City Loop service pattern

This article is about service operating patterns of the City Loop. For the history and details of the loop, see City Loop.

The City Loop is a major piece of infrustructure forming part of the "central core" of the Suburban Melbourne rail network. It consists of four independent rail tunnels which encircle the Melbourne CBD travelling underneath La Trobe & Spring Streets. Each loop tunnel is served by a group of railway lines. Those being the Mernda and Hurstbridge line which make up the Clifton Hill Group^[1][2], the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines making up the Dandenong (Formerly Caulfield) Group^[3][4], the Craigieburn, Sunbury and Upfield lines make up the Northern Group^[5][6][7] and the Alamein, Belgrave, Glen Waverley and Lilydale lines making up the Burnley Group.^{[8][9][10][11]}

Clifton Hill Group

 Mernda line 

 Hurstbridge line 

The Clifton Hill Group currently runs clockwise (that being departing Flinders Street then running via the city loop before arriving at Jolimont) All day, 7 days a week except during night network at that time trains to Clifton Hill will all run direct to and from Jolimont. This has been the case since timetable changes in 2013.^[1][2]

Dandenong Group

 Cranbourne line 

 Pakenham line 

The Dandenong Group currently runs anti-clockwise (that being departing Richmond then running via the city loop before arriving at Flinders Street) All day, 7 days a week except during night network at that time trains to East Pakenham will all run direct to and from Flinders Street. This has been the case since timetable changes in 2021.^[3][4]

After the 1st of February 2026, the Pakenham and Cranbourne Lines will cease to run through the City Loop and the existing route from South Yarra to Flinders Street and will instead serve solely the Metro Tunnel and run through to Sunbury. As a result of this, the Frankston line will take over operations through the Caulfield Loop.^[12]

Northern Group

 Craigieburn line 

 Sunbury line 

 Upfield line 

The Northern Group currently remains as one of the two loops to reverse operations on weekdays.

During the morning, the Northern Group runs clockwise through the loop that being departing North Melbourne then running via the city loop before arriving at Flinders Street. Services departing the city will then run direct and above ground via Southern Cross before arriving back at North Melbourne and continuing towards the suburbs.

During the afternoon, the Northern Group runs anti-clockwise through the loop that being departing North Melbourne then running direct via Southern Cross before arriving at Flinders Street. Services departing the city will then run via the loop before arriving back at North Melbourne and continuing towards the suburbs.^[5][6][7]

On public holidays and Weekends, the Northern Group operates under the same service pattern as weekday mornings running clockwise from North Melbourne via the loop to Flinders Street all day.

After the 1st of February 2026, the Sunbury Line will cease to run through the City Loop and the existing route from North Melbourne to Flinders Street and will instead serve solely the Metro Tunnel and run through to East Pakenham and Cranbourne.^[12]

Burnley Group

 Alamein line 

 Belgrave line 

 Glen Waverley line 

 Lilydale line 

The Burnley Group currently remains as one of the two loops to reverse operations on weekdays.

During the morning, the Burnley Group runs anti-clockwise through the loop that being departing Richmond then running via the city loop before arriving at Flinders Street. Services departing the city will then run direct before arriving back at Richmond Melbourne and continuing towards the suburbs.

During the afternoon, the Burnley Group runs clockwise through the loop that being departing Richmond then running direct before arriving at Flinders Street. Services departing the city will then run via the loop before arriving back at Richmond and continuing towards the suburbs.^{[8][9][10][11]}