ABC Home
Open Sites menu - use enter key to open and tab key to navigate
Log In
Search
ABC News
Open menu
NEWS HOME
Sydney train chaos extends to the evening commute with major service disruption
BY PAIGE COCKBURN AND JAMIE MCKINNELL
UPDATED 30 MINUTES AGO
Email Facebook Twitter WhatsApp
People on a train
PHOTO Commuters were packed in tight after rain and staff sickness cause extensive delays across the rail network.
TWITTER: @EMMABETH08
The evening commute is shaping to be a stressful and uncomfortable one for thousands of Sydneysiders, with delays and cancellations continuing from this morning.
Sydney Trains said trains were disrupted today due to 100 staff taking leave, as well as wet weather, with over 50 services cancelled in the morning peak, and 45 cancelled tonight.
For some it was be a day of double delays, with frustrated passengers trying to get home complaining of overcrowded platforms, trains too full to take on more passengers and services being cancelled at the last minute.
"Sydney Trains need to work something out, whatever they're attempting at Town Hall for platform 1 and 2 is beyond a joke and is making the crowding so much worse than normal," commuter Jessica Spookles said.
"Still confused why we are being made to pay for barely any service?"
Commuter Ben Wallace also said Town Hall was not coping with the crowds and he could not get out of the station.
"It was absolutely crazy. I almost saw two fights break out," he said.
"Town Hall is closing the entrance to platforms until people come up so the entire ground floor is a disaster," he said.
The T1 North Shore, T2 Inner West and Leppington, T3 Bankstown, T5 Cumberland and T8 Airport South Line are all currently impacted.
A Sydney Trains spokesperson says buses are replacing some services, particularly in the western suburbs.
"We're providing a regular service ... not to the timetable ... but we are closing the gaps between cancellations," the spokesman said.
"Buses are waiting to take people."
Extra customer service staff are in place at major stations such as Central and Town Hall to manage crowds.
It is not a stress-free commute for those on the roads either, with southbound traffic on the Hume Motorway backed up around 20 kilometres due to an earlier crash.
Traffic is heavy from St Andrews to Preston so motorists should allow plenty of extra travel time.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance has defended rail staff who do a "phenomenal" job in the face of significant population growth.
Mr Constance said counselling to help staff deal with a high number of tragedies on the rail network in the past fortnight contributed to rail problem.
A crowded train platform
PHOTO Passengers line the platform at Leumeah Train Station on Monday.
ABC NEWS
Sydney Trains planned for 76 drivers to be sick, but about 40 additional staff were also off.
"The men and women driving our trains and crewing our trains are doing a phenomenal job," Mr Constance said.
Five years ago, the network supported 300 million passenger trips, but that has now increased by 100 million
Mr Constance said the trains still ran to over 90 per cent regularly, despite the "enormous challenges" in staff flexibility.
If you or anyone you know needs help:
Lifeline on 13 11 14
Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
Headspace on 1800 650 890
QLife on 1800 184 527
"In the last two weeks, for instance, we've had some terrible tragedies on our railway," he said.
"That has taken staff availability and affected staff availability. We have got staff being counselled."
"Those who seek to denigrate the railways are on the wrong track."
Over the past fortnight, there have been six deaths on the rail network, including accidental and self-harm incidents.
The department usually responds to one or two incidents each month.
Each incident involves mandated and optional leave for staff as they receive counselling.
Opposition promises fare refunds
Labor Leader Luke Foley
PHOTO NSW Labor Leader Luke Foley has launched a policy to refund late commuters.
NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley used the delays to launch a Labor policy that would see commuters who are delayed 30 minutes refunded their full fare.
He said if the party wins next year's state election, commuters would have a 28-day window to claim the refund for any delays caused by "avoidable" problems on the rail network.
"At the moment, there's just no incentive on the people running the railways to do better," Mr Foley said.
"The objective here is not so much to refund people, but ensure there's not need for refunds."
Mr Foley said the refunds would not be issued for natural disasters such as flash flooding or fires, but the policy would apply to staff illness and mechanical failures.
The Opposition estimates it would cost between $5 million and $6 million over the forward estimates period.
Mr Foley accused the State Government of failing to recruit enough train drivers to cover shortages.
"The train system lurches from crisis to crisis," he said.
Rail Tram and Bus Union NSW Secretary Alex Claassens agreed the Government had not done enough to train staff in the short term.
"We are totally stretched to the limit. We are exhausted. We're cutting corners everywhere," he said.
Mr Claassens defended staff, saying blaming them for delays was a "cop out".
POSTED ABOUT 11 HOURS AGO
SHAREEmail Facebook Twitter WhatsApp
RELATED
Sydney train delays spark commuter chaos
Top Stories
Aussie dollar falls to 32-month low, tax cuts may come sooner than expected
'In good taste': NSW Premier defends Opera House advertisement as petition passes 150,000
Sydney train chaos extends to the evening commute
Analysis: Border agents can demand access to your phone — here's what to say if it happens to you
Camels, nudists and hooning cars: Cable Beach congestion 'an accident waiting to happen'
Riding crop slap at work 'playful' and not harassment, CSIRO argues
She may be Doctor Who's newest hero, but Jodie Whittaker has a soft spot for another iconic doctor
Lawyer searched for 'dirt' on Geoffrey Rush, court hears
Vanished Interpol boss now under investigation for suspected bribery, China says
Opinion: How much power does Alan Jones have? Not as much as politicians think
Bulgarian investigative journalist found raped and murdered in park
Former NRL player Alex McKinnon and wife Teigan welcome baby girl
Head of US marine force in Darwin stood down for drink-driving on nightclub strip
Analysis: How much is Australia's economy in 2018 like Ireland's in 2007?
An ice-free Arctic and no Barrier Reef: UN report lays climate risks bare
Cancer Council calls for Roundup review after dying man wins $400m payout
'It's going to be ugly': Khabib could face the music over UFC McGregor fracas
Analysis: The good, the bad and the ugly of Australia's house price fall
'Ridiculous, Cold War mentality': Chinese embassy slams Fierravanti-Wells over Pacific loans op-ed
Almost half a tonne of MDMA worth $57 million found in sausage-making machines
Saudi journalist 'murdered and dismembered' after going to consulate to collect wedding papers
'I've always loved numbers': Meet the ground-breaking grandmother of Australian mathematics
MORE FROM ABC NEWS
HomeJust InPoliticsWorldAnalysis & OpinionBusinessSportScienceHealthArtsLive StreamsVideoPhotosEntertainmentUploadSubscribeRuralMore >
Top of page
Change to standard view
ABC NewsJust InWorldBusinessHealthEntertainmentSportAnalysis & OpinionWeatherTopicsArchiveCorrections & Clarifications
Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyAccessibilityContact the ABC© 2018 ABC