Cranbourne Station will see almost 100 additional weekly train services arriving and departing once the Metro Tunnel opens on 1 February.
As the Cranbourne line stretches from the outer suburbs to the city, the number of additional services varies by station.
Cranbourne Station gains almost 100 extra weekly services, while inner stations such as Caulfield Station receive about 250.
Some services also start or finish at middle suburban stations like Westall Station and Dandenong Station.
A Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said from first service to last service, passengers on the outer sections of the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines, beyond Dandenong, will wait no more than 20 minutes for a train, with peak services every 8 minutes, on average.
“Between the CBD and Dandenong, passengers will experience services every 10 minutes or better, first train to last, with average peak frequencies of one train every 4 minutes,” they said.
“All Cranbourne and Pakenham services will stop again at Malvern Station, providing the choice of catching Metro Tunnel or City Loop trains.
“As is standard across the network, Night Network services will continue to operate once an hour early on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
“With the exception of Night Network operations, the Big Switch (Metro Tunnel full opening) will also see the phase out of Cranbourne – Dandenong shuttle services, unlocking more convenient one-seat journeys for Cranbourne Line passengers beyond Dandenong.”
Spokesperson for the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) Daniel Bowen said the Metro tunnel does bring benefits to passengers, though the biggest difference for Cranbourne/Pakenham line users will be a few extra trains in peak hours, and a more frequent service after dark, particularly on weekends.
“Every extra train helps, in reducing crowding and cutting waiting times,” he said.
An analysis of the new timetable by Star News shows that on weekdays, 78 trains will arrive at Cranbourne Station, up from 71, while 79 services will depart, an increase from 72, adding seven additional arrivals and departures each weekday.
During the morning peak (7am–9am), services travelling towards the city will rise to 12 trains, two more than previously, with more consistent 10-minute intervals, replacing the previous gaps of 8 to 15 minutes.
In the afternoon peak (4pm–6.30pm), 11 services will run from the city to Cranbourne, one more than before, with 10–20 minute intervals.
Weekend services will increase significantly, especially on Saturday.
For Saturday services, Cranbourne Station will receive about 18 additional train services in total, eight extra arrivals and 10 extra departures compared to the former timetable.
Services run every 20 minutes from 8am until 1am Sunday.
Two services operate at 1am, followed by hourly services from 2am to 5am. There are two services at 6am and one at 7am.
The changes deliver more late-night Saturday trains and earlier Sunday morning services than previously available.
On Sundays, arrivals increase from 50 to 54 services, and departures from 50 to 55 services, also with a stable 20-minute frequency.
The west train line will also get more frequent services as the Metro Tunnel opens, with over 1000 new weekly services for the Sunbury line.
Mr Bowen said PTUA would hope to see further improvements in the coming months and years for the commuters in the outer suburbs.
“There is a case for more trains across the day, providing a higher frequency service along the lines, further cutting the 20-minute waits at stations beyond Dandenong,” he said.
“The tunnel has added a lot of capacity to the rail system – it makes sense to use it more extensively, and as the southeast continues to develop, more trains more often – and more connecting buses – will help people get around more easily.”
According to a State Government media release, since the Metro Tunnel partially opened on 30 November to 11 January, passengers have taken 13 million free trips across trains, buses and trams as Victorians make the most of the free weekend travel up to and including 1 February.
On average, more than two million trips have been taken each free travel weekend, boosting patronage by more than 23 per cent compared with the same time last year and saving $17 million in fares so far.
As part of the Metro Tunnel’s Summer Start, more than 240 extra services are running along the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury corridor every week, stopping at all five new stations, on top of existing services.
To check the new timetable (from 1 February 2026) for Cranbourne/East Pakenham lines, visit: transport.vic.gov.au/news-and-resources/projects/metro-tunnel/more-ways-to-move/cranbourne-pakenham
