A consortium comprising of John Holland, CPB Contractors and AECOM, has just been selected to build the twin tunnel entrances for Victoria’s Metro Tunnel Project. The project forms a part of the Victorian Government’s $1 billion Rail Infrastructure Alliance (RIA) works package.
The stations, which will be named North Melbourne, Parkville, State Library, Town Hall and Anzac, will be designed around the local character of each area, according to John Holland.
Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan was at the future site of Parkville Station yesterday when the announcement was made. It was also announced that over 1,000 people will be employed during the construction of Parkville Station, a station which will connect the health precinct and the University of Melbourne to the metropolitan rail network for the first time.
The project aims to slash waiting times and overcrowding across Melbourne’s train network by giving three of Melbourne’s busiest lines a new underground pathway through the city, further freeing up space for the benefit for other trains. New high-capacity signalling will also allow trains to pass through the new entrances every two to three minutes in each direction – a vital part of the Metro Tunnel, which will deliver major benefits for suburban passengers.
According to the Minister for Public Transport, this additional capacity will create room for an additional 504,000 peak passengers each week across the network.
“The Metro Tunnel will deliver more trains, more often to the outer suburbs and slash travel times to some of Melbourne’s key health, education, jobs and tourism hubs,” announced Allan.
Some of the station design features include:
- The North Melbourne Station will have a brick arched entrance to reflect the area’s industrial history and skylights to bathe the platforms and concourse in natural light.
- Parkville Station will have a glass feature roof at the Grattan Street entrance that will give visitors a tree-scape view and illuminate the station concourse with natural light.
- Anzac Station will have an architecturally designed canopy and a pedestrian underpass beneath St Kilda Road. Albert Road Reserve will be expanded to include new public space.
- Town Hall Station will connect to redesigned laneways, and include new cafes and retail. Below Swanston Street, passengers will enjoy wide and spacious platforms framed by sweeping arches.
- State Library Station will include an ‘over station’ development.
The Metro Tunnel Project is set for completion around 2025.