Sydney Metro hit by another outage, causing commuter delays

The multi-billion dollar line has again failed commuters this morning, with a “technical issue” closing the service.

Commuters in Sydney’s north west were left stranded this morning with the new Metro train line replaced by buses. Picture: AAP

The multibillion-dollar Sydney Metro has failed commuters again this morning, with the entire line closed earlier due to the latest “technical issue”.

Authorities are warning users to delay their morning commutes and consider alternative travel options, as replacement buses struggled to service the hordes of workers arriving at stations across Sydney’s north west.

Too late @SydneyMetro!!! I need to get to St Leonards at 7am!This is the 5th time I personally experienced your train issues.When you started operations you already had glitches and thought of delaying using you until you removed all NthSyd buses at stops where theres metro. pic.twitter.com/NMKuNNpcMs

— nyarky (@nyarkee) August 12, 2019

The technical glitch caught authorities off guard, with Transport for NSW workers seen at stations before 5am telling commuters to line up and wait for replacement buses that had yet to arrive at stations.

Services are not running in both directions between Chatswood and Tallawong due to a technical issue at Tallawong. Replacement buses are operating a limited service. Delay your trip, consider alternative travel options or allow plenty of extra time. pic.twitter.com/QvWZoiD0N9

— Sydney Metro (@SydneyMetro) August 12, 2019

Many of those who had parked at the new Metro stations returned to their vehicles after learning of the closure, driving across suburbs to Sydney’s existing heavy rail system or into their offices directly.

This is ridiculous. How do you expect people to get to work on time? I have never heard of a metro service that has so many issues and a number of other large cities run them!

— Molita Coelho-Lewis (@molitac) August 12, 2019

As of 7.01am services are beginning to resume, with buses to continue supplementing trains.

It’s the latest outage to plague the privately-operated line that has experienced significant growing pains since it joined the Sydney public transport network in May.

At the end of last month, commuters were stranded in tunnels when the entire line shut for hours after a technician in a control room broke a fire suppressant system which triggered an evacuation of the Metro line’s control centre.