‘Free thoroughfare’: Allan government backflips on $5 Metro Tunnel myki charge for 20 metre walk

The Allan government has reversed a decision that could’ve seen commuters charged $5 for a 20 metre walk in the Metro Tunnel, now announcing that the “underpasses will be open to everyone”.

The government has backflipped after a myki bungle at one of its new Metro Tunnel stations that could have seen commuters fork out $5 for a 20m walk.

Victoria’s keen trainspotters were first alarmed by a statement on Tuesday afternoon from the Metro Tunnel that touching on a myki at the new State Library Station and touching off at the connected Melbourne Central Station “will be counted as a trip and your myki will be charged”.

It was set to make the pedestrian connection Victoria’s most expensive 20 metre walk, costing $5.50 to walk in one station and out the other.

The Allan government has backflipped on the myki charge for using the Metro Tunnel underpass. Picture: Valeriu Campan

But on Wednesday evening, the government released an update, saying that the stations would now have one gate open at both ends “to provide a free thoroughfare”.

“These underpasses will be open to everyone with no myki required,” a government spokesperson said.

It is understood the new free pedestrian walkways will be marked by cones, and Metro Trains staff will assist commuters looking to use the underpass without travelling on the train network.

It came after a press conference on Wednesday morning where the Premier and Transport Infrastructure Minister were peppered with questions about the confusion for nearly 15 minutes.

A walk through the State Library Station to Melbourne Central Station was set to attract a fare before the government reversed the decision. Picture: Brendan Beckett

By the end of the Wednesday morning press conference Ms Allan told journalists “we will come back to you on this”.

“There’s a whole range of questions that are going to be asked … and we’ll look forward to getting this information out to passengers so that they are provided with the accurate information.”

With just four days left before travellers first use the Metro Tunnel, Jacinta Allan conceded that there would be a “period of familiarisation” as Victorians first start to travel through the new stations.

“This is going to transform the way we move around our network, and I accept, it’s going to take a little bit of time for people to familiarise themselves on the network,” Ms Allan said.

The Premier said it would take time for commuters to ‘familiarise’ themselves with the network. Picture: Valeriu Campan

She was asked to clarify whether someone would be charged $5 if they tapped into Melbourne Central Station, walked 20 metres, and tapped out through a State Library Station gate, but said that pedestrians “wouldn’t do that”.

Now though, the government’s new arrangement seems to cater for those very pedestrians.

A government spokesperson said the change was because the government wanted to make the stations “fully accessible because we want Victorians to make the most of them”.

Originally published as ‘Free thoroughfare’: Allan government backflips on $5 Metro Tunnel myki charge for 20 metre walk