Yesterday’s (Tuesday, 20/5/25) widespread train cancellations across Sydney caused complete disarray for thousands of commuters, including me. I was told around 5 pm that trains from Central Station were running fine, but upon arrival, the scene was anything but. Central was in chaos – crowds everywhere, confusing announcements, and a noticeable lack of accurate or consistent information.
One staff member asked us to wait 20 minutes, which kept getting extended. Another told people to travel to Strathfield, not realising that the technical fault had occurred there. Even hours after the issue began, there was no central announcement or proper communication on the screens or travel apps.
By 6 pm, many staff admitted they had no idea when services would resume. Travel apps continued to show wrong information. People were advised to catch public buses since there were no replacement services. Hundreds of us walked to Railway Square only to find the buses not stopping – they were already full. With no help in sight, some of us formed impromptu carpool groups. Taxis charged up to $100 per person, and Uber quotes were well over $200. I met individuals who couldn’t afford to go home, and one young person who opted for a cheap hotel instead of continuing to wait.
Technical faults are understandable, but the lack of preparation, support, and communication was not. If the issue started at 2:30 pm, why weren’t clear contingency plans in place by the time peak hour hit? Why were the travel apps and screens showing misleading information? Why wasn’t there an honest, blanket message stating that no trains would be running for several hours? Public transport is an essential service, and commuters deserve clear, coordinated responses when things go wrong. At the very least, reimbursement for alternative transport or fare-free travel for the days ahead should be considered.
We know the last 24 hours on the Sydney Trains network has been very difficult.
— Chris Minns (@ChrisMinnsMP) May 21, 2025
So on Monday May 26, we're offering free transport across the Sydney Trains and Metro networks.
And we'll be launching a review into the reliability issues of our train network.
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