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Australia's second largest city has some 5.3 million inhabitants. The rapid rail system serving the Melbourne is actually not a metro or subway service in the classical sense but a frequent suburban train service which runs in a 4-track underground loop in the centre of Melbourne. Depending on the time of the day trains run around the city loop clockwise or anti-clockwise. Sandringham trains leave from Flinders Street station without running around the loop.

Stations on the suburban network are closely spaced, some 500-1000 m apart, but there are numerous level crossings on most routes outside the central area.

Since 2009, the Melbourne metropolitan rail system (1600 mm gauge) has been operated by Hong Kong's MTR, now branded as "Metro".

Apart from the metropolitan trains, Melbourne has the largest tram network in the world with approx. 250 km of double-track routes (Yarra Trams). View complete map featuring tram and train lines.

1984 - City Loop completed with 3 underground stations: Parliament, Melbourne Central, Flagstaff

22-04-2012: Epping - South Morang (3.4 km); + Lynbrook & Cardinia Road stations added
18-11-2012: Sydenham Watergarden - Sunbury (8.2 km)
28-04-2013: Williams Landing station added
26-08-2018: South Morang - Mernda (8 km)
22-05-2023: Union station (replacing Mont Albert & Surrey Hills stations)
03-06-2024: Pakenham (new elevated station) - Pakenham East (1.9 km)

For current projects see links below!

Public Transport Victoria

Metro Trains Melbourne

YarraTrams - the world's largest tram network

Victoria Department of Transport (Projects)

Metro Tunnel (Project Website)

Suburban Rail Loop (future semi-circular metro line)

Airport Rail Link (Project Website)

Melbourne Trains at Wikipedia

Extensive map including tram lines

Melbourne Tram System at Railpage.au

Vicsig.net - Railways in Victoria (incl. Melbourne Tram)

Wongm's Railway Gallery features many Melbourne train pictures

Read the webmaster's personal impressions of the Melbourne Train Network in the UrbanRail.Blog (Feb 2011)