Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan toured the under-construction Town Hall Station, taking a first-hand look at Melbourne’s newest underground transport hub. Located beneath Swanston Street’s City Square, the station is part of the Metro Tunnel project and is set to reshape the way commuters navigate the city when it opens in 2025.
The Metro Tunnel extends across 9 kilometres, linking South Kensington to South Yarra and connecting the Sunbury line with the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines. Five underground stations—Arden, Parkville, State Library, Town Hall, and Anzac—are central to the development, which aims to ease congestion in the City Loop and improve travel times.
Town Hall Station sits between Flinders and Collins Streets, with entrances at City Square, Federation Square, and a newly developed Town Hall Place near Young & Jackson. The station’s design features grand arches reaching 10 metres above some of the world’s widest underground platforms, stretching 19 metres across. The concourse will house shops, cafés, and spaces for the public, turning it into more than just a transit point.
The station will also introduce a major public artwork by Mexican-Canadian artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, blending Melbourne’s focus on transport efficiency with its thriving arts culture. The surrounding area is set for a refresh, with native trees and greenery to create a more welcoming space above ground.
Like most large-scale projects, the Metro Tunnel has not been without its challenges. Originally budgeted at $11 billion, the cost has increased to around $15 billion, with the timeline pushed to 2025. Delays have been attributed to workforce shortages, supply chain disruptions, and the lingering impact of the pandemic.
Despite the setbacks, the Metro Tunnel is expected to transform Melbourne’s public transport system, allowing an extra 500,000 passengers to move across the network during peak hours each week. The improved east-to-west connections will bring better access to key locations across the city.
Premier Allan’s visit highlighted the progress being made on a development that will soon be a key part of Melbourne’s daily transport network. With new links, public spaces, and artistic touches, Town Hall Station is shaping up to be more than just a place to catch a train.
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