A single worker calling in sick triggers commuter chaos

Rostering will be reviewed and new signallers hired after the Sydney train network was brought to its knees when a single worker called in sick.

Sydney Trains rostering will be put under the microscope and 60 more signallers hired after a single staff member calling in sick brought the network to its knees on Thursday.

The staff member’s crucial role could not be filled, and no trains could run between Parramatta and St Marys or Blacktown and Richmond in the early afternoon.

By the time a replacement staff member was found 90 minutes later, the chaos had spread throughout the network with commuters packed like sardines onto platforms and queuing for what few replacement buses were available.

Town Hall station had to be shut down for safety issues.

The signaller is a highly-specialised member of the team that ensures trains have a clear path ahead when travelling on the tracks, and is critical for avoiding collisions.

Train delays across the Sydney network after a staff member called in sick. Picture: Seven News

Acting transport minister John Graham apologised to commuters, blaming a combination of school holidays leave, sickness and existing staff shortages for the chaos.

“This has put a spotlight on the on the recruitment challenge particularly for signallers in the system,” he said.

The train delays caused huge crowds. Picture: Seven News

“These are highly skilled jobs. It takes some time to recruit them and train signallers … but the government recognises that it’s a challenge.”

Mr Graham likened the role to air traffic controllers, who are also in short supply.

Acting Secretary of Transport for NSW Howard Collins said the currently underway rail safety review will be expanded to include the staffing issue to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

There are 340 trained signallers in NSW, ranging from simple signal boxes in the regions to complex Sydney networks.

NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen is on holidays.

The person who called in sick was in charge of operating one of the more complex desks, Mr Collins said.

Currently 38 would-be signallers are undergoing training which takes a year to complete. Mr Collins said Transport for NSW hoped to recruit a further 30 this year, and yet another 30 in 2024.

“I’ve asked the Sydney Trains team to examine the rosters in minute detail and ensure we’ve got enough coverage to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” he said.

Frustrated commuters took to social media to make their angst known.

“A f … ing debacle,” one said.

“Sydney trains are a mess,” another said.

The train chaos comes at an unfortunate time for Transport Minister Jo Haylen, who is taking a week off holidaying in Tasmania.

Opposition transport spokeswoman Natalie Ward called on the government to provide commuters with a fare free day on Monday to make up for the inconvenience,

“The chaos commuters saw on the network yesterday was completely unacceptable,” Ms Ward said.

“In the past week we have seen the Premier and Transport Minister on leave while with looming industrial action hanging over the State, the Transport system grind to halt and no one from the Government able to front up and answer questions on what they plan to do about it.

“The Transport Minister launched a review promising to ‘fix’ Sydney trains, yet all we have seen is commuters inconvenienced and now the train system unable to function as a result of a single person phoning in sick.”