Passengers in Sydney are being warned of potential ‘knock-on effects’ on Wednesday morning after a high-voltage wire fell on a train at Strathfield on Tuesday afternoon, trapping 300 people and causing major delays across the network. The incident, which occurred at around 2:30pm, led to the suspension of power on several lines, stranding three other trains for safety reasons.
Howard Collins, coordinator general for Transport for NSW, said the fallen wire posed a life-threatening risk due to the high voltage. “It will kill you straight away,” he told reporters, emphasising that safety was the top priority. Teams worked to safely evacuate passengers from the affected trains.
NSW Transport Minister John Graham apologised for the disruption, describing the incident as “very serious” and occurring at a “critical part of the rail network”. He said recovery work was underway to cut the entangled train away, but warned of possible flow-on impacts into Wednesday morning, advising commuters to check the latest information before travelling.
The T1, T2, T3, T5, T8 and T9 lines were severely affected on Tuesday evening, with shuttle buses replacing services on several routes. The T4, T6 and South Coast lines, as well as metro, light rail and buses, were not impacted. Sydney Trains is investigating the root cause of the incident.
At Central station, chaotic scenes unfolded as thousands of commuters faced cancelled services and unclear information. Some passengers reported relying on Google Maps for alternative routes, while others expressed frustration at the lack of alternatives for south-west Sydney, particularly after the closure of the Bankstown line for metro conversion.
