The West Gate Tunnel builders have threatened to leave the project over an impasse with Transurban and the state government on how to deal with PFAS soil. The builders are expected to release tender documents for the dumping of 2.3 million tonnes of soil by the end of this week. The Wyndham Vale rail yard is being built to replace the Footscray train stabling site which is being removed as part of the $6.7 billion West Gate Tunnel works. But operations at the new $180 million rail yard, which is set to open within months, could face serious challenges, with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union warning that members would not enter a site that puts their health at risk. "If this is confirmed, and it's dangerous to our members, it would be irresponsible for V/Line to expect our people to work there," head of the locomotive division Marc Marotta said. "We just won't go in there if it poses any danger."

In a letter sent to the state government on Monday night, the union's secretary Luba Grigorovitch said plans to use the facility as a dumping ground were "completely unacceptable". She demanded confirmation that the soil would not contaminate air conditioning systems on the Geelong to Melbourne trains, which are stored at the Wyndham Vale site. A disruption to the Wyndham Vale rail yard would have significant consequences for the network, according to internal V/Line documents obtained under freedom of information laws. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video The rail yard was needed to avoid mass V/Line train cancellations, bus replacement services and higher operational costs, leading to "irrevocable reputational damage", a V/Line briefing warned.

Documents obtained by the Victorian opposition show the rail yard was needed to run a greater number of services on the network and to operate new trains reliably. The need for the rail yard became urgent after the removal of the Footscray stabling site to make way for the West Gate Tunnel in October last year. To keep trains out of overcrowded stabling sites and create more storage space, V/Line planned to "over-service the network" by running empty six-car trains to Geelong, significantly ramping up operational costs and increasing the maintenance task. But even after the Wyndham Vale stabling yard is built, this would not be enough to meet the needs of the growing network, V/Line warned. "This has seen V/Line’s ability to deliver its fleet maintenance program slowly erode.

"The lack of maintenance infrastructure will continue to impact on performance ... These shortages will impact V/Line’s reliability." Opposition transport infrastructure spokesman David Davis said any impact on the rail yard's operations would be disastrous for V/Line and potential stabling for Metro's trains planned for the site. The Wyndham Vale rail stabling yard now under construction. Credit:Joe Armao "If this rail yard is effectively ruled out of action, it would be a body blow to the V/Line system and ultimately planned Metro stabling too. "The Andrews Labor government's chaotic transport planning couldn't have been more sharply highlighted than placing a stabling and wash area for V/Line trains on the same land as a toxic dump. "

He said rail workers were asking "legitimate questions about their safety" in the wake of the news. A Department of Transport spokeswoman said dumping the soil on the Wyndham Vale site would not limit the operations of the stabling facility. "While a decision on where to temporarily hold soil from tunnelling for the West Gate Tunnel is yet to be made, the land in question is outside the Wyndham Vale stabling facility so if the site was ever used it would not impact the timing or operations of the new stabling facility.” A government spokeswoman said the rail yard was not being considered as a permanent landfill for the road project's soil.