Melbourne train delays due to massive electrical spark

UPDATE: HEADACHES continue on the Sandringham line hours after an electrical fault ignited a ball of flame on the roof of a morning peak-hour service near Flinders St.

Passengers step off the train to safety. Picture: AAP

A MASSIVE electrical spark brought peak-hour Melbourne trains to a halt this morning near Flinders St Station.

Passengers on board the affected train, and following services, were forced to jump off and walk along Batman Ave to the city when the line was shut down.

But the pain isn’t over for Sandringham passengers, with the line suspended between Elsternwick and South Yarra because of a separate electrical fault for most of the day.

Metro said the line had been suspended to allow workmen to fix the fault, with buses running between Elsternwick and Caulfield.

Passengers between Ripponlea and Prahran were urged to catch local trams or buses.

Metro said services would be running again by 3pm but passengers were urged to check Metro’s website or alerts.

In the earlier incident, eyewitness video captured the moment sparks flew from electrical overhead powerlines above one of the carriages of the train on the Sandringham line just before 7.30am.

Fire crews were called to the scene over fears it could spark a fire.

Herald Sun digital editor Nathaniel Bane was on the train directly behind.

As his service was about to arrive at Flinders St the lights went out suddenly as the train lost power.

“We were in darkness for a moment then the emergency lights came on,” he said.

“The driver came on pretty quick and said there was an issue with the train ahead, it was stuck under the Batman Bridge because of an electrical fault, and we were going nowhere.”

Benjamin Yeo captured the sparks flying. Picture: @benyeo

A fire engine was seen heading past minutes later before the driver told passengers they had to get off the train on to the tracks.

“Passengers were getting a little grumpy being late for work but the driver kept us up to date,” he said.

“We all shuffled to the back driver’s compartment and jumped off on to the tracks.

“Because our track was closest to a road we just walked through a gate then up the road into the city.”

Passengers climb off a train during this morning’s drama. AAP Image/Joe Castro

Metro staff help commuters make their way to safety. AAP Image/Joe Castro

Some passengers had to jump off the train. AAP Image/Joe Castro

Metro spokeswoman Sammie Black said the “overhead power issue” between Richmond and Flinders St station led to major delays.

Trains resumed within a few hours after delays of up to 30 minutes, before the second issue affected trains on the Sandringham line with services suspended between Elsternwick and South Yarra due to a separate overhead power issue.

Commuters were urged to check the Metro website for further information.

The MFB says crews were called to Flinders St station at 7.24am but described it as a “false alarm” and that there was no fire.

Crews left a short time later.

off we get #metrotrains @metrotrains #metrofail pic.twitter.com/48P85pORPM

— Nathaniel Bane (@natbane) August 2, 2017

Finally off ... well handled by @metrotrains #metrotrains pic.twitter.com/eREyyhPBeQ

— Nathaniel Bane (@natbane) August 2, 2017

mind the gap #metrotrains @metrotrains pic.twitter.com/agNuSQDDdo

— Nathaniel Bane (@natbane) August 2, 2017

Motorists also faced major delays this morning as five crashes within a one kilometre stretch of the Western Ring road caused traffic chaos about 7am.

All collisions have now been moved into the emergency lane and speed limits are down to 40km/h in the area and delays continue back to the Tullamarine Freeway.