The total construction bill for the ambitious project will exceed $15 billion. Photo: James Ross/AAP PHOTOS

A much-hyped underground rail service will open with a soft-launch timetable before moving to turn-up-and-go trains.

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Melbourne's $15 billion Metro Tunnel will open to the public in early December, with 240 extra services to run alongside the existing timetable for the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines.

Extra services in the "summer start" period will run every 20 minutes from 10am to 3pm between Westall and West Footscray on weekdays.

Weekend services will run every 20

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