Designs of Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel stations unveiled

Click to enlarge

An external view of the new Parkville Station. Image: Melbourne Metro Rail Authority

1 of 10

An internal view of the new Arden Station. Image: Melbourne Metro Rail Authority

2 of 10

An internal view of the new CBD South Station. Image: Melbourne Metro Rail Authority

3 of 10

An internal view of the new Domain Station. Image: Melbourne Metro Rail Authority

4 of 10

An internal view of the CBD North Station. Image: Melbourne Metro Rail Authority

5 of 10

A diagram showing the various depths of each underground station. Image: Melbourne Metro Rail Authority

6 of 10

City Rail Link, Auckland: Aotea station interior. Image: Auckland Transport

7 of 10

Artist's cross-section of the Aotea Station, City Rail Link, Auckland. — Artist’s cross-section of the Aotea Station, City Rail Link, Auckland. Image: Auckland Transport

8 of 10

Aotea station's Victoria Street entrance. — Aotea station’s Victoria Street entrance. Image: Auckland Transport

9 of 10

Karangahape station's Mercury Lane entrance. — Karangahape station’s Mercury Lane entrance. Image: Auckland Transport

10 of 10

The Melbourne Metro Rail Authority has unveiled designs of five new underground train stations, designed by Grimshaw Architects, for the city’s proposed Metro Tunnel.

The stations will be built at various depths underground ranging from 15 metres at Domain, in the city’s east to 39 metres and CBD North.

The new Domain Station will be built below St Kilda Road and will include three entrances: one in the Shrine of Remembrance Reserve, one at the relocated Domain tram interchange, and another in the open space where the South African Soldiers Memorial is currently located.

An internal view of the new CBD South Station. Image: Melbourne Metro Rail Authority

CBD South Station will include entrances in City Square, Federation Square and Flinders Lane, and a direct underground connection to Flinders Street Station. CBD North will connect directly to Melbourne Central, and have two proposed entrances on the corners of Franklin and La Trobe Streets.

Early construction is expected to start in 2017 with major works on the tunnels and stations going underway by early 2018. The Metro Tunnel is expected to be operational by 2026.

Artist’s cross-section of the Aotea Station, City Rail Link, Auckland. Image: Auckland Transport

Grimshaw Architects is also principal technical advisor of Auckland’s $2.4b City Rail Link project. The firm is part of a consortium, led by Aurecon and including Mott MacDonald and Jasmax, that is undertaking the reference design, including the concept design for station architecture as well as the urban interface for the 3.4km underground rail link, which will run from Britomart station in downtown Auckland, through the central business district to connect with the existing western line at Mt Eden station.

The project includes three new city centre stations – Aotea, Karangahape and Newton – and modifications to the existing Britomart station, which increases the capacity of the rail network by turning Britomart into a through station and adding another rail entrance to the city centre from Mt Eden. This will ease the pressure on the city centre’s roading network, and the City Rail Link will also significantly reduce travel times on Auckland’s rail network and allow higher train frequencies to be operated on all lines.

City Rail Link, Auckland: Aotea station interior. Image: Auckland Transport

In January 2016 Prime Minister John Key confirmed a funding commitment so Auckland Council can commence construction for the main works on the City Rail Link in 2018 – two years earlier than the current plan, with central funds guaranteed to flow from 2020. Preliminary work has already begun on the project, with completion being estimated for 2023.

The latest CRL station and public realm concepts are being showcased on Lower Queen Street’s western side for the next month.