Melbourne $15.5 Billion Metro Tunnel Set to Open Early Despite Firefighter Union Safety Concerns

The United Firefighters Union is concerned the metro tunnel is unsafe during emergency.

Then then-Minister for Transport Infrastructure and Minister for Suburban Rail Loop Jacinta Allan (L) and former Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews (C) with workers pose for a photo underground from the site of the currently being built, State Library station, as part of the Metro Tunnel metropolitan rail infrastructure project in Melbourne, Australia, on Nov. 6, 2020. Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

The Victorian Labor government will partially open the $15 billion Melbourne Metro tunnel early in December.

Starting construction in 2017, the tunnel connects the Sunbury line in the west to the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines in the southeast, consisting of five new stations.

In total, there will be an extra 240 train services each week at the start of summer.

On Feb. 1, there will be a full launch of Victoria’s entire train network, marketed as the “Big Switch.”

The Metro Tunnel will then be integrated into the wider transport system. At this time, the Labor government will roll out more than 1,000 new weekly train services.

“This is the moment when all services on the Sunbury, Cranbourne, and Pakenham lines travel exclusively through the new tunnel. These lines are the backbone of Melbourne’s train system—and they will transform,” the government said.

“The Big Switch will launch 1,000 new weekly services and kick off a turn-up-and-go network on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines.”

The Labor government pointed out international best practice showed it was best to open the tunnel and run services first before making a big timetable switch later, rather than do it all simultaneously.

“It also saves time. Instead of the tunnel sitting idle during the lead-in time for the new timetable, we can open it immediately upon safety approval and get people moving sooner on hundreds of new services,” the government added.

An election is due to be held in Victoria in November 2026.

Extra Payments for Builders to Get it Done

Labor reportedly paid builders more than $800 million extra to meet milestones to get the project open by the end of 2025.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan told reporters on Oct. 7, it was “worth every cent.”

She hailed the early opening of the metro tunnel as a Christmas present.

“What an incredible moment for our state—Victorians have patiently waited for this tunnel to get built underneath their feet and behind big sheds, and now they’ll be able to use it,” she said. 

“Christmas is coming early for everyone on the Pakenham, Cranbourne and Sunbury lines, who’ll have hundreds of new services every week from the start of December.”

Allan said the tunnel would transform Melbourne, cut congestion, and get people to their destination sooner

“And it opens in early December, a year ahead of schedule,” she said. 

Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams added, “The Summer Start is how we’re opening the tunnel safer, smoother and sooner.

“We’re going to spend months communicating with passengers in the lead up to and after the Big Switch, so they know how their journey will change and improve.”

Fire Safety Concerns Raised

The United Firefighters Union raised safety concerns in a statement to The Epoch Times.

“The Melbourne Metro Tunnel is a death trap. Firefighters simply do not have the equipment needed to cover emergencies in this $15 billion ticking time bomb,” Secretary Peter Marshall said.

Allan was met by protesting firefighters who argued $100 million cuts to Fire Rescue Victoria and a lack of breathing equipment for firefighters would make the metro tunnel unsafe to operate in an emergency.

“The failure to replace outdated breathing equipment will see firefighters unable to respond to emergencies in some parts of the Allan Government’s $15 billion Melbourne Metro Rail Tunnel,” Marshall said.

In November 2024, the Liberal government raised concerns the metro tunnel was nearly $5 billion over budget.

“Labor cannot manage money, cannot manage major projects and Victorians are paying the price,” Shadow Minister David Southwick said at the time.