Critics say new Metro rail line opened too early

Experts have suggested the $7.3 billion driverless train system opened to the public too early, with the state government forging ahead with its May 26 deadline despite minor bugs still needing to be ironed out.

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The Sydney Metro’s horror opening week continued yesterday with a power failure rendering six stations unusable and a fire alarm triggering an evacuation at Macquarie Park.

Experts have now suggested the $7.3 billion driverless train system opened to the public too early, with the state government forging ahead with its May 26 deadline despite minor bugs still needing to be ironed out.

A power outage at 5.20am yesterday forced the Metro to defer to buses between Tallawong and Castle Hill, before the electricity was fixed at 6.01am and train services were slowly restored for morning peak.

Later in the morning, the problems continued when a train overshot the platform at Chatswood at 7.50am, causing an 11-minute delay. Then at 3pm, a fire alarm at Macquarie Park forced the station to be evacuated — with trains instructed to skip the station until the issue was resolved at 4.30pm.

Crowds on Tallawong Metro station on the day the northwest line opened. Picture: David Swift

Originally published as Critics say new Metro rail line opened too early