Anzac Station on the move

Work on St Kilda Rd’s Anzac Station is progressing in line with the Metro Tunnel’s 2025 opening date, with architectural fit-out well under way and installation of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing equipment continuing.

The station concourse is taking shape with lights, stairs, lifts, and escalators now installed, while crews have almost finished installing platform pavers. The station’s Victorian-first platform screen doors have all been installed.

Crews have poured concrete for the internal walls and stairs at the station entrance in the Shrine of Remembrance grounds and are finalising construction of the slab roof at the Albert Rd entrance.

Anzac Station will provide a direct train connection to St Kilda Rd’s business precinct for the first time, freeing up space in the St Kilda Rd tram corridor – the busiest tram corridor in the world.

Meanwhile, South Yarra residents are reacquainting themselves with two key public spaces that have reopened after being closed for several years for Metro Tunnel work.

Lovers Walk – a well-known pedestrian walkway that runs along the train line on the southern side of Toorak Rd – and nearby William Street Bridge were closed to the public in 2018 and 2019 respectively, to allow crews to build the Metro Tunnel’s eastern entrance.

Since reopening late last month, both have re-emerged as popular cut-throughs, connecting pedestrians and local traffic on busy Toorak Rd to Chapel St and Arthur St.

William St, between Toorak Rd and Arthur St, has also reopened to traffic after being closed to allow trucks and equipment to be safely brought onto the site.

The William Street Bridge has been rebuilt and is now longer to accommodate a wider rail corridor for trains to enter and exit the Metro Tunnel when it opens in 2025 – a year ahead of schedule.

The revamped bridge also includes wider footpaths leading to Lovers Walk and new seating, offering the perfect viewing point for train spotters.

Lovers Walk has been widened and improved with new landscaping and lighting to make it safer for pedestrians.

The opening of these public spaces comes just weeks after two new pocket parks opened in the vicinity of the Metro Tunnel’s eastern entrance in Arthur and William streets.

Meanwhile, crews are putting the finishing touches on South Yarra Siding Reserve, which is expected to open to the public in the coming months. •