It　has　been　widely　recognised　that　near-fault　ground　motions　can　be　distinctly　different　from　far-fault　ground　motions,　in　terms　of　their　amplitudes　and　spectral　characteristics,　and　there　are　a　number　of　studies　investigating　the　effects　of　near-fault　ground　motions　on　the　structural　response.　However,　only　a　few　studies　focus　on　underground　tunnels,　and　most　of　them　consider　vertically　incident　seismic　waves,　neglecting　the　wave　passage　effect　which　is　critical　for　long　tunnels.　This　paper　investigates　the　consequences　of　near-fault　pulse-like　ground　motions　on　the　seismic　tunnel　response,　with　an　example　of　a　tunnel　embedded　in　saturated　poroelastic　soil.　The　input　motions　are　represented　by　obliquely　incident　P1　waves,　and　the　wave　passage　effect　along　the　longitudinal　direction　is　considered　by　a　2.5D　modelling　technique.　The　seismic　tunnel　response　for　near-fault　pulse-like　and　far-fault　ground　motions　is　compared.　Additionally,　artificial　ground　motions,　which　have　consistent　acceleration　response　spectra　with　the　near-fault　pulse-like　ground　motions,　but　without　velocity　pulses,　are　generated　to　gain　further　insight　into　the　contribution　of　velocity　pulses.　It　is　shown　that　the　near-fault　pulse-like　ground　motions　can　noticeably　increase　the　tunnel　internal　forces,　due　to　large　seismic　energy　associated　with　the　velocity　pulses.　For　pulse-like　ground　motions　with　similar　acceleration　response　spectra,　the　fling-step　velocity　pulse　can　be　more　detrimental　to　the　tunnel　than　the　forward-directivity　velocity　pulse.　Moreover,　the　amplification　effect　of　the　near-fault　pulse-like　ground　motions　on　the　tunnel　internal　forces　tends　to　be　more　prominent　for　large　vertical　angles　of　incidence,　highlighting　the　significance　of　considering　the　oblique　incidence　case　for　seismic　design.