It feels like the Metro Tunnel project has been going on for approximately one billion years. Can anyone clearly remember what Fed Square or Swanston Street looked like before the seemingly never-ending construction started? Also, are most people even cognizant of what the purpose of the Metro Tunnel is? At this stage, we're honestly unsure.
However, it seems like some big moves are finally being made. The first underground station of the tunnel network is officially finished after nearly six years of construction – and it looks pretty speccy.
Arden Station is one of the five new metro terminals (along with Parkville, State Library, Town Hall and Anzac), and its construction was prioritised as it's essentially the guinea pig for all the others and will be used to test that the systems run smoothly. It's located in North Melbourne, about a ten-ish minute walk to both North Melbourne Station and Macaulay Station.
You may be thinking, is that not a somewhat silly location, considering that there are other train stations nearby? Well, don't worry – we thought the same thing. But that is the whole schtick of the metro tunnel: most of its stations are located near other major transport or business hotspots, to take pressure off our existing transit systems and to help people get around faster. We'll also be able to use the Metro Tunnel to transfer onto whichever train or tram we need quicker, rather than having to do the whole city loop business.
The four other stations will be situated in Parkville, South Melbourne and the CBD (one at the State Library Victoria and another at the Melbourne Town Hall). Parkville Station is the next to be completed, and it will help better connect the University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne Hospital precinct. The other three stations will take pressure off the CBD tram network, better connecting popular attractions and landmarks.
The tunnel will finish at South Kensington Station on one side and South Yarra Station on the other, so if you use the Sunbury, Pakenham and Cranbourne lines, yay for you, because your trains will now get to speedily bypass the City Loop.
Apparently, the Metro Tunnel is all going to be up and running next year, a year ahead of schedule. We'll believe it when we see it – but regardless, it's pretty exciting stuff.