Passengers clung to handrails as a door malfunctioned on a driverless Metro train in Sydney. The incident prompted the transport union to demand a shutdown of the system until safety measures were enhanced. An error with the train’s door was detected during its journey from Chatswood to Crows Nest at approximately 8:01 a.m. on Wednesday. Both a customer journey coordinator and a customer operations lead were present at the time, according to the chief executive of Metro Trains Sydney, Daniel Williams. The union’s secretary, Toby Warnes, emphasized the grave risk to staff and passengers, advocating for an immediate investigation and improved safety protocols. The NSW government affirmed that all Metro trains have staff on board for safety reasons. Warnes pointed out that the safety breach could have led to severe consequences without staff intervention, stressing the urgency to address the operational and safety culture within Sydney Metro. The incident drew attention due to the circulation of concerning videos online, which highlighted the importance of having qualified personnel on driverless trains as a safety precaution. Warnes considered this incident among the most significant safety breaches in the New South Wales train network in recent years. The need for a presence of staff to maintain safety on such services was underscored by this event.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/02/passengers-hold-on-as-driverless-metro-train-speeds-through-sydney-tunnel-with-an-open-door