Portfolio • Transportation • Australia and New Zealand • Greenfield • PPP

Melbourne Metro Tunnel, Australia

The Metro Tunnel is one of the largest transport infrastructure projects undertaken in Australia, taking three of Melbourne’s busiest train lines through two 9km tunnels under the city with five new stations connecting Melbourne’s growing population. John Laing is a 30 per cent shareholder in the Cross Yarra Partnership (‘CYP’), an availability public-private partnership established to deliver the tunnels and stations package of works that forms part of the wider Metro Tunnel project. As the greenfield investor alongside our partners, John Laing has delivered and will now play a critical role in operations of the stations and ensuring a transformative mode of transport that will sit at the heart of sustainable growth for Melbourne. Initial train operations commenced 30 November, 2025, with a limited timetable, and full service began on 1 February, 2026.

Key statistics

30% John Laing ownership interest

c.25yr project

2 9km tunnels

5 stations

The project was launched in response to unprecedented growth in public transport usage in the city over the preceding decade, putting the existing public transport system under significant pressure and requiring urgent investment.

Delivering the project is essential to avoid chronic over-crowding and meet the demand generated by the city’s growing population and changing economy.

MelbourneMetro2

Improving connections across Melbourne

The Metro Tunnel Project will untangle the City Loop by taking three of Melbourne’s busiest train lines through a new tunnel under the city. It will create a new end-to-end train line from Sunbury to Cranbourne/Pakenham, with twin nine-kilometre tunnels and five new underground stations at North Melbourne (formerly known as Arden), Parkville, Anzac, and two new CBD stations - State Library and Town Hall - which will directly connect to the City Loop via underground pedestrian walkways.