Arabic version: أسلاك ساقطة تعطل خدمات القطارات في سيدني

According to ABC News, overhead wires fell onto a South Coast Line train travelling between Redfern and Erskineville in Sydney’s inner west at about 4:30pm on Friday, causing widespread delays across the rail network. Two other nearby trains stopped, and transport authorities isolated power to allow passengers to be removed safely.

Hundreds of people were assisted off the three services. Sydney Trains said some commuters were still being helped off shortly before 7pm, with all passengers cleared by 8pm. About 80 passengers, carrying about 50 suitcases, had been on the affected Mariyung train and were eventually moved to Newtown platform. Sydney Trains said the train’s lighting, toilets and supplied water assisted passengers during the evacuation.

By Friday night, two of the three trains had been removed. A spokesperson said crews were powering up the section around the remaining train to determine whether it could move on its own or needed to be moved with equipment. The train had stopped in what the spokesperson described as a delicate area, requiring the closure of all services through the inner west area during the passenger removal and recovery work.

Sydney Trains head of rail operations Jas Tumber said the cause of the wiring collapse was unknown and was being investigated. Power was removed between Central and Newtown on two of the six tracks entering and leaving the city, leaving one track in each direction unavailable and forcing services onto the remaining lines.

Extra buses were deployed to Central, Lidcombe, Sutherland and Campbelltown. Sydney Trains warned that Saturday services would run less frequently and have gaps, while football travel from Olympic Park after a game expected to finish around 10pm would be prioritised. The operator said it was hopeful all lines would be running by Saturday morning, though disruptions could remain.