A single train breakdown has caused Sydney’s public transport system to go into meltdown this morning, resulting in angry tweets, angry people, and a whole bunch of apologies from Sydney Trains.
This was the queue at Town Hall earlier. I get the bus to North Sydney every day from here, and it’s standing room only! #sydneytrains pic.twitter.com/zfw61mUVcP
— andrew thomas (@chooseajob) August 22, 2019
Early on Friday morning, just as Sydneysiders were making their commute to work, Sydney Trains announced that the hatch on top of a train’s roof had moved dangerously close to overhead wiring at Town Hall station.
“To secure safety, the power from this section of track must be isolated,” said a tweet.
A loose hatch on top of a train is close to overhead wiring at Town Hall. To secure safely, the power from this section of track must be isolated. Our electrical crews are working to do this ASAP, and repair crews will then secure the hatch safely. Your patience is appreciated. pic.twitter.com/UqbH1HNaDZ
— T1 Sydney Trains (@T1SydneyTrains) August 22, 2019
In the hours following, people joined mass queues that spilled out onto the city’s streets, waiting for repairs to take place. Replacement busses were put into service, but as we all know by now – that just has a habit of flooding Sydney’s already not-great roads.
The T2 Inner West line, the T1 Western line, the T3 Bankstown line, T8 Airport, and T9 Northern line were all delayed.
Everyone took the news, understandably, very well.
It actually boggles my mind that a single train with mechanical issues can shut down a whole transport network. In a developed country. In Sydney. That isn’t normal, or acceptable. @T1SydneyTrains #sydneytrains
— dusk and dawn child (@mysamurott) August 22, 2019
So everyone has been kicked out of Newtown station, and this is the current line for buses into the city, lol #sydneytrains pic.twitter.com/WB0zqefzt7
— Patrick Lenton (@PatrickLenton) August 22, 2019
Me: wow busy day today might head into the office and get a head start on things!!!
Sydney trains: pic.twitter.com/DpNvBiKWtt— Harry Cartwright (@hazandstuff) August 22, 2019
Happy #sydneytrains customers waiting at Rhodes for a train to the city. pic.twitter.com/riMotoyiIM
— pfh007 (@pfh007) August 22, 2019
If #sydneytrains can whack passengers with a fine for not paying the correct fair, then we should be able to fine them back for fucking up our day
— MystifiedMe (@MystifiedMe1) August 22, 2019
Sydney Trains announced just before 9am that repairs had been completed. Now there’s just the matter of a few thousand people waiting desperately at train stations across the city to deal with.
The price of living in paradise!!!!!!
