Central), Parliament and Flagstaff was opened (seems) a long time later. I remember the comment that the stationss looked nicer than Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs Railway which were more utilitarian.
I'll check this tunnel out when this tunnel opens (Despite me being on the Mernda line - it'll be a fun ride and will be amazing experience). Hopefully us on the Clifton Hill and the Burnley group passengers will receive a project similar to this and new trains soon
Metro 2 would be that project, but it's on the backburner
@melbournerailwayvideos as expected tbh. It'll be on the backburner for a while yet
There was a PTV update sent out that it was opening in January 2025 too.
The Degraves Street Subway entrance will open for 1st service on Wednesday the 29th of January.
Just saying.
I really hope you're right 🤞
It was sent as an internal memo just a couple of days ago plus a pdf... with drawings 😉 So yes, it's a go ahead.
@@melbournerailwayvideos but you haven't provided a "contact" method. So I can't share more in public.
I think I've got a contact method if you go to the about section of my channel :)
It will be interesting comparing this to sydney metro. As a Sydneysider I look forward to trying it when it opens
I think Sydney Metro is a superior project because it is automated (and the stations look nicer), but I guess we'll have to wait and see
@@melbournerailwayvideos not just that.The Melbourne Metro will be constrained.
9:16 Most commentary I've seen regarding Town Hall accepts that the Fed Square entrance isn't opening with the rest of the station. Seems Metro is fine with holding off on the exit opening until early next year to focus on the main entrances via the Degraves subway and City Square.
I've heard similar commentary to that too. I think it's a sensible way of going about it!
Surrounding sheds and makeshift offices have been dismantled at Fed Square this week. Seems like the shed will begin to be pulled apart in the next few days.
Great work! , takes hours to put such quality content
Does this mean that there are no trams running between flinders station and Anzac for now ?, if yes any idea until when ?
the official disruptions on PTV or even call center blokes have no idea
Thanks, and great question! As far as I'm aware, trams are running along Swanston St between Flinders St and Anzac. As you saw in the video, construction is basically done at Anzac, and I can't see why the construction at Town Hall would affect the trams. That's just my guess though.
@melbournerailwayvideos
Today i checked and trams are running on their scheduled timetable.
Thank you so much for help
So much construction left at 2 of the main stations in the CBD. Are you sure the metro will open in 2025?
I'm not, but the government is hanging their hat on it, and they have a pretty good track record of getting things done on time.
We may see it be a case of functional but not finished.
Sort of like how some Skyrail stations would open and accept people but still have alot of work to do.
It's entirely possible that the tunnel will open with only some of the stations open - when the city loop first opened, only Melbourne Central (then called Museum) was open. It took another year or two for both Parliament and Flagstaff (in that order) to open.
However, I can't see the tunnel opening until at least one of Town Hall or State Library being ready to open. They'd have to have at least *one* station usable in the CBD.
Since when? Everything is way behind time@@melbournerailwayvideos
@@melbournerailwayvideosgo to marricville campsie hurlstone park dulwich hill punchbowl canterbury wiley park and bankstown
Thank you. Metro should learn from you about how to make a meaningful update.
Hahaha. Thanks!
Some good shops would be great.
I think they released some of the names of the vendors that will populate the stations. I can't remember hearing anything special.
@@melbournerailwayvideos Yeah nothing special... "𝘈 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦-𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘢𝘫𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦 𝘔𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘰 𝘛𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘓𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘐𝘎𝘈, 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦’𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘴 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘴, 𝘒𝘍𝘊 𝘢𝘯𝘥 7-𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯, 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥-𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 2025"
I am guessing State Library will be the last station to be finished?
My guess is that it will be Town Hall based on the state of the Fed Square entrance
The escalators at Arden will be nearly as steep as the ones at Parliament Station
Interesting!
I live in Caulfield and work at Unimelb, so I'm very interested to see if the metro will be a quicker commute than the tram/s
I think it will be significantly quicker, but I guess we'll have to see
in the fullness of time…
I’m reminded of the episode in Yes Minister about a new hospital that had 500 staff and had no patients, but Sir Humphrey said it was efficiently run.
So the new stations could have 500 staff but no passenger services for several months.
Hahahaha
17:00 At LAST the MET livery has been updated into a simpler set of shapes ( not quite enough though!).
@ 5:47 who ever thought this was a good look for the buses?...with livery, ads, route numbers & lights all jockeying for the limelight...usually covered in diesel soot.
Two steps forward, one step back.
I work within meters of Southern Cross station, I'm wondering what station will be closest to Southern Cross?
