Sydney Metro northwest: Driverless train breaks down in tunnel

A driverless train on the newly-opened Sydney Metro northwest line has broken down in north-west Sydney, leaving travellers stranded.

The Sydney Metro has received mixed reviews from commuters in its opening week. Picture: David Swift.

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A driverless train on the newly-opened Sydney Metro northwest line has broken down between Cherrybrook and Epping, leaving commuters stranded and services delayed along the line.

Travellers hit out against Transport for NSW online, over a lack of information following the breakdown.

Sydney metro services have been hit with new complaints today after a train brokedown in the tunnel between Cherrybrook and Epping Picture: Toby Zerna

One customer said: “No offence but Sydney Metro kinda sucks”.

While another questioned what was going on: “Be nice to move at some point,” he said.

a Transport for NSW spokesman said there was a train with mechanical issues.

Metro services are running at a reduced frequency between Epping and Tallawong due to an earlier train with mechanical issues between Cherrybrook and Epping. Allow extra travel time pic.twitter.com/REwloInKv8

— Sydney Metro (@SydneyMetro) May 29, 2019

“Metro services are running at a reduced frequency between Epping and Tallawong due to an earlier train with mechanical issues between Cherrybrook and Epping,” the spokesman said.

“Trains are now running again at a reduced frequency while they return to normal service.”

The spokesman told the Times a train developed a communication fault at 12.48pm between Epping and Chatswood — moving west towards Tallawong.

Cherrybrook station on the new Sydney Metro line. (AAP/Image Matthew Vasilescu)

“This means that the train stopped communicating with the system,” he said.

“A technician was sent immediately to the site and the train was moved to Cherrybrook platform 2 under the control of a Customer Journey Co-ordinator.

So much for the so called "turn up and go" timetables. More than a twenty minute wait for the new #SydneyMetro pic.twitter.com/MhhBGaooWT

— Elias Visontay (@EliasVisontay) May 29, 2019

“Customers were informed of the issue and asked to board another service to Tallawong.”

It is understood customers were removed from the broken down train within minutes of the incident occuring, before repairs were started at Cherrybrook Station.

The spokesman said the train was taken to the depot at Tallawong Station by 1.14pm and a replacement train was sent out from the Depot at 1.30pm.

Sydney Metro northwest services opened to the public on Sunday to mixed reviews after trains failed to align with platform doors — sparking a string of delays along the line.

More than 140,000 people used the service on the first day while travel was free.

Services are currently running along the metro line every 10 minutes.

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