Thursday, 16 October 2025

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:44): I know there is a lot of excitement out there in most of the community about the Metro Tunnel. I know there are a few grumpy ones across the table, but we know whether it is this side of the house or the passengers who will save time on their journey travelling through five new world-class stations that we are all so looking forward to the opening of the Metro Tunnel. Last week I met with a group in our community who probably know more about the Metro Tunnel than most in our state. They can tell you the difference between traction motors just by the sound. They know the engineering behind the steel beams and the new signalling systems and even the story behind the artwork on the trains. They are the ones out there sharing photos, timing test runs and debating moquette patterns.

To all of those gunzels on Reddit who came to see the State Library station last week, I want to say thank you. I say this because you get it. You understand what the Metro Tunnel means in the transformation of our public transport system. Your enthusiasm reminds us all that this project is bigger than the concrete and tracks. It is about the connections that this project delivers, with a thousand extra services taking people to where they want to go. This is not just stations, this is not just tunnels; it is connecting communities. Those communities, those passengers, will be riding on one of our brand new high-capacity metro trains, the biggest, smartest, most advanced trains that Victoria has ever seen, and of course they are made right here in Victoria. They are not just trains, they are a showcase of Victoria’s strong manufacturing capacity and a showcase of the workers’ skills and talent, pride and commitment.

To everyone who has been waiting patiently, get your cameras ready and leave the Myki at home on weekends, and soon you will be catching one of those great new trains through our Metro Tunnel when it opens in early December.