Transport chaos in Sydney as all peak hour trains heading west are affected by major failure
A signalling malfunction across Sydney train networks have triggered mass delays during the evening peak hour.
The issue brought dozens of services across several train lines on Thursday afternoon to a standstill causing mass delays across the network.
A Transport for NSW spokeswoman told the Daily Telegraph staff are working to fix the problem.
‘Trains are currently at stand and unable to pass through Granville due to urgent signal repairs,’ the spokeswoman said.
‘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.’
Transport staff advised commuters around 5pm they would be stranded at Central Station, in Sydney’s CBD, until the urgent signal repairs are conducted.
Dozens of services on the Blue Mountains, Cumberland and Western Lines were among the rail networks that were affected by the infrastructure issue.
A signalling malfunction across Sydney train networks have triggered mass delays during the evening peak hour (pictured stock image of commuters at Central Station in Sydney)
Sydney Trains also issued a travel alert on X around 5pm informing customers of the delays.
‘Allow extra travel time due to urgent signal repairs at Granville,’ the notice read.
‘Trains will stop at or between stations around the affect area. Stops may also change at short notice for some trains.’
Staff from Sydney Trains are understood to have advised commuters trains on the Western lines would be ‘crippled’ if services 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.’ staff reportedly advised customers.
Passengers took to social media to express their frustration at the peak hour delays.
‘Urgent train repair this morning, peak hours and now another one just as we roll into [the] evening peak,’ one person wrote.
Dozens of services on the Blue Mountains, Cumberland and Western Lines have been affected by the issue (pictured commuters during train delays at Sydney’s Town Hall station)
‘Crazy idea here … how about you spend some money and upgrade these signal repairs. This is an almost daily occurrence,’ another frustrated commuter wrote.
Transport for NSW have since confirmed that all trains are running back to normal.
Technicians are understood to have taken just 20 minutes to fix the issue before trains began to run as scheduled.
The Transport for NSW spokeswoman confirmed there would be no delays across the rail network for the rest of the night.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Transport for NSW for further comment.
Transport for NSW have since confirmed that all trains are running back to normal after technicians worked quickly to fix the issue (pictured a train departing Strathfield Station in Sydney)
The disruption occurred before hundreds of fans of rock-and-roll legend Elvis Presley boarded the ‘Elvis Express’ at Central Station to Parkes, in central west NSW, just hours earlier.
Commuters will be heading to the country town to attend the popular and annual Elvis Festival.
The signal issued is the second disruption to Sydney’s train network in less than 24 hours after commuters were advised of urgent track repairs at Central Station earlier on Thursday morning.
