A much-hyped underground rail tunnel has been given an opening date, more than eight years after construction kicked off.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan took to social media on Tuesday to announce Melbourne's $15 billion Metro Tunnel will open to the public in early December.

"I can't wait for you to come out and check out our new stations," she said.

The state government has been tight-lipped on the exact opening date for months, only willing to say it would be later in 2025.

The project features five new underground stations and will connect the busy Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines through twin 9km tunnels under the city from Kensington and South Yarra.

The Metro Tunnel was originally costed at $10.9 billion when it was first announced in the 2016 state budget, but several e

See Full Page