The Victorian Premier has criticized firefighters for entering an unauthorized area of the Metro Tunnel on Sunday, labeling their actions as “potentially deadly.” This comes despite the union’s assertion that the entry was for operational purposes.
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) reported that Metro Tunnel Melbourne informed them about the incident, which triggered a security alarm, temporarily delaying train services and prompting a response from Metro Trains Security. According to a Metro Tunnel spokesperson, the alarm was activated at 11:30 am when “unauthorized trespassers” accessed an area near Hawksburn Station.
Premier’s Condemnation and Union’s Defense
On Monday, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the incident, accusing the firefighters of trespassing. “A live rail operating environment is not a place to play games. It is a place that you should always be putting safety first, which is why trespassing is taken very seriously,” she stated.
In contrast, the United Fire Fighters Union defended the firefighters’ actions, claiming they entered the tunnel to conduct a building inspection. A union spokesperson explained, “This was an operational matter with firefighters conducting an urgent familiarisation drill.”
“During approximately half-an-hour spent in the Eastern Portal, firefighters inspected the Fire Control Room, potential hazards such as UPS power supplies, high voltage substations, and battery energy storage banks and the very unique suppression systems. The visit was vital for firefighters’ knowledge of the environment in which they will be expected to conduct rescues and will enable them to carry out their roles in an emergency situation safely, effectively, and efficiently.”
Investigation and Safety Concerns
However, FRV clarified that the incident was not linked to any official drill. “FRV can confirm there was no pre-organised official drill or site visit planned for the Metro Tunnel on Sunday 30 November,” a spokesperson confirmed. FRV is currently investigating the incident, while Victoria Police has stated it has not received a complaint and is not investigating the matter.
Previously, the United Firefighters Union had raised concerns with the national rail safety authority regarding the accreditation for running services in the underground network. They claimed that thousands of portable radios used by FRV failed to connect to the emergency services’ antenna systems during tests in the tunnel. The regulator, the state government, and FRV have all rejected these claims.
Impact on Metro Tunnel Operations
The incident occurred on the same day the 9-kilometre Metro Tunnel opened, with over 70,000 passengers traveling through five new inner-city stations. The tunnel, which connects the Sunbury, Cranbourne, and Pakenham lines, is expected to add 240 weekly services during off-peak times, with a full timetable set for February.
Metro Trains CEO Raymond O’Flaherty acknowledged that the firefighters’ actions contributed to some operational issues on the opening day. “After that trespassing incident, we had to run under caution for a number of minutes, [to] make sure everything was back running safely and securely,” he explained. “We actually switched from automatic mode into manual mode. And during that 20-25 minute period, one of our services didn’t berth correctly at the station.”
Looking Ahead
Despite these challenges, Metro Trains described the tunnel’s opening as a “great success.” A spokesperson noted, “Opening Metro Tunnel is the biggest change to our rail network in more than 40 years and as we commenced the Summer Start timetable, we are now able to test the new infrastructure and technology in real world conditions — so bugs can be ironed out.”
As the Metro Tunnel continues to operate, both authorities and the union are likely to face ongoing discussions about safety protocols and operational procedures. The incident underscores the importance of clear communication and coordination between emergency services and rail operators to ensure public safety and efficient service delivery.
