Trains resume after Sandringham line fatal strands thousands of commuters in CBD

Thousands of commuters were stranded in the CBD during the evening peak last night after a fatal accident combined with train line shutdowns to create chaos.

Frustrated commuters wait in line after the Sandringham line was suspended. Picture: Kieran Rooney

An elderly woman’s death that closed down the Sandringham line last night is being treated as an accident.

The 83-year-old Hampton woman died after being struck by a train at the Grenville St crossing in Hampton at 4pm.

It added to the extreme train pain for commuters who were left stranded in the CBD due to railway upgrades shutting down the Frankston, Cranbourne and Pakenham services.

FRANKSTON LINE FACING TWO-MONTH SHUTDOWN

Commuters queuing for replacement bus services faced waits of hours yesterday as lines of people stretched from Southbank across Princes Bridge to Flinders Street station.

@metrotrains yesterday evening was a total mess. I understand you can't know when there will be accidents on a line but the bus replacement people need better communications. To be told to go to Art Center only then to be told sorry go to Parliament was a joke #metrotrains

— Al Madden (@al_madden) April 15, 2019

Another day in the world's most liveable city #metrotrains pic.twitter.com/hyuFUeDaKt

— Anna Kelk 🇦🇺 (@annakelk) April 15, 2019

Hundreds of replacement buses were already busy ferrying commuters to the southeastern suburbs ­because railway upgrades had disrupted the Frankston, Cranbourne and Pakenham line services, before the Sandringham line also shut down.

One side of the Princes Bridge was also closed for upgrades, forcing pedestrians on to roads and into bike lanes.

Frustrated commuters wait patiently near the Arts Centre. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Melbourne commuters queue across Princes Bridge for a bus. Picture: Rob Baird

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The Herald Sun witnessed a number of near-misses as cyclists swerved past people on the road.

Some commuters said they had waited 30 to 80 minutes in a queue before they could get on a bus.

Sandringham trains were running about 6.30pm yesterday but the delays had a flow-on effect: trams for St Kilda Rd and Richmond were inundated, and surge pricing meant an Uber trip to Highett cost over $100.

Lucas Bourne, 26, waited more than an hour for a bus home to Sandringham. His total commute was likely to be about three hours.

“Look, I can’t blame Metro for what was an accident — probably responded as best they could,” he said.

“But giving the punters a free day’s travel is probably the least they could do to keep the peace. I’m sure most people are already pretty unhappy with them anyway.”

Commuters have been stranded in Melbourne after the Sandringham line was suspended. Picture: Kieran Rooney

Trains did not resume until after dark. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Confusion reigned supreme: some passengers complained of little, or conflicting, advice from Metro staff on the cause of the delays and what they should do. Other commuters were frustrated as some people cut lines to jump to the front of the queue.

“I’ve waited about 30 minutes in line but that has been made worse by people walking on the road and cutting the line,” one said.

Other commuters were frustrated as some people cut lines to jump to the front of the queue.

“I’ve waited about 30 minutes in line but that has been made worse by people walking on the road and cutting the line,” one passenger said.

A Public Transport Victoria spokesman said its thoughts were with the family of the woman killed.

“We want to thank those trying to get home from the city tonight for their patience after a person was struck by a train on the Sandringham line,” he said.

“Sandringham line trains were replaced by buses while emergency services dealt with the incident.”

Lines across Princes Bridge as Sandy line suspended and buses replacing trains on Frankston Line. Melbourne PT in meltdown... pic.twitter.com/zfw7RVQSvG

— a a ɹ o n (@aaronlangmaid) April 15, 2019

Police are still investigating the death, which will be examined by the coroner.

Buses were also backed up along Sir John Monash Drive near Monash University at Caulfield, as weary commuters were diverted back onto Frankston line trains.

Darryl Seeton, of Dingley, said: “I don’t think the people in charge of the network during a vast overhaul like this really have an understanding of what it’s like to experience it on a daily basis.”

Others said they would consider trying to work from home or starting later in the day to avoid the risk of experiencing such chaos again.

“It’s frustrating,” said one woman. “But what other option do we have?”

Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen said the city’s supply of replacement buses had been struggling to cope even before the woman’s death had caused the Sandringham line to be closed down.

Those wanting to bypass the lines which have crowded the footpath have been forced onto the road. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/YYay0rAR9e

— James Mottershead (@mottersjames) April 15, 2019

No signs of the crowds easing. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/570nOefEAH

— James Mottershead (@mottersjames) April 15, 2019

PASSENGER COMPO PUSH AS NIGHTMARE COMMUTE LOOMS“It is an unfortunate time … (for an accident to happen). The Sandringham line was the only one that had been running to the southern suburbs, so once that goes it doesn’t leave a lot of options,” Mr Bowen said.

“We know that some people who usually catch Frankston trains had been using that line to try and speed up their journey.”

Mr Bowen said the incident also raised questions about why the entire line had to be closed. “They used to be able to terminate the line at Elsternwick, but they haven’t been able to do that any more because of an infrastructure issue,” he said.

“If that option had been available half the line would have been catered for and you would be moving people away from the city.”

Less than a week ago it emerged that Metro had recorded its worst punctuality result since tough new contracts for the railway operator began.

Commuters with a Myki pass who travelled by train for at least 10 days in March are eligible to apply for compensation in the form of a fare because of the operator’s poor performance.

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