{"id":302363,"date":"2025-10-16T15:18:36","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T05:18:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=302363"},"modified":"2026-02-10T11:53:56","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T01:53:56","slug":"the-metro-tunnels-are-about-to-open-but-firefighters-say-they-wont-use-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=302363","title":{"rendered":"The Metro Tunnels are about to open, but firefighters say they won\u2019t use them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Melbourne\u2019s soon-to-open Metro Tunnels are an engineering marvel, built up to 40 metres under the CBD \u2014 the height of a 12-storey building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are also a welcome and much-needed addition to the ageing train network that has struggled to keep up with a booming population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For eight years, works have edged closer to completion on five new state-of-the-art stations at Parkville, Arden, Town Hall, State Library and Anzac \u2014 near the Shrine of Remembrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But with just eight weeks until the much-anticipated $15.5 billion network opens to the public, Melbourne firefighters say there\u2019s a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The depth of the tunnels presents a unique challenge \u2014 one that they cannot currently meet, they say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Firefighter Kristjan is worried about the Premier\u2019s \u2018shiny\u2019 new project and says he won\u2019t let his family ride the network because it\u2019s not safe.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The new Anzac Station under St Kilda Road next the Shrine. Picture: Jason Edwards<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They say their equipment is dated and inappropriate for handling an emergency that far underground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How worried are they? Well, Kristjan Tuul, a Melbourne firefighter with 20 years of experience, says he would not use the tunnels and he will not let him family ride on the new network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been a firefighter and resident in the City of Melbourne for 20 years and I cannot believe the Allan Government is about to open the Metro Tunnel in two months time,\u201d Mr Tuul said in a now-viral video posted to the United Firefighters Union\u2019s social pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe deepest part of the tunnel is up to 42 metres underground and the fact of the matter is we don\u2019t have the equipment to save you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor over a year we\u2019ve been asking Fire Rescue Victoria and the Allan Government for the equipment we need to keep Victorians safe and to do our job properly.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Anzac Station is one of five new stations servicing Melbourne\u2019s train network. Picture: Jason Edwards<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve continued to ignore us and because of that we don\u2019t have the equipment that we need to safely rescue anyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is no way I\u2019ll be letting my family use the Metro Tunnels and I don\u2019t think any Victorian should be using them until we have the equipment to keep everyone safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWould you use them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking to news.com.au, Mr Tuul said he has never faced an issue like this in two decades of saving lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m terrified at the thought that my family, my friends are going to use the Metro Tunnel without firefighters having the equipment to respond in an emergency,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He told news.com.au that there\u2019s no issue with the construction of the tunnels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe construction is first class. It\u2019s about the safety of firefighters responding to an emergency.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifically, Mr Tuul said there are no long duration breathing apparatus available after the existing equipment expired in recent months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He says that means that a firefighter needing to enter the tunnels would have no more than 20 minutes of oxygen and that\u2019s simply not enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Firefighters are hoping nobody needs help inside any of the new stations, including Anzac Station (pictured). Picture: Jason Edwards<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the travel time from the entrance of the tunnel down to where the rail line is. That takes time, especially when you\u2019re carrying equipment and carrying people out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s just responding to an emergency on the platforms. It could be that there\u2019s an issue half way down the tunnel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that this is the first time in two decades he has felt the need to speak up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UFU said in a statement that the Metro Tunnel \u201cmay look shiny in the Premier\u2019s PR media, but behind the scenes it\u2019s a disaster waiting to happen\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor over 12 months, firefighters have been warning the Allan Government about serious safety risks \u2014 but they\u2019ve ignored those warnings to save money at the expense of public safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile they focus on photo ops and publicity, they\u2019re cutting fire service budgets and ignoring the experts who keep Victorians safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Victorian Government spokesperson dismissed their concerns in a statement to news.com.au.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Metro Tunnel will open safely and in early December with no limitations to fire response capabilities,\u201d a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

News.com.au approached Fire Rescue Victoria for comment. Attributable to an FRV spokesperson:<\/p>\n\n\n

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A spokesperson for Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan offered one line in response to firefighters\u2019 concerns. Picture: NewsWire\/ David Crosling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A spokesperson said that contrary to UFU claims, there is \u201cno impact to community safety\u201d and that there are 10 sets of long duration breathing apparatus available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV), the safety of our firefighters, first responder colleagues, and the communities we serve is our highest priority,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFRV has collaborated closely with stakeholders from the Metro Tunnel Project to ensure fire safety and emergency response considerations were embedded into the tunnel\u2019s design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom the outset, the Metro Tunnel\u2019s design principles were aligned with FRV\u2019s operational standards, including the minimum principle of 30-minute working duration for Breathing Apparatus (BA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFollowing the identification of a small number of faults, FRV made the decision to temporarily take its Long Duration Breathing Apparatus (LDBA) out of commission to allow for comprehensive testing and to ensure the safety of personnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis testing has been completed on 10 sets which have been issued to South Melbourne Fire Station for our breathing apparatus specialist appliance. These Long Duration Breathing Apparatus sets are up to specification and are compliant within relevant safety standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are also ensuring our firefighters have access to this equipment through arrangements with the Country Fire Authority.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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How Melbourne’s rail lines will change once the Metro Tunnel opens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The back and forth has been going for months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In July, UFU Vice President David Black said firefighters would be exposed to \u201ctoxic air\u201d in an subterranean emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe know that emergencies in the Metro Tunnel are likely to require us to operate in toxic air that can\u2019t be dispersed for extended periods of time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe know that our current gear is passing its use-by date in two months and won\u2019t be safe to use.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In September, the Union said it was equipped with just a single unit that supplies firefighters with 40 minutes of air after multiple units purchased in 2009 \u201cfailed safety testing\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In October, firefighters labelled the tunnels a \u201cdeath trap\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Melbourne Metro Tunnel is a death trap,\u201d Union Secretary Peter Marshall said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFirefighters simply do not have the equipment needed to cover emergencies in this $15 billion ticking time bomb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe arrogance of this government and this Premier is astounding. Firefighters are worried. And if firefighters are worried, the public should be as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Premier has been spruiking the Metro Tunnel project in recent weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Metro Tunnel is the biggest transformation of Melbourne\u2019s rail network in more than 40 years and frees up space in the City Loop to run more trains, more often, on more lines,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat an incredible moment for our state \u2014 Victorians have patiently waited for this tunnel to get built underneath their feet and behind big sheds, and now they\u2019ll be able to use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Metro Tunnel will transform Melbourne, cut congestion and get you to work, uni and home sooner \u2013 and it opens in early December, a year ahead of schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Trains running on the Metro Tunnel in Melbourne. Picture: Victorian Government<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: news.com.au<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s the $15.5 billion jewel in the Victorian Government\u2019s crown \u2014 a sparkling new train network. There\u2019s a reason firefighters won\u2019t use it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":261708,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,1168,10073],"tags":[993,8],"class_list":["post-302363","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-breaking-news","category-metro-tunnel","category-myki","tag-melbourne","tag-victoria"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/302363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=302363"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/302363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":302370,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/302363\/revisions\/302370"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/261708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=302363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=302363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=302363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}