Probably have to change at Town Hall/State Library for City Loop or Flinders St. Viaduct service
Some transparency to the traveller's on the Cranbourne, E. Pakenham and Sunbury line what the Metro Rail Tunnel is going to mean to their daily travel, I have spoken to hundreds of people on the Cranbourne and E Pakenham line that regularly travel on that line and have not been informed that their train travel is going to change when the Tunnel is opened, the Metro Rail Tunnel should just call it the Inner Circle Line 2.0, and look what happened with the first one.
Thanks for your comment, but I have to say that I disagree with you Sandra. There are plenty of posters at stations throughout the network which are informing people of the changes the Metro Tunnel is bringing about.
I also don't see how the Metro Tunnel is anything like the Inner Circle Line. The Inner Circle Line was fine while it lasted, until it got made redundant by the more direct line into the city. The Metro Tunnel is a direct line into the city. I just can't see the comparison
Cost and time overruns, it's gonna open in 2026.
Lol started the video "at the South Yarra site"...where there should have been the initial station on the whole new line in the FIrst place! Instead we see the trains diving below one of the busiest locations (and public transport bottlenecks) in the central city area. What a complete FARCE. It was Dan Andrews who *totally* screwed up the decision not to put the first station at Sth Yarra! So the State gov needs to hurry up and FIX this debacle. Just MO!
How exactly would they fix it
@@dylanshadowstar9779 There have been plans drawn for a new Sth Yarra station for a considerable time. Supported by the State opposition. This was the number one use case and design flaw of the entire project from day 1 so the State Gov transport authority has known about it for a decade. My personal opinion is to build over the top of the current area (where the trains 1st dive and tunnel down) - a bit like Federation square. Joining Toorak Rd at the old station - right across up until the Jam Factory area/Chapel St. And drop down to the trains below from the new station above at current ground level. Connecting the new with the old stations at the newly created "ground level" with interconnector flat escalator walkways like they have in modern airports. You could fund the project by selling off the new real estate footprint created for hi end retail, even apartments above. As this is one of the most prime locations in Melb. This concept also has the advantage of getting rid of the current "wasted space ugly gully" of tracks you see from the vantage point of the tunnels first taken in this video. The new station could be just about right where you see that first train in the video. Before it dives into the tunnel. Just needs some vision. Cheers.
@@wapphigh5250the platforms would not be level here, as the line dives underground?
There were plans in the very early stages to actually HAVE an interconnect at South Yarra but then the costs became to much.
There were talks to be able to do that at a future date and make it a massive interconnect precinct, but I don't see that happening at least in the foreseeable future.
People on the Dandy line are encouraged to now change at Caulfield for city loop services once the tunnel opens.
That's what had been previously communicated.
@wapphigh5250 in regards to Dan, he has set the development of railway infrastructure & growth backwards & made it extremely UNeconomical to upgrade between Caulfield and Pakenham when he had the opportunity to triplicate the line at various locations to allow for express services, VLine and the goods train without being delayed or stuck behind the Metro Trains. High Capacity Signalling can only take you so far.
The other lost opportunity was on the Frankston line, to have it triplicated as was the original vision back in the 1980's up to Mordialloc but they ran out of funds at Moorabbin Station but the land existed and the bridge over Nepean Hwy at Mordialloc already had the butts for the 3rd rail that are visible. This would have assisted with express trains and the goods train that run on the Frankston line and the duplication with electrification to Baxter.
So yeah, he has screwed up massively and actually did a disservice to the future generations of Victorians.
From memory, they did a cost benefit analysis for putting in a station at South Yarra on the Metro Tunnel, but it would have returned something really small like $0.20 for every $1 invested. However, part of the 'cost' was that of demolishing the Jam Factory (in terms of lost business). The Jam Factory is pretty much being demolished and rebuilt now anyway, and has been pretty dead for years! Therefore, I think the costs were exaggerated in the cost benefit analysis, although even then, the station might now have been justified.
The tunnel opening is gonna add so much time to my daily commute which is already two and a half hours a day; so, I’m crossing my fingers they take as long as possible to open.
How?
Really? That's surprising
@@Chestnuts_theWalrus Dandenong to Southern Cross will require a train change. Train changes in Melbourne are a nightmare compared to any other network I’ve used. I really do not look forward to my daily commute hitting 3 hours when this inevitably adds 15 minutes each way.
@@melbournerailwayvideos yeah, if my train no longer goes directly from my home station to my job’s station, it’s gonna make my already long commute longer.
@TiasVsEverything if you are commuting in the morning, you should be able to change at Caulfield onto a Frankston train in a few minutes. You are right that this will add time, but if both services get increased frequency, there shouldn't be too much time on the platform
Honestly, I feel like the opening date should be 2026 and not 2025.
