Train services to Western Sydney return to normal schedule

Sydney trains network has returned to normal after a signal failure stopped all services from Central to the city’s west earlier on Thursday evening.

Trains are back to running as normal after being left at a standstill due to a signalling issue in Sydney’s peak hour this afternoon.

After being indicated to travellers that services would remain bottlenecked at Central Station “until urgent repairs are carried out”, it took only 20 minutes for trains to get back on schedule on Thursday evening.

A Transport for NSW spokeswoman said there would be no effect on services for the rest of the night.

“All trains are back to normal after a few trains around Granville were held for around 20 minuets,” she said.

“They are all on the move again. There are no effects leading into the rest of the night.”

Urgent signal repairs at Granville have hit all services running to Sydney’s west this afternoon.

Just before 5pm, Transport for NSW staff told hundreds of furious passengers that services would remain bottlenecked at Central Station indefinitely.

“Trains are currently at stand and unable to pass through Granville due to urgent signal repairs,” a statement to commuters reads.

“Technicians are currently en route to the affected area in attempt to rectify the issue.

“Please delay non-essential travel and use alternative transport to complete your journey.”

Sydney Trains staff on platforms told commuters the Western lines network would be “crippled” if services were automatically resumed.

“We will need to drip feed services out of Central to stop massive delays, we don’t know when services will return to normal.”

#WesternLine Allow extra travel time due to urgent signal repairs at Granville.

Trains will stop at or between stations around the affect area. Stops may also change at short notice for some trains.

Message us if you need help travelling. pic.twitter.com/wp9zpIuMHq

— T1 Sydney Trains (@T1SydneyTrains) January 9, 2025

Unimpressed commuters vented to social media. “... twice in a day. Urgent train repair this morning peak hours and now another one just as we roll into evening peak. Sydney Trains incompetence is beyond belief,” wrote Stonk Dog.

Dozens of services on the Blue Mountains, Cumberland and Western Lines have been impacted by the standstill.

Luckily, the “Elvis Express” had left Central station before the trouble surfaced, ferrying hundreds of die-hard fans of The King to Parkes for the annual Elvis Festival.

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Originally published as Train services to Western Sydney return to normal schedule