Firefighter gets electrical shock during final drill for Sydney’s new metro line

A firefighter received an electrical shock during a final evacuation drill on Thursday for Sydney’s new metro rail line, compounding the problems besetting the $21.6 billion rail project after its opening was delayed.

An incident report seen by the Herald shows that the firefighter received the “minor electrical shock” while opening a driverless train door during a search-and-rescue exercise. An ambulance was called to assess his condition.

He was taking part in the final exercise at Barangaroo station that involved the “uncontrolled detrainment” on the city-section of the Metro City and Southwest line. It was the last of four exercises this week.

The incident occurred during a final evacuation exercise at the new Barangaroo station on Thursday.Credit: Rhett Wyman

Sydney Metro confirmed that it had launched an investigation into the incident after the firefighter reported feeling a minor electric shock. He was reaching under a stationary and de-powered metro train to access a manual door release lever when he received the shock.

“Consistent with exercise protocols, the exercise was immediately suspended, with the participant checked by first aid,” the agency said.

“NSW Ambulance attended as a safety precaution, and consistent with [Fire and Rescue NSW] protocols, the participant will be monitored for safety.”

The incident comes two days after NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen announced that the 15.5 kilometres of mostly underground line from Chatswood to Sydenham could not be opened on Sunday as planned.

A combination of problems including a lack of final approval from the national regulator, a recent meltdown on a different stretch of line and industrial action from the firefighters’ union have been blamed for the delay.

A new date for the opening will hinge on Fire and Rescue NSW’s review and acceptance of extra information from Sydney Metro, as well as final approval from the rail safety regulator. The fire and rescue agency met both Sydney Metro and the line’s private operator on Thursday to resolve more than 60 outstanding issues before passenger services can start.

The private operator was savaged three weeks ago by Fire and Rescue commanders for its dire response to a system-wide outage on the line, which suddenly stopped 31 driverless trains.

Earlier on Thursday, Transport for NSW secretary Josh Murray said the agency was holding “intense meetings” with the parties involved in ensuring the new metro line was ready.

“The broader transport network is ready; the operator is ready to go and trains and stations are ready. But we need to make sure that everyone’s had a chance to interrogate all that latest information,” he said.

Murray said the “significant training exercise” for firefighters at Barangaroo station was the “last piece of the practice puzzle” before paperwork was scrutinised by the national rail safety regulator.

Asked if the agency was still targeting a date in August for the line’s opening, Murray said the agency was “asking for a little bit more patience” because safety assurance was the most important aspect.

“We have a range of contingency plans but of course that will now await the coming advice from the national rail safety regulator. And as has been said by the government, we won’t be pressuring anyone to give us those sign-offs,” he said.

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