21-05-2025
Commuters issue blistering response to Sydney train operator after a 1500-volt live wire collapsed onto a carriage causing widespread chaos
Commuters have delivered a resounding vote of no confidence in the NSW public transport system as Sydney's train network continues to be deadlocked.
Sydney commuters were warned on Wednesday of 'major disruptions' after a "catastrophic event" at Strathfield Station caused huge disruptions across the entire network.
The repairs have since been fixed with "all lines at Strathfield now open", as per a Transport for NSW alert, but delays and service gaps "will continue".
While Sydneysiders are incensed by the continued disruptions on the rail network, Transport for NSW has issued an apology and attempted to characterise the incident as an "inconvenience".
"Sydney Trains apologises again to passengers for the inconvenience of the continuing disruption," Transport for NSW said in a statement.
Commuters took to social media to vent their frustration at the ongoing setbacks and 'constant failures' of Sydney's transport system.
'I really can't put my rage at Sydney Trains into words anymore. These constant failures are unacceptable and it's deplorable that they all still think they are owed something more. Tear it all down,' one user said.
'Sydney's Trains have been a disaster since this ALP Govt took control and are getting worse by the day,' a second user wrote.
Another user said Sydney's economy had been 'held to ransom' by Sydney Trains, while another called it 'embarrassing' that tourists were having to endure the delays.
'If it's not greedy blackmailing union strikes holding Sydney trains to ransom, its live wires falling on carriages. Sydney commuters can't win a trick,' one user wrote.
While another said: 'Whoever is in charge of Sydney trains needs the sack and revamp your work force.'
Since last November, Sydney commuters have been plagued with delays and industrial action as the Minns government has locked horns with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) over a pay dispute.
Throughout January and February, commuters were jolted around by the 'go-slow' industrial action employed by the RTBU, before the Minns government successfully won its case against the RTBU with the Fair Work Commission ordering the union to enter a 'cool off' period.
In March, the Federal Court dismissed an appeal by the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) to challenge the FWC suspension of industrial action by rail workers until July 1.
Transport for NSW tracks Customer Satisfaction based on cleanliness, ticketing and scheduling, with its latest survey recording an 86 per cent satisfaction rating on timeliness.
The latest survey is from November 2024 with the next survey to be released this month.
On the latest calamity to beset commuters, Transport for NSW Executive Director Rail Operations Jas Tumber said it was an 'unusual type of failure' which occurred "from time to time".
Mr Tumber told ABC radio on Wednesday it normally required weeks to investigate and fully understand the root cause.
NSW Premier Chris Minns called the crippling commuter chaos across Sydney 'nowhere near good enough' and that the travelling public had been let down.
'We put $1.5 billion a year into rail maintenance and infrastructure, but we need to do a lot better. And I know that we're on notice, the government's on notice,' he told 2GB host Ben Fordham.
contacted Transport for NSW for comment.
