AN ANIMATED video shows how the State Government hopes its new Melbourne Metro rail tunnel will run under Swanston St, transforming the network into an “international-style train system”.

It will be built under Swanston St, causing “significant disruption” to the busy road, the Andrews Government has announced.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the underground rail tunnel would travel beneath Swanston St at a depth of just 10 metres.

Mr Andrews said work on the “important project” would begin before the end of 2018.

It is expected to cost $10 to $11 billion.

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The Premier told 3AW this morning the tunnel would boast services so frequent “you don’t need a timetable”.

“I can announce today that the Swanston St alignment is the preferred alignment, that’s where this tunnel will go” he said.

“Yes, there will be some significant disruption.”

Mr Andrews said his government had considered building the tunnel under Russell, Exhibition, Spencer and Spring Sts, but decided on Swanston St as the best location.

He said disruption to the City Loop, connectivity with existing Loop stations and the soil type under the road were factors in this decision.

He confirmed the tunnel would be built at a depth of about 10m rather than the 40m previously suggested.

“We will be in the ground, this will be underway, it will be being delivered before the end of 2018,” he said.

Mr Andrews promised contracts for the tunnel construction would not be signed “weeks before Victorians vote”, as was the case for the East West Link project.

His government would work to minimise any disruption “as best we can”, he said.

Alternative tram lines would be have to put in place on Swanston St, but Mr Andrews said he doubted the entire road would be closed all at once. Some pedestrian access would also be maintained.

Mr Andrews would not confirm whether affected traders on Swanston St would be compensated for any disruption caused by the build, but said his government would “make sure people are treated fairly”.

The Metro rail will comprise underground five stations — Arden in North Melbourne, CBD North, CBD South, Parkville and another near The Shrine — and 9km of track.

Mr Andrews said its construction would create 3500 jobs.

“This is a very significant project,” he said.

“(It will be) an international-style train system where you don’t need a timetable; where you turn up and you go. That’s how frequent the services will be.”

Mr Andrews said the project had a solid business plan and would benefit future generations.

“What’s most important is we get on and deliver those projects Victorians did vote for,” he said.

“If we don’t build a better public transport system then we are basically saying that we think we can drive our way out of traffic disruption, and I just don’t think that’s right.”

East West Link consortium money ‘already gone’, Premier

The Premier has also hit back at criticism of his costly decision to scrap the East West Link, adamantly telling 3AW the road won’t ever be built by his government.

Victorian taxpayers have been left at least $640 million out of pocket by a deal struck by Mr Andrews with the Link consortium to walk away from the project.

But Mr Andrews said the consortium would not be given more than the $339 million it had already spent since it signed contracts to build the toll road in October.

“The $339 million is gone. It was paid out by the previous government before we were sworn in,” Mr Andrews said.

“That figure of $339 million is the final figure. That is the maximum amount of costs that the East West Link consortium has incurred and I can’t change that. That money was spent, pushed out the door, prior to our government being sworn in.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott told the radio station he was “absolutely dismayed” at the Andrews Government’s decision to can the East West Link.

Mr Abbott said the Link was an “absolutely essential project for Melbourne” and jobs had been destroyed by the decision.

“That’s why this is such a disaster for Victoria.”

The Prime Minister confirmed the $1.5b given to the Victorian Government for the East West Link would not be transferred to the Metro rail project.

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