Metro Tunnel operators test passenger safety with thousands of water tanks, bottles amid cost blowout

Metro Tunnel operators have revealed the unexpected way they carried out “critical” testing to ensure passenger safety — but without passengers. See the pictures.

The Metro Tunnel team has revealed the unexpected way operators are conducting “critical testing” to ensure passenger safety — using huge, heavy water bottles.

The $14bn Metro Tunnel saw its “first passenger loads” ahead of the highly anticipated opening next year — but these passengers were “not the human kind”.

Two high capacity Metro Trains were loaded with massive water tanks and thousands of smaller water bottles to test how well they’d perform with the weight of a full load.

The Metro Tunnel team loaded a whopping 134,000kg of water into trains to conduct safety testing. Picture: Metro Tunnel

The trains were filled with water to match the same weight as a passenger load. Picture: Metro Tunnel

Water tanks were strapped in in place of passengers to ensure the stability of the carriages. Picture: Metro Tunnel

In each seven-carriage train, the water tanks were filled to weigh the same as a full passenger load — about 19,200kg per carriage totalling a massive 134,500kg of water.

The weight matched that of a full passenger load carrying about 1920 to 2250 people across both trains, based on an average weight of 60-70kg per person.

However, the tested weight falls short of the norm, with the average Australian man weighing 87kg and woman 72kg, according to the Department of Heath.

A total of 42 1000-litre water tanks and almost 6000 15-litre water bottles were filled and loaded onto the trains, which ran for two weeks from mid-June.

In order to make room for the tank test, seats and handrails had to be removed from the interior and floor protection laid.

Crews had to work out where in the trains the bottles should be placed “to minimise the risk of mechanical issues” before undertaking stability testing.

A total of 42 1000-litre water tanks and almost 6000 15-litre tanks were filled and loaded into trains. Picture: Metro Tunnel

The Metro Tunnel team confirmed the water tank tests were a success. Picture: Metro Tunnel

Two trains ran through the tunnel loaded with water tanks from mid-June. Picture: Metro Tunnel

The test team confirmed that the tests were successful and proved the project’s systems can operate with fully loaded passenger trains.

Crews have so far conducted more than 2100 hours of testing, with trains having travelled more than 20,000km before the twin tunnels are even opened.

The Metro Tunnel will connect the busy Sunbury and Cranbourne/Pakenham lines via a new tunnel under the city, with the ultimate vision of freeing up space on the City Loop.

The tunnel was originally projected to cost $10.9bn, but has since blown out to a whopping$14bn, the Allan government still unable to confirm when passengers will replace water tanks and travel the tunnel themselves.

More than half of the unprojected costs are funded by taxpayers.

Treasurer Tim Pallas in June conceded that further blowouts to the project were still “possible” after it was revealed project funding specifically for unexpected costs had dried up.