Sydney Rail Network Plunges into Chaos After Overhead Wire Collapse
Sydney Tuesday 20 May 18.40 pm
*This report generated by latest from Google Gemini AI with fact checking and formatting by A.Ritenis
Sydney’s rail network was thrown into disarray this evening, May 20, 2025, after a high-voltage overhead power cable came down onto the roof of a train near Homebush, causing widespread stoppages and trapping hundreds of passengers. The incident, which occurred around 2:30 PM, led to significant delays and cancellations across most city and intercity lines, leaving thousands of commuters stranded during the evening peak.
The disruption was triggered when a train’s power connection device collided with the overhead wiring system, bringing down the live 15,000-volt cable.
Up to 300 passengers were reportedly trapped on the affected train near Strathfield station as crews worked to isolate the power and safely evacuate them.
Transport for NSW Coordinator General, Howard Collins, confirmed the extensive impact, stating that only the T4 South Coast line remained unaffected. All other major lines, including the T1, T2, T3, T8, T9, as well as the Central Coast & Newcastle Line and Blue Mountains Line, experienced severe delays.
Commuters faced scenes of chaos on platforms, with many expressing frustration over extended waiting times and crowded conditions. To mitigate the disruption, Transport for NSW activated an agreement with rideshare service Uber to prevent surge pricing, and replacement bus services were deployed between Ashfield and Lidcombe. However, the sheer volume of stranded passengers quickly overwhelmed these alternative transport options.
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*Official Transport NS Notice on their website
There are major disruptions to the Sydney Trains network due to power supply issues at Strathfield. Delay non-essential travel or consider alternative transport arrangements.
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Passengers on the affected train were eventually safely evacuated and escorted along the tracks to the nearest station.
Repairs to the damaged overhead wires are expected to extend well into the evening, with major delays anticipated to continue across the network. Authorities urged anyone not travelling on the rail network to avoid doing so and advised essential commuters to consider alternative transport options, including the Metro network, or to delay their journeys if possible.
The incident highlights the critical reliance on Sydney’s rail infrastructure and the ripple effect a single point of failure can have on the entire transport system. An investigation into the precise cause of the overhead wire collapse is underway.
