The Victorian Premier has criticized firefighters for entering the Metro Tunnel in Melbourne on Sunday, describing their actions as “potentially deadly.” This comes despite the union’s assertion that the entry was for operational purposes. Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) reported being informed by Metro Tunnel Melbourne that its “firefighters accessed an unauthorized area of the Metro Tunnel.”
“This access triggered a security alarm which temporarily delayed the trains and resulted in the attendance of Metro Trains Security,” a spokesperson stated on Sunday. The alarm was reportedly triggered at 11:30 am near Hawksburn Station when “unauthorized trespassers” gained access to the area.
Premier’s Condemnation and Union’s Defense
On Monday, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the incident, alleging that the firefighters had trespassed. “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.
The United Fire Fighters Union defended the firefighters, claiming they entered the tunnel “to conduct a building inspection.” A union spokesperson explained, “This was an operational matter with firefighters conducting an urgent familiarization 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 union emphasized the visit’s importance for firefighters’ knowledge of the environment where they might conduct rescues in emergencies.
Investigation and Safety Concerns
However, FRV clarified that the incident was not linked to any official drill. “FRV can confirm there was no pre-organized 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 stated it had not received a complaint and was not investigating the matter.
Previously, the United Firefighters Union had expressed concerns to the national rail safety authority about the accreditation validity for operating services in the underground network. They highlighted safety issues, such as the failure of thousands of portable radios to connect to the emergency services’ antenna systems during tests in the tunnel. These claims were rejected by the regulator, the state government, and FRV.
Impact on Metro Tunnel Operations
The incident coincided with the opening of the 9-kilometre train tunnel, which saw over 70,000 passengers traveling through five new inner-city stations. The new stations connect the Sunbury, Cranbourne, and Pakenham lines under the CBD. Train enthusiasts gathered early at Sunbury to catch the inaugural service, celebrating the journey with cheers.
The Metro Tunnel is expected to add 240 weekly services during off-peak times, with the full timetable rolling out in February. A Metro spokesperson described the opening as “a great success,” despite minor issues such as a train overshooting the platform at Anzac Station and some screen doors and escalators requiring adjustments.
“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,” the spokesperson said.
Metro Trains CEO Raymond O’Flaherty noted that the firefighters’ incident contributed to some operational disruptions. “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 and into manual mode. And during that 20-25 minute period, one of our services didn’t berth correctly at the station.”
Looking Forward
O’Flaherty acknowledged that “glitches” are expected as the system adapts. “We’re now learning for the first time … we fully expect to see these glitches along the way as we build our confidence and get ready for the first of February,” he remarked.
As investigations continue, the incident highlights the delicate balance between operational readiness and safety in new infrastructure environments. The outcome of FRV’s investigation may influence future protocols for emergency services in high-security areas like the Metro Tunnel.
