Major delays will continue on the Sydney Trains network through the afternoon peak almost 12 hours after an incident at Wentworthville this morning.
In what appears to be an epic failure of the new timetable’s ability recover from major incidents, commuters will face a long trip home with several services cancelled and many trains running behind schedule.
This morning’s peak was disrupted due to a fatality at Wentworthville that occurred before 7am.
But Sydney Trains has been unable to get the network back on track throughout the day with the problems to now extend into the afternoon peak.
What’s going on?? Fatality happened at Wenty this morning but trains are still running late now??🤔 #sydneytrains
— littleb1rdy (@mellys_chambers) December 11, 2017
Buses are still replacing trains between Blacktown and Richmond. Buses are also supplementing trains between Penrith and Emu Plains on the Blue Mountains Line.
All major Sydney lines are showing delays.
Today’s problems come after The Sydney Morning Herald reported on December 3 that the network would face issues in recovering from peak hour incidents under the new timetable.
Poor Sydney Trains still scrabbling to get back on track. This Homebush all stops train I’m on has just been terminated at Ashfield. I guess it’ll turn back at Ashfield to try and get back on schedule. There must be a lot of juggling at Sydney Trains HQ today.
— Andre Brokman (@sydneyworks) December 11, 2017
“Delays to Sydney’s trains are likely to be “cumulative and irrecoverable” during peak hours following incidents, as the biggest overhaul of the rail timetable in years places greater strain on Sydney’s rail network, an internal document reveals,” the newspaper reported.
“Sydney Trains warns in the leaked document that operating the network at “track capacity” for longer periods leaves “no opportunity for diversions or recovery from incidents”. Delays early in the peak periods will also have a “larger impact on later peak services”.”
Major delays continue due to a fatality at Wentworthville earlier. Buses are replacing trains btwn Richmond & Blacktown. Buses are also supplementing some train services between Penrith and Emu Plains. Delays will continue into the afternoon. pic.twitter.com/XiwuVkRAWA
— T1 Sydney Trains (@T1SydneyTrains) December 11, 2017
The State Government has faced enormous criticism from the travelling public since the introduction of the new timetable last month.
Troy Dodds is the Weekender’s Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.
