One of the city's busiest train lines could be re-routed as part of the Melbourne Metro Rail project, leaving thousands of passengers without a direct service to South Yarra and Richmond stations.

As the Andrews government starts planning how trains will use the new tunnel, one option is for the Cranbourne-Pakenham services to skip South Yarra and Richmond and travel directly from Hawksburn to Domain, one of the five underground stations that will be built as part of $11 billion project.

Of course there are going to be changes for some lines which may require people to change trains during their journey.  This happens on other networks.

The tunnel portal on near South Yarra might be better constructed on the downside?

One of the city's busiest train lines could be re-routed as part of the Melbourne Metro Rail project, leaving thousands of passengers without a direct service to South Yarra and Richmond stations.

As the Andrews government starts planning how trains will use the new tunnel, one option is for the Cranbourne-Pakenham services to skip South Yarra and Richmond and travel directly from Hawksburn to Domain, one of the five underground stations that will be built as part of $11 billion project.Thousands may lose direct rail services to South Yarra and Richmond

Cranbourne-Pakenham services does not stop at Hawksburn - it normally runs express from South Yarra to Caulfield.

With the new Metro tunnel : Cranbourne-Pakenham services runs express from Domain to Caulfield.

Note Franskton services stops at Hawksburn.

I am sure that they will get over whatever changes are made.

Many lost direct access to Flinders Street and Spencer Street Stations when the Loop was opened and seem to have survived.

I am sure that they will get over whatever changes are made.

People would simply change at Caulfield.

Many lost direct access to Flinders Street and Spencer Street Stations when the Loop was opened and seem to have survived.

People change at Richmond if they want a direct service.

See? Problem solved just like that!!

I'm sure that those travelling home by train from the MCG, late at night, will really appreciate boarding a train at Richmond (after spending 45 minutes standing in Brunton Avenue just to be permitted onto a platform) will really appreciate having to change at Caulfield. If I still lived on the Dandenong line I reckon I would be walking from the MCG to Swanston Street to avoid the change, although those who take their young kids to the footy or cricket might be less able to do that.

You could always take a train from Richmond to Flinders St and interchange to a Pakenham/Cranbourne service at the adjacent CBD South station...

You could always take a train from Richmond to Flinders St and interchange to a Pakenham/Cranbourne service at the adjacent CBD North station...

Or even at the CBD South station!!

As the Vline services will still be going via Richmond/South Yarra, it would also be easy to run special services along that route for events.

Oops... had CBD North on the brain.

Oh boo hoo. Where is the headline stating "Thousands of commuters will gain direct, quicker and more reliable service into and out of the CBD."?
All this does is simply point out that there is a lack of rail service across the current lines which only run in and out of the city.

Caulfield would definately need upgrades if it needs to handle passengers interchanging between Frankston line running via South Yarra/Richmond and the Dandenong line running via Domain as there would be similar demand for passengers travelling to both locations. Perhaps building a footbridge at the down end similar to North Melbourne's as well as improving access to the subway (ie. get rid of the barriers on platforms 2 and 3) is necessary to handle the anticipated passengers.