<P> By 2008 the Brumby Government, as part of the now defunct Victorian Transport Plan, envisaged a two - stage project known as Melbourne Metro 1 and Melbourne Metro 2 . The 17 km twin rail tunnels would have run from Footscray station to Domain Interchange via the CBD (Stage 1), costing approximately $4.5 billion, with the second stage running from Domain to Caulfield . Combined, this plan would link the Sunbury and Dandenong lines, freeing up capacity within the existing City Loop to add more services . </P> <P> In 2012, the newly elected Baillieu Government combined the two projects, significantly shortening the route and adding a station at Arden Street in North Melbourne to allow for urban renewal . The project was known as the Melbourne Metro Rail Project . This allowed for the benefits of both projects with a simplified scope as submitted to Infrastructure Australia for Federal Government funding approval . The envisaged project would allow for five underground stations, with interchanges at Melbourne Central and Flinders Street, with funding provisionally allocated by the Federal and State governments to further develop a business plan and subsequent early construction works . In 2012, the Department of Transport commenced geotechnical drillings and route investigations . </P> <P> By May 2013, with a newly installed Premier, the project was significantly reworked and renamed the Melbourne Rail Link under Premier Denis Napthine . The line would run from Southern Cross station to South Yarra station, with stations at Fishermans Bend (to be known as Montague Station) and Domain Interchange, with significant modifications made to the City Loop to allow for bi-directional running . Stations at Parkville and the northern and southern ends of the CBD were scrapped in favour of avoiding years of disruption along Swanston Street . Coupled with the project was the long - awaited plan to build a heavy rail link to Melbourne Airport, which would be subsequently incorporated into the newly reworked project . By this time, the project completion date had been extended to 2026 with no additional Federal Government funding allocation . Some $820 million had been provisionally allocated by the State Government for commencement of pre-construction works . </P> <P> In November 2014, the newly elected Andrews Government dumped the Melbourne Rail Link and revived the original Melbourne Metro Rail Project, committing $300 million in the first year of government to commence detailed pre-construction planning and procurement . In February 2015, Premier Daniel Andrews announced the creation of the Melbourne Metro Rail Authority to oversee planning and procurement of the project with $40 million fast - tracked prior to the release of the budget . In April 2015, the route for the project was announced which would provide new underground stations at the Domain Interchange (on St Kilda and Domain Roads), and the Parkville university / hospital precinct (near Grattan Street and Royal Parade), as well as a station in North Melbourne . The route would run via Swanston Street with interchange opportunities at Melbourne Central and Flinders Street stations and connect the Sunbury line with the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines . The State Government redirected the $3 billion credit facility previously allocated to the axed East West Link road project to the Melbourne Metro Rail Project . </P>

When will the melbourne metro tunnel be finished