“An Absolute Joke”: Commuters Are Slamming Sydney Trains Over Saturday’s Massive Delays
"I’d get to town quicker in Fred Flinstone’s car."
Furious commuters have taken to social media to slam Sydney Trains, after “technical issues” caused major delays across the city’s railway network on Saturday.
Passengers reported being delayed for upwards of two hours, waiting on platforms for services that didn’t arrive, or stuck on trains that had stopped between stations.
By midday, Sydney Trains was warning commuters to “delay non-essential travel or utilise local buses where possible”.
Due to a technical issue affecting our communications, indicator boards, real time apps and train running information may be unavailable or incorrect. As a result, services are experiencing major delays.
Please delay non-essential travel or utilise local buses where possible. pic.twitter.com/8CMAcOZxOY
— Trains Info (@TrainsInfo) August 18, 2018
The delays occurred after “urgent” wiring repairs at Wynyard late on Friday night caused services running in both directions between Wynyard and Central to be suspended.
A partial closure between Wynyard and Central is still causing delays this morning after urgent wiring repairs last night. Passengers were forced to evacuate their train last night at Wynyard due to the repairs. Image by 7 News viewer Gustavo Scavuzzo. #SydneyTrains #7News pic.twitter.com/kQmhj9cKkq
— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) August 17, 2018
Angry passengers used the hashtag #SydneyTrains to express their frustration over the delays and general lack of communication.
Another great day for #sydneytrains … pic.twitter.com/q6kkyw4lrY
— Thomasee (@thomasee) August 18, 2018
Listening for announcements but there’s nothing playing thanks #sydneytrains this is pathetic pic.twitter.com/83PfikfYpp
— Ben Vance (@klomin10) August 18, 2018
Almost 4 hours, 2 buses and 1 train later and we have FINALLY arrived in the city. What an absolute joke. #SydneyTrains
— Liana Miate (@Liana111) August 18, 2018
Well the doors have closed and we’ve crept forward. Letting people off for the second time at the same platform.
People are on their phones in the #sydneytrains quiet carriage, cancelling appointments, calling their employer to say they’ll be late, saying goodbye to loved ones
— Lord of the Dance (@trashyhonky) August 18, 2018
Honest Sydney trains are absolutely shit. Absolutely sick of being stuck on a train because of delays. Absolute disgrace for a major city. Making everyone late and waste their weekends all the time. I’d get to town quicker in Fred Flinstone’s car. #sydneytrains
— Siobhan Rebecca (@siobhanoone2) August 18, 2018
Just realised this is probably how NSW gov is addressing the housing crisis: we all live on the train now. #sydneytrains
— Elfy Scott (@elfy_scott) August 18, 2018
Day 185 we’re still stuck outside central station #sydneytrains
— Theawesomeblackcat (@Blackcat_VIII) August 18, 2018
The passengers weren’t the only ones pissed off by the situation. One driver had clearly had enough, apologising via his train’s PA system for having no information to give.
“Sorry to be making all these announcements when we have no further information, but our management feels that you are reassured by it,” he said, in a recording that has since made its way to Twitter. “You won’t see our management, but they want you to be reassured by me making announcements, to tell you that we have no further information. Thank you.”
Stuck in the train for more than 20 mins not moving an inch and they are assuring us for what??… late for work #sydneytrains #usualsaturday pic.twitter.com/MUjLyBPuVN
— Prasovan (@Prasovan) August 18, 2018
Godspeed, Sydneysiders. Godspeed.