Commuters furious as Sydney train network buckles on election day
Commuter chaos as Sydney’s transport network melts on election day, infuriating voters
- Commuters left frustrated with train delays
- Track repairs halted services to Strathfield
Sydney commuters are facing long delays as train services were suspended on NSW Election Day.
Crowds gathered at Sydney Central station on Saturday afternoon as track repairs halted trains to Strathfield.
Commuters traveling home from the city have been forced to take replacement buses.
Some people have taken to Twitter to complain about the delays, with one saying they would vote for whoever agreed to solve the transport problem in NSW.
Frustrated commuters were left waiting at Sydney Central station on Saturday as track repairs halted services to Strathfield
“Sydney trains are so f***ed… I don’t know when I’m going home,” one person wrote.
One man wondered how the city had such a bad train system, with signal failures “every second day.”
‘Stuck on a train. Joy,” he wrote.
“I vote for any party that maintains the service.”
Another person said they were stuck on a train for two hours, while Sydney Trains has issued an alert asking travelers to allow extra travel time.
Passengers took to Twitter to complain about the delays, with one saying they would vote for whoever agreed to solve NSW’s transportation problem
Western lines are running late and some trains have had to change their routes due to “urgent track repairs” in Homebush.
‘Stops can change and travel times become longer. Please allow extra travel time,” Sydney Trains said in a tweet.
Sydney Train issues have been a subject of division in the state after a bitter dispute with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union led to multiple strikes and commuter chaos throughout much of 2022.
Confusion ensued when train officials held station gates open and encouraged travelers not to pay for transport, with the government threatening fines for those not tapping.
Sydney Train issues have been a subject of division after a bitter 2022 dispute with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union led to multiple strikes and commuter chaos (stock image pictured)
The clashes related to wage and safety concerns over a Korean-built fleet of intercity trains, which the union claimed were not safe to run, with an irate Mr Perrottet threatening to terminate the multi-billion dollar company deal.
Tensions finally came to an end this year when the majority of rail workers supported a new company deal. In turn, workers were promised more parental, bereavement and carer’s leave and a 2.53 percent pay increase through May 2023, plus a 3.03 percent increase through May 2024.
In unfortunate timing, Sydney commuters were reminded of the train debacle earlier this month, when the entire rail network came to a standstill due to a communications system failure.
While trains resumed about an hour later, crowds were stranded at train stations, with delays lasting well into the night.