Melbourne's long-awaited Metro Tunnel will open to commuters in less than 12 months, a builder of the mega-project says.
John Holland chief executive Joe Barr has let slip the $12.6 billion tunnel will begin operating next September.
"It certainly is on track," Mr Barr told the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Herald Sun's Future Victoria lunch on Tuesday.
"The trains have been tested at full speed and we're certainly looking forward to day one of operations in September next year."
John Holland is among the consortium building the project, with construction on the twin 9km train tunnels and five underground stations beginning in 2018. The state budget in May confirmed the tunnel connecting South Kensington to South Yarra would open in 2025, a year ahead of schedule. Precincts Minister Colin Brooks told the crowd the tunnel would transform how Melburnians move around the city and reshape the precincts of Arden, Sunshine, Footscray, Parkville and Richmond.
"It will deliver Melbourne's first ever turn up and go network - allowing more trains to run more often, similar to cities like London, Singapore and New York," he said.
Melbourne's population is forecast to reach nine million by the 2050s, roughly the same size of London in 2023.
More residents will be forced to live further away from the jobs they want if the Victorian city doesn't reshape itself, Mr Brooks said.
"The most successful cities all have one thing in common: they all invest in transport infrastructure that encourages multiple employment and economic districts," he said.
The bill to Victorian taxpayers for the tunnel has blown out from the initial $11 billion cost, after the state government and consortium each agreed to pay $1.37 billion more in 2020 - an even split of an extra $2.74 billion in costs.
Another $281 million in COVID-related payments was tacked on in May, taking the total taxpayer cost to $12.6 billion.
A Victorian government spokesman said crews were working around the clock to finish the project as soon as possible but reaffirmed the planned opening date of 2025.
"We're entering a complex phase of testing inside the tunnels and it's critical we take the time to get it right to ensure the Metro Tunnel is safe and reliable before we start passenger services," he said in a statement.
When announcing his retirement as premier last month, Daniel Andrews pronounced riding a test train through the tunnel at top speed as one of the best experiences of his almost nine years in the top job.
