Commuter chaos as Sydney’s transport network melts down on Election Day leaving voters furious
- Travelers frustrated by train delays
- Track repairs halted services to Strathfield
Travelers from Sydney face long delays as train services were suspended on NSW Election Day.
Crowds gathered at Sydney Central Station on Saturday afternoon as track repairs halted services traveling to Strathfield.
Commuters traveling home from the city have been forced to take replacement buses.
Some people took to Twitter to complain about the delays, with one saying he would vote for whoever agreed to fix New South Wales’ transport problem.
Frustrated passengers on Saturday were left waiting at Sydney Central Station as track repairs halted services traveling to Strathfield.
“Sydney trains are so fucked up… I don’t know when I’m going to get home,” one person wrote.
One man asked how the city had such a bad train system, with signals failing ‘every other day’.
Trapped on a train. Joy,’ she wrote.
I will vote for whichever party keeps the service.
Another person said she had been stuck on a train for two hours, while Sydney Trains issued a warning 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 fix New South Wales’ transport problem.
Western lines are behind schedule and some trains have had to reroute due to “urgent track repairs” at Homebush.
Stops may change and travel times will be longer. Please allow additional travel time,” Sydney Trains said in a tweet.
Sydney’s train issues have been a divisive issue in the state after a bitter dispute with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union led to multiple strikes and chaos among passengers for much of 2022.
The confusion ensued when train officials held the station doors open, encouraging travelers not to pay for transportation, and the government threatened to fine people who didn’t tap.
Sydney’s train issues have been a divisive issue after a bitter dispute with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union led to multiple strikes and chaos among passengers in 2022 (file image pictured)
The clashes related to pay and safety concerns over a fleet of Korean-built intercity trains, which the union argued were unsafe to operate, with an irate Mr Perrottet threatening to pull out of the multi-billion dollar company deal.
The tensions were finally quelled this year when a majority of rail workers backed a new company deal. In turn, workers were promised increased paternity, bereavement and caregiver leave and a 2.53% pay increase through May 2023, plus a 3.03% 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 halt due to a failure in communication systems.
While trains resumed about an hour later, crowds were stuck at train stations and delays continued into the night.
