To celebrate the imminent launch of the Metro Tunnel Project’s first tunnel boring machine (TBM), Rail Projects Victoria and the Metro Tunnel Creative Program provided an on-site activation.

On site at the new Arden Station and in partnership with Rail Projects Victoria, Metro Tunnel Project’s TBM community day allows for ticketed tour participants to have the opportunity to expand their tour experience with photo moments, educational material and plenty of activities for children.

The new Arden Station will echo North Melbourne’s rich industrial history and character. The station’s key architectural feature will be a massive brick archway, made up of 15 individual arches, 52 precast concrete segments and 104,000 bricks, that will serve as the station’s landmark entrance.

The 15 main arches of the station are made up of individual segments, which slot together to create the arch structure. There are 34 different segments, each requiring complex mould changes to shape key elements of the entrance including door openings and ticket windows.

Each arch segment is created using a pre-cast concrete and steel mould into which the concrete is poured, and the brick segments are set.

The arches’ steel reinforcement cages are custom built to the design of each concrete frame. The cages are placed into the moulds before the segments are poured.

An extensive set of steel formwork was set up on location to support installation of the arches. The arch segments were delivered to the Arden Station site progressively and were installed during the second half of 2021 — making it the perfect location for the TBM community day event.

The Metro Tunnel Project overall will bring more trains to suburbs across Melbourne and reduce travel times by running the busy Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines through a new tunnel. By untangling the City Loop, more trains can run more often across Melbourne . Construction has concluded on the digging of twin 9 km tunnels, and construction is underway on 5 new stations and testing of the new High-Capacity Signalling system that will enable turn-up-and-go services.

Construction is underway on the Metro Tunnel which will untangle the City Loop so more trains can run more often across Melbourne.

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