Sydney train delays: Chaos caused by ‘100-year-old train stations’
YESTERDAY’S train chaos occurred because Sydney’s century old train stations can’t accommodate the sheer number of modern commuters, NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance says.
NSW
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YESTERDAY’S train chaos — which saw commuters stranded at Town Hall and Wynyard stations for hours — occurred because Sydney’s century old train stations can’t accommodate the sheer number of modern commuters, NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance says.
A fatality on the tracks in Western Sydney triggered a citywide delay during peak hour, with commuters at Wynyard and Town Hall stations told to walk to alternative transport.
Other spent more than an hour in the hot, crowded stations because of delays.
Mr Constance today said the inner city stations were simply not built for so many commuters.
“It’s a massive challenge — you’ve got narrow platforms, you've got public safety in mind. These are narrow platforms that were built 100 years ago,” he told 7 News.
Train Chaos: "These are platforms built a hundred years ago" - Transport Minister @AndrewConstance responding to the chaos created when Town Hall & Wynyard train stations became overcrowded yesterday. "They're not built for catering to today's population." #SydneyTrains #7News pic.twitter.com/PprEaGZD4n
— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) December 12, 2017
“They’re not built for catering to today’s population and that’s why the government is investing in a new metro network for the city.”
The transport chaos was caused by a 6.30am death at Wentworthville, in Sydney’s west, on the T1 line.
The fatality forced the closure of the station and triggering a knock on effect down the busy line and eventually across the system during the evening rush. Police were forced to close the line for three hours during their investigation.
During the worst of the rush hour delays, Sydney Trains employees were forced to barricade Town Hall stairways to stagger the heavy stream of passengers.
NSW opposition transport spokeswoman Jodi McKay said yesterday’s “meltdown” meant the government “isn’t telling us the full story”.
The incident comes after the government announced 1500 new train services.
Transport for NSW said “demand for trains” was “going through the roof”.
“We’ve experienced unprecedented customer demand, with rail patronage set to grow by 21 per cent by 2021 — the $1.5 billion More Trains, More Services (MTMS) program will increase services, add new trains and upgrade and modernise our complex train network,” a spokesman said.
“Together with signalling and other rail upgrades across the existing network, Sydney Metro will increase capacity of train services into the CBD from about 120 per hour today, to up to 200 services beyond 2024. That’s an increase of up to 60 per cent capacity across the network to meet demand for a growing city.”
Mr Constance apologised to the public for the delays.
“What happened yesterday is a personal tragedy ... our thoughts are with the family and the driver,” he said.
“And obviously we are apologetic to the public who felt the consequences.”
Transport for NSW has been contacted for comment.