South Kensington is going greener

Residents of South Kensington are enjoying new green spaces this spring after Metro Tunnel crews finished a major upgrade to the public areas around South Kensington Station.

Dozens of new trees have been planted creating a more vibrant, green, and enjoyable space for commuters and the community.

Almost 3000 square metres of garden beds have also been planted out – roughly the size of six basketball courts or half a soccer field.   

Childers St has been realigned and now features a new pocket park, safer footpaths and a raised pedestrian crossing.

The transformation also includes more seating, bike racks and lighting around the station forecourt, while parking along Childers St has been retained.

The upgrades took place along with work on the western entrance to the Metro Tunnel, which is next to South Kensington Station.

The major rail project is powering ahead with train testing well and truly under way in the tunnel.

Trains reached full speed of 80 kilometres per hour just weeks after the first test trains entered the twin tunnels at the end of July.

Since then, up to six different test trains have travelled more than 10,000 kilometres over more than 500 test trips.

This testing phase will continue into 2024 before a period of trial services with station staff and drivers to ready the tunnel for opening in 2025 – a year ahead of schedule.

The Metro Tunnel is the first major metropolitan rail investment since the City Loop opened in 1981 and will give Victorians more connections, more choices, and faster journeys.

It will connect the busy Sunbury and Cranbourne/Pakenham lines via a new tunnel under the city, creating an end-to-end rail line from the north-west to the south-east, freeing up space in the City Loop and better connecting all Victorians to jobs, health, education, and each other. •

For more information: bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/metro-tunnel