Major Delays and Chaos on Sydney’s Train Network

Widespread delays and cancellations are causing chaos on Sydney’s train network during the afternoon peak due to a fatality at Macdonaldtown Station.

Passengers have been urged to allow plenty of extra travel time and make their own travel arrangements if possible as the majority of the city’s train lines are hit by delays on Wednesday evening.

Trains are impacted on the Western Line, the Inner West & Leppington line, the Northern Line, the Blue Mountains Line and the Central Coast & Newcastle Line.

As of 4.15pm trains to the city from Strathfield were not stopping at Macdonaldtown, Summer Hill, Lewisham, Petersham, Stanmore or Newtown.

A limited number of trains are stopping at Ashfield and Croydon.

A Transport for NSW spokesperson urged passengers to consider catching local buses or take city-bound trains to Redfern and change trains to get out of the city.

Many trains that are running are travelling at slow speeds and stopping at platforms or between stations for longer than usual. Some trains out of the city towards Parramatta, Chatswood, Strathfield, and the airport have been delayed by well over an hour, as have some services travelling towards the city.

Police have restricted access to platforms at Parramatta Station and are delivering updates via a megaphone as thousands of commuters crowd into the station.

One passenger said they’d been sitting on a train at Central bound for Hornsby for more than 30 minutes without any announcements or updates. Other passengers waiting at St Leonards Station are unable to hear updates due to a malfunction with the station’s speakers.

A police spokesperson said the emergency operation has concluded at Macdonaldtown and the station was being prepared to continue services.

A similar fatal incident at Sydney’s rail network threw passengers’ Lunar New Year celebrations into disarray. Revellers travelling to the city were faced with cancellations and 90-minute delays.

Passengers have been advised to consider catching buses or switch trains at Redfern station for an alternative route.

Some commuters have taken to social media to criticize the handling of the delays.