On 30th March 2023, the government for the Australian state of Victoria announced that track-laying works had been completed for the new cross-city tunnel on Melbourne’s suburban rail network. This will enable test runs in the 9 km twin-bore tunnel to start in the second half of 2023 (H2/2023). The line is now expected to open for revenue services in December 2025. In order to provide time for the start of operations and testing of the cross-city link, the government has decided to extend the contract for Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM) to operate the suburban rail network for a further 18 months from December 2024 by exercising an option in the MR4 franchise agreement worth €3.9 billion (AU$6.3 billion) that began in 2017 and provided for a seven-year term with an optional extension of up to three years.
