Key Takeaways
- The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has condemned the actions of firefighters who entered the Metro Tunnel on Sunday, calling them "potentially deadly"
- The United Fire Fighters Union claims that the firefighters were conducting an operational drill, but Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) says there was no pre-organized official drill or site visit planned
- The incident triggered a security alarm, temporarily delaying trains and resulting in the attendance of Metro Trains Security
- The Metro Tunnel opened on Sunday after years of construction, with over 70,000 passengers making the trip through five new inner city stations
- The tunnel’s opening was overall a success, but there were some minor issues, including a train that overshot the platform and screen doors that did not operate correctly at times
Introduction to the Incident
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has slammed firefighters who entered the Metro Tunnel on Sunday, saying their actions were "potentially deadly". The incident occurred on the same day that the Metro Tunnel opened to the public, with over 70,000 passengers making the trip through five new inner city stations. According to Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV), the firefighters accessed an unauthorized area of the tunnel, triggering a security alarm that temporarily delayed trains and resulted in the attendance of Metro Trains Security.
The Union’s Claims
The United Fire Fighters Union has claims that the firefighters were conducting an operational drill, saying that they were there to conduct a building inspection. The union stated that 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. However, FRV has denied these claims, saying that there was no pre-organized official drill or site visit planned for the Metro Tunnel on Sunday.
The Premier’s Response
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has condemned the incident, alleging that the firefighters had trespassed into a live operating environment. She stated that anyone who trespasses into a live rail operating environment is undertaking a potentially deadly set of actions, and that safety should always be the top priority. The premier’s comments have sparked a controversy, with the union defending the actions of the firefighters and FRV investigating the incident.
The Metro Tunnel’s Opening
The Metro Tunnel opened on Sunday after years of construction, with the new stations running under the CBD and connecting the Sunbury, Cranbourne, and Pakenham lines. The tunnel will allow for an additional 240 weekly services during off-peak times, with the full timetable coming into effect in February. The opening of the tunnel was overall a success, with thousands of passengers making the trip through the new stations. However, there were some minor issues, including a train that overshot the platform at Anzac Station and screen doors that did not operate correctly at times.
The Incident’s Impact
The incident involving the firefighters caused some delays and disruptions to the Metro Tunnel’s operations. According to Metro Trains CEO Raymond O’Flaherty, the incident resulted in the trains running under caution for a number of minutes, and some services were delayed. The CEO stated that some "glitches" were to be expected in the beginning, and that the company was learning and building confidence as it got ready for the full timetable to come into effect in February.
Previous Safety Concerns
The United Firefighters Union had previously raised safety concerns about the Metro Tunnel, claiming that thousands of portable radios used by FRV failed to connect to the antenna systems used by emergency services when an unknown number of them were tested in the tunnel. The regulator, the state government, and FRV all rejected the union’s claims, but the incident on Sunday has raised further questions about the safety of the tunnel and the actions of the firefighters. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and it remains to be seen what consequences the firefighters will face for their actions.
