Metro Tunnel opens for its first Monday morning peak: How commuters fared
There were early winners and losers as commuters navigated the first morning peak in the Metro Tunnel schedule, adapting to new commuting patterns on the go.
A traveler heading to Parkville from his home in Caulfield said: Age His more direct trip through the tunnel on Monday would cut his commute by 15 minutes.
Others were less fortunate. A frustrated traveler heading to Collingwood from his home in Cranbourne now faces a three-train journey adding an estimated 25 minutes to his morning journey.
There was plenty of human congestion and confusion at Caulfield station on Monday morning as passengers moved between platforms, but a strong contingent of station staff provided guidance to passengers.
The crush on the platform doors caused some frustrated passengers to miss their trains, but the time penalty was modest as trains into the city departed with a metronome frequency of every three to four minutes.
This week’s launch of a full-time schedule in the Metro Tunnel has changed travel patterns that have been brewing for decades. Passengers on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines no longer travel via the City Loop or to the busy inner-city stations of Richmond, North Melbourne and South Yarra.
Announced in 2016 at a cost of $10.9 billion, the construction of the Metro Tunnel and five metro stations ultimately cost more than $15 billion, and the project represents the largest upgrade to Melbourne’s public transport system since the Loop opened in 1981.
The Metro Tunnel opened to passengers in November, with some trains passing through the new tunnels but on a shorter schedule.
Trains on three lines will now pass through twin nine-kilometer tunnels instead of the Loop and will have to change to reach Southern Cross, Parliament and Flagstaff Loop stations.
Among those adapting to the change was Andreas Groell, who got off the train at Caulfield and tried to find his way to South Yarra.
“I have to change trains. I didn’t actually realize it, but I realized I had to go out and move to the other platform,” he said.
Groell estimated the transfer would add five minutes to his morning commute but said he wasn’t impressed.
“I was actually under the impression that I wasn’t affected by it. That’s a good thing,” he said.
But confused traveler Manoj Mathew had just discovered that he would pay a much heavier time penalty.
At Malvern station, the last stop east where passengers can change trains, he hopped off a Metro Tunnel-connected train, picked up a phone with a travel app open, and called a customer service agent who could direct him.
He was looking for a Frankston line train that would take him to Parliament station, where he would then take another train to Collingwood station.
“It increases my time by 25 minutes. It’s stressful,” Mathew said.
Medical student Sara Pisacane was on the other side. He was heading to the University of Melbourne for his first day of classes and estimated the more direct journey would save him 15 minutes.
“Instead of getting off the train, waiting for the tram, getting on the tram, this is one train directly to the university, so it actually makes a good difference,” Pisacane said.
Speaking ahead of the new timetable’s rocky launch this week, Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen said Monday would be the tunnel’s “first really big test”.
“I get the feeling there are some people who are aware of the change and who might be a little bit surprised that they didn’t go to Parliament station or wherever on Monday morning.” Bowen said.
He said most of those preparing for the timetable change would now transfer at Caulfield, Malvern or Footscray stations, but others who were less prepared could be caught out.
“Obviously, some people are already targeting Melbourne Central or Flinders Street and so they’re hoping they’ll be pretty close to where they want to be. But if they’re usually going to Southern Cross, Flagstaff or Parliament, then it’s a bit more difficult.”
At the New City Hall station, scores of passengers entering the Metro Tunnel for the first time were asking for directions from Metro employees wearing high-visibility vests.
City employee Diem Chau had boarded a new train from Noble Park and entered the tunnel for the first time. He said he didn’t expect to find himself at the new subway station and felt he had to choose between taking the Metro Tunnel train or service via the City Loop.
“I thought there might be two alternatives, and when I got on, I wondered if I should get off and wait for the other train. But actually there is no alternative train,” Chau said.
“I thought it would save more time but it actually came quicker than my normal train which would go through Richmond, Parliament and then Central Melbourne.”
Even the staff on the project seem to be adapting to the new order. When Age When we asked for directions to the State Library station’s concourse, a customer service officer initially directed us towards Melbourne Central.
Adam Carey is senior urban reporter (suburban). He has held previous roles including education editor, state political correspondent and transportation reporter. He joined The Age in 2007.Connect with: X or email.
