Consortium selected to build the Melbourne Metro Tunnel

The Cross Yarra Partnership has been selected to build the Metro Tunnel and five new underground stations in Melbourne, Australia.

The consortium is led by Lendlease Engineering, John Holland, Bouygues Construction and Capella Capital.

The decision follows an extensive competitive tender process with the world’s most experienced construction and tunnelling contractors.

The Tunnels and Stations package will create more than 5,000 jobs, including apprentices, trainees and engineering cadets.

The project will build five new underground stations, each with its own identity. They will include wider platforms, more natural light and sweeping arches, bringing world-class urban design to the heart of Melbourne and its train network.

There will be revitalised open space above ground at all five stations, and additional entrances to reduce crowding on major streets in the CBD, including two entrances at City Square, and at Swanston Street, Flinders Street, Federation Square, Franklin Street and La Trobe Street.

In Parkville, a new entrance will be built on the doorstep of the Royal Melbourne Hospital, giving thousands of people from Melbourne and regional Victoria better access to the Hospital.

Walkways at Flinders Street and Melbourne Central stations will be put underground, allowing passengers to change easily between the Metro Tunnel stations and the City Loop, creating a true, international-style metro network.

Domain station will feature a floating timber canopy and sit below the new tram interchange on St Kilda Road, relieving the pressure on the world’s busiest tram corridor.

Early works are well underway, with major construction on the tunnel and stations expected to start in 2018.