Communications issue paralyses Sydney Metro northwest network

Sydney Metro has confessed human error was the cause of the networks outages, which led to commuters being stranded at Sydney Metro stations as Transport scrambled to replaces services with buses between Tallawong Station and Chatswood.

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All services along the Sydney Metro northwest have come to a standstill this morning after the nerve centre behind the newly-completed transport project was paralysed.

Services are not running in both directions between Chatswood and Tallawong due to a communications system issue. Replacement buses are being organised but are not yet on site. Delay your trip, consider alternative travel options or allow plenty of extra time. pic.twitter.com/6yYapX6hOv

— Sydney Metro (@SydneyMetro) July 28, 2019

Sydney Metro representatives announced services were not running in both directions between Chatswood and Tallawong due to a communications system issue at 9.50am today.

Sydney Metro Northwest train line.

“Replacement buses are being organised but are not yet on site,” the representative said in an announcement on Twitter.

“Delay your trip, consider alternative travel options or allow plenty of extra time.”

Commuters have expressed outrage over the lack of information following the communications error this morning, with several taking to social media for answers.

At 10.13am Sydney Metro tweeted furious customers, informing them that services were running at a reduced frequency following the communications system issue.

Thanks for telling us after we have been stuck at chatswood for an hour!

— HarvS (@HarvandnaS) July 28, 2019

There's a problem with communication all right- an estimate on whether it worth staying on the train or trying for a bus would be helpful - not an announcement telling us there are issues- we know that !

— Steve Teale (@Steavinda) July 29, 2019

A sydney Metro spokeswoman said no trains were running along the network from 9.21am to 10.32am.

“The outage was a result of human error, with a technician in the Tallawong Central Equipment Room accidentally activating the evacuation of the Metro Control Centre, triggering a discharge of fire suppressant gas,” the spokeswoman revealed.

“Attempts to restore communications to the Automatic Train Supervision system and Central Control System were not successful.

“At 10:32am the MTS Network Controller activated the back up control centre at Bella Vista.

Train services were restored at 10:56am.”

Buses continue to replace trains along the network.