Why? It should be open as soon as it's practical to do so..
Melbourne will have great trains, shit roads and a crap hospital system. People will die. It's called a cost benefit calculation.
Victoria has overfunded roads for years now, and they still are. It's funny how the North East Link and the Westgate Tunnel have not faced anywhere near the same level of criticism as the Metro Tunnel or SRL, despite having very questionable justifications for their construction.
@melbournerailwayvideos I'd agree that there have been some poor road investments. Rail is unquestionably a better choice where appropriate. But. Victoria is bankrupt, and it has a populist government throwing money at state employees. Basically Peronist. It will be the rail costs which bring Victoria to its knees. And I like public transport, just not scoundrels in charge of the purse.
Patience is wearing thin get it open already. Unfortunately unions have destroyed all Big Build operations. Over cost over budget and never on time. Ticketing systems terrible time to get rid of myki and use credit cards. Sydney metro going great guns. Melbourne so far behind
Can you explain how unions have destroyed Big Build projects?
@@MichaelSmith-px1ev good news, the Metro Tunnel is likely ahead of schedule - now due for completion in 2025; its original completion was slated for 2026. No doubt this will make you happy.
And on budget...
I think the Sydney Metro started construction earlier than the Metro Tunnel. Sydney also has more favourable tunnelling conditions.
@@melbournerailwayvideos Yes and yes but the Sydney Metro build is twice the distance of Melbourne's.
Not enough indigenous art in Melbourne, you’ve got to be joking?! It’s everywhere, unfortunately!
Cooker
It’s everywhere??? Never let the facts get in the way … 😂😂😂
Victoria's Big Build - goes hand in glove with Victoria's big debt.
A net increase in population needs new infrastructure. As a society we are happy with the new houses or apartments to be funded by debt (paid for by future earnings), the new subdivision roads by debt worked into the land price, and the (small) growth area contribution by debt on the land price. But the State government is chided by for any debt taken on to fund the State-provided infrastructure of roads, railways, schools and hospitals. Each new house requires about $100,000 in new infrastructure but the Growth Area fund is only 10-20% of this, the remainder is either services expected but not provided, or debt taken on by the State. Melbourne's population has doubled since 1974 but only about 10 new rail stations have been added in this time. We need this new infrastructure and unfortunately don't have much choice other than to take on debt to do so. Most of us would like to purchase our first house debt-free, but reality is different, and it's the same at the State level.
Great balanced take Malcolm!
Whinge whinge whinge
Who cares? I'll never be using it!
Mewo
So roads and car spaces in the inner city is wasted space, but patches of grass are good use of space? Right. The city is not the countryside. Space is at a premium, turning it into strips of grass helps no one. The ideological hatred of cars by transport enthusiasts is so insufferable. Both have their place.
Leicester Street on the other side of University Square used to be two lanes with parking, but they reduced it to one, for no reason whatsoever except to spend rate payers money. You will be pleased to know that they demolished the lawn bowls club on University Square, turned it into a useless patch of grass and concrete and built a multi-story car park under it.
So all that really happens is the parking is pushed underground. The cars are still there.
wahhhhh nice green public space for people to enjoy, i want more asphalt to run cars on!!!
Wrong. Green space in the city is at a premium. With proper public transport, cars in the middle of the city are the undesirable things.
This movement is nothing new - look at the closures of Swanston St and the Bourke St mall to cars. Despite screams of protest that it would kill the local businesses, the exact opposite happened. Both of these are now much more vibrant and interesting places to visit - especially considering how seedy parts of Swanston St used to be.
@@babyboomertwerkteam No one is enjoying a little strip of grass next to the already existing big park. Use your brain.
@@rjch0173 There is loads of green space around Parkville already, that is why it is called Parkville. Barry Street which is to be closed already runs along the park that is University Square. Thet don't need more park there.
And what is your point about Swanston Street and Bourke Street? They aren't green space last time I looked, they are concrete and asphalt. Swanston Street isn't even really all that closed to traffic, parts of it are open to taxis and delivery vehicles and you can't really just walk on the road carefree.
My point about Bourke St and Swanson St is that by closing two previously major thoroughfares, traffic in the city didn't grid to a halt and kill all the businesses in the area. Yes, Bourke St isn't a green space, but Swanson St is considerably more green than it used to be.
My point is that making a city more walkabout makes the city more usable for more people than having cars choke the CBD.
When is it going to open that’s the question ??
pakenham/Cranbourne line will forever be a basket case because of v line trains - no politician will upgrapde this 19th century infrastructure
boycott Metro and this channel for using air horns as if we enjoy been insomniacs
The train line was around long before you were born
Let 'em know mate