In response to severe disruptions affecting hundreds of thousands of Sydney commuters following the collapse of a high-voltage wire onto a train on Tuesday, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has requested an independent review. This incident, occurring at Strathfield, triggered a network-wide power outage, impacting all but one heavy rail line and causing significant chaos, including overcrowded train platforms, lengthy bus queues, and increased Uber fares.
Minns announced a fare-free day on Monday as compensation for those affected and expressed the need for improvement, stating that the current service standards are not on par with international norms. He is considering bringing in experts from the airline sector to conduct a comprehensive review of maintenance and punctuality, as well as communication practices within the Sydney train network.
While repairs on overhead wiring at Homebush were completed by Wednesday morning, the state government advised passengers to expect residual delays and consider alternative transport due to reduced services across all lines. Despite the Sydney Metro being unaffected, it experienced overcrowding as commuters sought alternative routes.
Additionally, Transport for NSW activated its agreement with Uber to prevent unreasonable surge pricing during public transport outages, though this measure comes into effect after the usual fare has doubled.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/21/sydney-trains-delays-fare-free-day-train-power-outage-nsw-transport
