All suburban trains serve Flinders Street, some having travelled through the Loop first, some travelling directly to Flinders Street then through the Loop, and a small number reversing at Flinders Street (as many trains did before the Loop was built).
Around 1pm most services reverse direction through the loop.
The reversal of the loop gives some passengers the best possible route into and out of the city, but at the same time gives other passengers the worst route twice a day.
This reversal is likely unique to Melbourne and is criticised for catering primarily to CBD work commuters, while causing confusion for irregular or off-peak passengers.

Until 1993, a 'City Circle' service operated continuously around the Loop to provide cross-CBD travel, and was replaced by the much slower City Circle Tram in 1994.
As a result, depending on the time of day, direction, and stations chosen; when travelling between adjacent stations by train a change at the third station may be required.

On 16 February 1997, regular Sunday services through the loop were introduced, however only stopped at Melbourne Central and Spencer Street with last trains around 6.45pm, then trains reverted running direct to/from Flinders St (with Northern Group services passing through Spencer St).
This same timetable change saw Flagstaff closed on Saturdays.
On 4 July 1999 Parliament joined the City Loop stations served until 6:45pm Sundays.
Then finally on 19 November 2000, Sunday services were expanded to the last train.

The direction of travel changes in each tunnel according to the time of day and day of week, as shown in the table below.
Each suburban line belongs to one of four groups, each group running through one tunnel.
The direction change occurs between approximately 12.30 and 1.00 pm, during which time no trains run through the Loop.

In November 2008, the Clifton Hill group was altered to run clockwise all day during weekdays, to avoid the
flat junction at Jolimont and permit increased service frequency.
The Werribee line service was also removed from the Northern Loop tunnel during peak hour, instead running direct to Flinders Street.
In June 2010, many services from Frankston to the city were also altered, and now do not travel through the City Loop.

On 22 April 2012, a new Metro timetable began operation, with a reversed Northern Loop on weekends.
This means that all Northern group lines now run through the City Loop first before Flinders Street, and then run back out of the city via Southern Cross
On 22 December 2013, the South Morang and Hurstbridge railway lines reversed through the city on weekends to have 7 days a week operation to Flinders Street before the City Loop.

Upon completion of the Metro Tunnel in 2025, the Sunbury and Dandenong lines will no longer operate through the Loop.
As a result of the additional capacity becoming available, all Craigieburn, Upfield and Frankston line trains will operate through the Loop instead of alternating between direct and Loop routes during peak times, and significant service increases will be implemented on those lines.
All suburban trains serve Flinders Street, some having travelled through the Loop first, some travelling directly to Flinders Street then through the Loop, and a small number reversing at Flinders Street (as many trains did before the Loop was built). Around 1pm most services reverse direction through the loop. The reversal of the loop gives some passengers the best possible route into and out of the city, but at the same time gives other passengers the worst route twice a day. This reversal is likely unique to Melbourne and is criticised for catering primarily to CBD work commuters, while causing confusion for irregular or off-peak passengers.
Until 1993, a 'City Circle' service operated continuously around the Loop to provide cross-CBD travel, and was replaced by the much slower City Circle Tram in 1994. As a result, depending on the time of day, direction, and stations chosen; when travelling between adjacent stations by train a change at the third station may be required.
On 16 February 1997, regular Sunday services through the loop were introduced, however only stopped at Melbourne Central and Spencer Street with last trains around 6.45pm, then trains reverted running direct to/from Flinders St (with Northern Group services passing through Spencer St). This same timetable change saw Flagstaff closed on Saturdays. On 4 July 1999 Parliament joined the City Loop stations served until 6:45pm Sundays. Then finally on 19 November 2000, Sunday services were expanded to the last train.
The direction of travel changes in each tunnel according to the time of day and day of week, as shown in the table below. Each suburban line belongs to one of four groups, each group running through one tunnel. The direction change occurs between approximately 12.30 and 1.00 pm, during which time no trains run through the Loop.
In November 2008, the Clifton Hill group was altered to run clockwise all day during weekdays, to avoid the
flat junction at Jolimont and permit increased service frequency. The Werribee line service was also removed from the Northern Loop tunnel during peak hour, instead running direct to Flinders Street. In June 2010, many services from Frankston to the city were also altered, and now do not travel through the City Loop.
On 22 April 2012, a new Metro timetable began operation, with a reversed Northern Loop on weekends. This means that all Northern group lines now run through the City Loop first before Flinders Street, and then run back out of the city via Southern Cross
On 22 December 2013, the South Morang and Hurstbridge railway lines reversed through the city on weekends to have 7 days a week operation to Flinders Street before the City Loop.
Upon completion of the Metro Tunnel in 2025, the Sunbury and Dandenong lines will no longer operate through the Loop. As a result of the additional capacity becoming available, all Craigieburn, Upfield and Frankston line trains will operate through the Loop instead of alternating between direct and Loop routes during peak times, and significant service increases will be implemented on those lines.
City Loop