Passengers are bracing for peak-hour chaos as dozens of trains are delayed and cancelled due to drivers calling in sick and lightning damaged signal equipment.
Storm damage and staffing failures crippled Sydney’s train network on Tuesday, leaving thousands of commuters stranded and causing some to miss flights.
Rail users vented their anger at Sydney Trains as morning delays continued into the afternoon, following similar problems on Monday.
New South Wales Opposition leader Luke Foley slammed the Berejiklian Government, the new timetables, and the state’s ‘shambolic’ train service.
Passengers are bracing for massive peak hour delays as dozens of trains are delayed and cancelled due to drivers calling in sick
Sydney’s train network was thrown into chaos throughout Tuesday, leaving commuters stranded and causing some to miss flights
One social media user reported missing flights worth $1500 due to the delays (pictured)
‘The timetable is not worth the paper it is written on,’ he told reporters at a press conference.
‘The government has to invest in public services. How is it there aren’t enough drivers to drive the trains on the timetable so 18 trains are cancelled yesterday?
‘Employ more drivers. How about a government that concentrates on the delivery of transport services, instead they’re prioritising a $2billion stadium splurge.’
Affected lines include the North Shore, Northern and Western lines, due to a lightning strike at Gordon, and the Olympic Park Line due to staff availability.
The Carlingford Line also has trains suspended due to staff shortages, and the Liverpool, Inner West and South lines are all experiencing major delays.
One furious passenger took to Twitter to complain about missing a flight due to train delays this morning.
New South Wales Opposition leader Luke Foley (pictured) slammed the Berejiklian Government, the new timetables, and the state’s ‘shambolic’ train service
Rail users vented their anger at Sydney Trains as morning delays continued into the afternoon, following similar problems on Monday
This Twitter user took a photo of frustrated commuters, a scene replayed throughout Sydney
Passengers took to social media to vent their anger over the delays and cancellations (above)
‘Seriously F*** you Sydney Trains for making us miss our flights because you had no driver, f*** you for costing us $1500 for your incompetence,’ he wrote.
‘Is this Sydney Trains 60-70 drivers calling in sick a kind of general strike due to the new timetable? Is that what this is? Anyone know a train driver?’ wrote another.
‘This is the second train I haven’t been able to board due to overcrowding. What a joke,’ wrote another next to a photo of a packed platform.
‘Stuck in the city circle tunnel now 20 minutes and counting,’ said another customer in reply to a Trains Info tweet.
‘Our train driver said our train this morning was delayed “due to people getting on and off” I wonder what Sydney Trains expect to do with trains??!’ said one perplexed passenger on Tuesday.
Sydney Trains wrote on Twitter the delays are due to ‘staff availability’ and commuters should allow extra travel time for ‘flow on delays’.
About 70 train drivers called in sick Tuesday with Sydney Trains CEO Howard Collins telling reporters the drivers have proper illnesses.
The delays continued from early in the morning with problems getting worse early afternoon
At 9am every single train on the vital City Circle was delayed by 41 minutes, leaving commuters furious
Frustrated passengers bemoaned Sydney’s rail network, many calling it the worst in the world
Others called for an investigation, as transport apps shows trains either cancelled or delayed
Commuters are reportedly being turned away from catching their train due to overcrowding
Some commuters are arriving hours early to beat delays but have been stuck on slow services
While some commuters are arriving an hour early to beat the delays, carriage overcrowding means people have been turned away from catching their train, Sunrise reported.
With many people heading back to work for the first time this week after the holidays, thousands have been left stranded as some trains are not stopping at usual stations and may change ‘at short notice’, according to Sydney Trains.
There were 18 train cancellations across the city on Monday because of staff calling in sick and lack of staff to cover the shifts.
‘We are seeing high levels of sickness of our train drivers … but we are managing that well,’ Mr Collins told 7 News.
Thousands of commuters have been left stranded after lengthy delays and cancelled train services hit Sydney as many workers head back to work for the first time after holidays