The northern section of the Suburban Rail Loop is moving into its tunnelling launch phase, with two TBMs preparing to bore from Burwood.
Two tunnel boring machines are set to launch from Burwood and dig south toward Glen Waverley, with another pair heading north to Box Hill — marking the next major construction milestone for the Suburban Rail Loop. The northern section of the SRL East twin tunnels will pass through Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country, and both machines will carry artwork by Wurundjeri and Dja Dja Wurrung artist Hayden Roberts on their cutterheads.
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Suburban Rail Loop’s northern tunnel section
The Glen Waverley to Box Hill leg is one of two tunnelling packages that make up SRL East, the first stage of a 90-kilometre orbital rail network. The southern section — running from Cheltenham to Glen Waverley — is being delivered separately by the Suburban Connect consortium, with four TBMs launching from Clarinda. Together, the eight machines will dig 26 kilometres of twin tunnels beneath Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
More than 3000 workers are already on site across all six station locations between Cheltenham and Box Hill, with the Victorian government flagging up to 8000 direct jobs over the life of the project. All eight TBMs will run on 100 per cent renewable electricity.
Wurundjeri culture carried underground
Roberts’ piece, titled Footsteps of the Past, features leaves of the manna gum representing the enduring connection between Wurundjeri Peoples and Country. A Bush Ranger Trainee with the Narrap Unit at Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Corporation, Roberts draws directly on his work on Country to inform his art practice.
“I really wanted to express Wurundjeri Country through this artwork. To show how the landscape was formed, how it is today…the lines of the mountains, the waterways, the different areas of land,” Roberts said.
“Through this piece, I wanted to show how each footprint is part of a greater story that connects us to Country and one another. Seeing something of that size with my artwork on it is a really exciting opportunity for me.”
The Suburban Rail Loop Authority is working with Traditional Owners to embed Aboriginal knowledge, culture and values in station and precinct design — an approach that extends beyond surface-level gestures into the project’s permanent built environment.
What SRL East means for Melbourne’s east
When complete, SRL East will connect six new underground stations at Cheltenham, Clayton, Monash, Glen Waverley, Burwood and Box Hill, linking four major rail corridors and providing direct train access to Monash and Deakin universities for the first time. The Victorian government estimates the line will slash travel times by up to 40 minutes on some routes, with trains carrying passengers by 2035.
The project is also set to deliver 70,000 new homes within walking distance of the six station precincts, with draft structure plans currently open for public consultation until 22 April. SRL is creating dedicated training pathways for young people, women, people with a disability, and First Peoples.
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