COMMUTERS ARE WARNED TO BRACE FOR MORE CHAOS ON SYDNEY'S RAIL NETWORK DURING MORNING PEAK HOUR

• More chaos expected across Sydney rail network on Wednesday
• Livewire falling onto train carrying 300 causes major delays across city 
• READ MORE: Power outage at Strathfield station brings Sydney trains to a halt

Sydneysiders should brace for more delays during their commute to work on Wednesday morning hours after a power failure caused widespread chaos.

The network was brought to a standstill on Tuesday afternoon after a passing train became entangled in fallen wires suspended above the tracks near Strathfield station in Sydney's west, which triggered a power outage.

Major disruptions across the network continued well into late Tuesday night, where buses were still replacing trains on several lines. 

Sydney Trains was unable to rule out further delays in its latest update shortly before midnight.

 'At this stage we have no forecast if morning services will be impacted,' the alert read.

'We will let you know when we have more information.'

About 300 passengers on board the struck train were stranded for three hours before they were evacuated one by one. 

Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and none of the passengers were believed to have suffered any medical issues during the ordeal.

NSW Transport Minister John Graham described the situation as dangerous, saying a 1500-volt power connector was sitting on top of the train carrying 300 passengers. 

This is a very serious incident, right in the heart of Sydney's train network,' Mr Graham told ABC News.

Mr Graham said the train's pantograph collided with overhead wires causing the damage.

Aerial footage showed passengers being ushered off the train and walking along the tracks to safety.

The power outage caused three other trains to come to a halt, with staff arriving on site to evacuate the passengers.

Mr Graham said works were underway to move the affected trains and remove them from the network, which would allow trains to operate once the wires are repaired.  

'We are aware this will cause major problems and delays. We are advising in the morning to make sure you check the latest information,' Mr Graham said.

'It's possible there could be some knock-on effects.' 

The station in Sydney's west is a major interchange for multiple routes and the incident is causing cascading delays elsewhere on the network.

Commuters have been advised to delay 'non-essential travel or consider alternative transport arrangements'.

'This incident occurred between Homebush and Strathfield station. This is such a big part of the network. Those lines running close to each other, any disruption has a ripple affect,' Mr Graham said.

'It has impacted every line on the Sydney metro apart of the T4 Line.'

The Metro, Light Rail and local buses are not impacted.

Metro Station platforms such as Gadigal, across the road from Town Hall train station saw massive queues, as thousands sought alternative travel. 

Buses are running and an agreement has been reached with rideshare operator Uber to avoid surge charging during the incident.

'About a million people rely on public transport to move around the city. This is a big impact, the rail network is crucial. It's greatly assisted by the bus and metro network. The fact they are running is making it easier tonight,' Mr Graham said.

An update on services is expected to be provided in the coming hours, including how it will impact Wednesday's morning peak hour.

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2025-05-20T16:16:49Z