After months of speculation, the opening for Melbourne’s $15 billion Metro Tunnel has been revealed as Premier Jacinta Allan announced that the cross-city rail line will take passengers from early December.

But trains will run only every 20 minutes and in off-peak hours during the soft opening. Commuters will have to wait until February next year before a full timetable is implemented.

During the “summer start” period in the first few weeks, trains will only run through the tunnel from Westall and West Footscray every 20 minutes between 10am and 3pm on weekdays.

On weekends, they will run every 20 minutes from 10am to 7pm, and extend to East Pakenham every 40 minutes and Sunbury every 60 minutes. Loading

A full timetable will begin on February 1. That timetable has not been relea

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