Aurecon, Jacobs and Mott MacDonald joint venture celebrates the opening of Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel

The Metro Tunnel, Victoria’s largest public transport investment in decades, opened on 30 November. The new rail line connects the Sunbury line in the west to the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines in the southeast, easing congestion and improving access across Melbourne. It is expected to create capacity for 500,000 additional passengers each week and provide better access to hospitals, universities and employment hubs.

The AJM joint venture parties — comprising Aurecon, Jacobs and Mott MacDonald — have been key partners to the state, providing technical advisory services to the project for more than a decade, from initial planning and investigation phases to support the business case in 2010, to leading technical, land planning, environmental and communications services from 2014 throughout the entire delivery of the Metro Tunnel Project.

Key contributions from the AJM JV include the development of the reference design, site investigations and environmental assessments, planning approvals and stakeholder engagement, procurement and delivery advice and operational readiness support. The project is a true testament to long-term collaboration and technical excellence. We’re proud to have helped deliver infrastructure that will benefit generations of Victorians.

Frances Badelow, managing director for Mott MacDonald in Australia, said, “From the outset, the AJM joint venture operated as one unified team to deliver something truly transformative for the city. Seeing the tunnel come to life is a proud moment. It’s a testament to what can be achieved when we come together with a shared purpose.”

The city-shaping project includes twin nine-kilometre tunnels under the central business district and five new underground stations: Arden, Parkville, State Library, Town Hall and Anzac. Passenger services through the Metro Tunnel began on 30 November 2025, with full integration of the new timetable and services starting in February 2026 where the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines will run exclusively through the Metro Tunnel, bypassing the City Loop.