Editing City Loop (section)

===Metro Tunnel===
{{Main|Metro Tunnel}}
[[File:Melbourne Metro Rail Tunnel route map blue.svg|thumb|A map of the under-construction [[Metro Tunnel]], showing two CBD interchange stations with the City Loop.]]
Construction began in 2017 on the Metro Tunnel, a new heavy rail tunnel through the [[Melbourne central business district]] designed to relieve congestion on the City Loop tunnels. The {{Cvt|9|km}} dual tunnels are set to open by 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Station Construction Underway On The Metro Tunnel {{!}} Premier of Victoria |url=http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/station-construction-underway-metro-tunnel |access-date=18 January 2023 |website=www.premier.vic.gov.au |language=en}}</ref> The north-south tunnels were first recommended by the [[Eddington Transport Report, Victoria|Eddington Transport Report]] in 2008 as a way to increase the central city's rail capacity.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mees |first=Paul |date=2010 |title=Planning for major rail projects: The Melbourne Metro and Regional Rail Link |url=https://australasiantransportresearchforum.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2010_Mees.pdf |journal=Australasian Transport Research Forum 2010 Proceedings |volume=29 September – 1 October 2010, Canberra, Australia}}</ref> The tunnel involves the construction of five new underground stations at [[Arden railway station, Melbourne|Arden]], [[Parkville railway station|Parkville]], [[State Library railway station|State Library]], [[Town Hall railway station, Melbourne|Town Hall]] and [[Anzac railway station|Anzac]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Build |first=Victoria's Big |date=24 October 2022 |title=Benefits for your train line |url=https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/metro-tunnel/about/overview/benefits-for-your-train-line |access-date=28 January 2023 |website=Victoria's Big Build: Metro Tunnel |language=en}}</ref> There will be direct underground pedestrian interchanges with City Loop and other metropolitan services at State Library with Melbourne Central station, and at Town Hall with Flinders Street station.<ref name=":7" />

This Metro Tunnel will create a new cross-city rail corridor, upgrading and connecting the [[Pakenham railway line|Pakenham]] and [[Cranbourne railway line|Cranbourne]] lines in Melbourne's south-east to the [[Sunbury railway line|Sunbury line]] in Melbourne's north-west.<ref name=":7" /> Once complete the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines will be taken out of the City Loop, allowing for an increase in services on the [[Craigieburn railway line|Craigieburn]] and [[Upfield railway line|Upfield]] lines.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Cowburn |first=Brodie |date=7 December 2020 |title=Rail passengers kept out of the loop |url=https://baysidenews.com.au/2020/12/07/rail-passengers-kept-out-of-the-loop/ |access-date=18 January 2023 |website=Bayside News |language=en-AU}}</ref> The [[Frankston railway line|Frankston line]] will be returned to the City Loop and have dedicated use in the Caulfield tunnel, while [[Sandringham railway line|Sandringham line]] trains will run through to [[Williamstown railway line|Williamstown]] and [[Werribee railway line|Werribee]] via the [[Flinders Street Viaduct]].<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":7" />