All Sydney residents will get FREE travel after trains collapse – here’s what we know so far
- The train network shut down in Sydney on Wednesday
- NSW Premier said one day of free public transport will be offered
Dominic Perrottet has announced that there will be a free public transport day to make up for the collapse of Sydney’s train network on Wednesday afternoon.
Commuters trying to get home after work on Wednesday had to wait nearly two hours after the public transport network’s radio system failed.
The New South Wales premier said on Thursday a “fee-free” day was expected to try to make up for the chaos.
“I made it very clear to the secretary of the (New South Wales Transport) department that my expectation is that there will be a fare-free day to somehow make up for what happened yesterday,” he told reporters.
Sydney’s train network came to a standstill on Wednesday as frustrated commuters scrambled to find alternative ways to get home. In the photo, travelers waiting for a tram at the City Hall.
“I am truly sorry for the inconvenience many faced yesterday as they tried to get home to their families, work and catch flights.”
It is not yet known when the day of free public transport will be.
All trains stopped around 3pm on Wednesday, with the screens at Central Station in the center of Sydney’s central business district completely blank.
Transport NSW was forced to stop all trains for safety reasons after the digital train radio system failed.
The system was eventually restarted, and trains on the ground began running again more than an hour after the problem began.
However, tens of thousands of travelers were left stranded throughout the city.
People crowded outside Central Station in Sydney’s central business district on Wednesday afternoon.
Transport NSW initially warned travelers that the issue would affect services throughout the afternoon.
Warnings to passengers to “expect delays” in the early afternoon turned into messages advising travelers to find “alternative travel options.”
The system glitch sent the price of Ubers skyrocketing, with trips through Sydney costing travelers almost triple the price.
One traveler posted a screenshot of a ride from the city center to Bondi that charged $88.21.
More buses were sent to the city to take the train passengers left in limbo.
Trains are understood to have been operating normally on Thursday.
