Visitors flock to Metro Tunnel HQ

Whether you’ve wandered the CBD after a visit to Melbourne Central or popped into Melbourne Town Hall, chances are you’ve passed by Metro Tunnel HQ on Swanston St.

Having just celebrated its 400,000th visitor, the award-winning visitor centre remains a hive of activity for anyone wanting to learn more about The Metro Tunnel Project ahead of its opening in 2025.

HQ, opposite Melbourne Town Hall, offers a range of interactive learning experiences including a panoramic theatrette, kids’ activities (spot of Minecraft, anyone?) and friendly staff with buckets of knowledge to share about the city-shaping project.

You can even take a virtual reality tour of one or all of the five new world-class train stations that will be opening next year.

Senior centre coordinator Hedley Imbert said as the transformation of Melbourne’s rail network gets closer, now is great time to visit HQ.

“We are thrilled to have welcomed our 400,000th visitor and look forward to welcoming many more in the lead-up to Metro Tunnel opening in 2025,” Mr Imbert said.

Since 2018 HQ has hosted online and in-person education programs catering to primary and secondary students. Community group sessions are also held in person at the centre.

Mr Imbert said the centre inspired even the youngest rail enthusiasts.

“My staff love all the questions that children throw at us. We are inspiring a new generation of budding engineers and train drivers,” he said.

The centre is located between the Metro Tunnel’s two CBD stations, Town Hall and State Library.

Both stations are more than 25 metres below street level and feature impressive cathedral-like arched ceilings, generous concourses and Victorian-first platform screen doors.

Town Hall and State Library stations will both have underground pedestrian walkways, providing passengers with a direct link to Flinders Street and Melbourne Central stations without having to pass through ticket gates. 

The Metro Tunnel will connect the busy Sunbury and Cranbourne/Pakenham lines via twin tunnels under the city, creating an end-to-end rail line from the north-west to the south-east and better connecting all Victorians to jobs, health, and education.

It is the biggest upgrade to Victoria’s train network since the City Loop opened in 1981. •