Disruptions to Sydney’s train network caused lengthy and frustrating commutes for thousands of passengers on Tuesday evening after a train became entangled with a live overhead wire near Strathfield station. The incident triggered widespread outages and delays across multiple lines during the city’s peak-hour rush, leaving commuters stranded and scrambling for alternatives.
Live Wire Incident Causes Network Shutdown
Around late afternoon on Tuesday, a 1,500-volt overhead cable came down onto carriages of a train near Strathfield station in Sydney’s west. The dangerous situation forced hundreds of passengers to be evacuated from the affected train and caused cascading disruptions to services on other trains in the area.
Transport for NSW described the event as “very serious” and “catastrophic,” with crews working through difficult, rainy, and dark conditions overnight to assess and repair the damage. Transport Minister John Graham acknowledged the severity of the incident and said the impact would continue to affect services well into Wednesday.
Ongoing Delays and Service Reductions
On Wednesday morning, Transport for NSW issued a strong warning to commuters planning to use the rail network. The agency advised people to avoid travel if possible or to use alternative transport options due to continued major delays.
Repairs to power supply has been completed and all lines at Strathfield are now open.
Delays, service gaps and reduced services will continue across most lines this morning.
Please consider delaying your travel. If you must travel, allow plenty of extra travel time. pic.twitter.com/d7yLNNRVtC
— Sydney Trains & NSW TrainLink Info (@TrainsInfo) May 20, 2025
“Passengers planning to travel on the rail network this morning are advised to avoid travel or use alternative transport if possible,” Transport for NSW said in an official statement. “If you need to travel on the network there will be limited shuttle services operating, and trains will run on all lines but at reduced frequency.”
Commuters were urged to plan ahead and allow extra time for journeys as the network slowly worked to recover. Despite repair efforts overnight, power had still not been restored to the affected area near Strathfield station early Wednesday, meaning six tracks between Homebush and Strathfield remained out of service.
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Shuttle Buses Struggle to Meet Demand
To help alleviate the disruption, Transport for NSW deployed 20 shuttle buses between Lidcombe and Ashfield stations. However, the agency warned that the bus network was already operating at full capacity and could not fully meet the demand in the impacted areas.
“As you can appreciate the bus network is at full capacity,” said Jas Tumber, Executive Director of Rail Operations at Transport for NSW. “While we have buses in operation, we won’t have enough to manage the demand in that area.”
The shortage of shuttle buses added to commuter frustration, with many reporting overcrowding on alternative transport options. Passengers were encouraged to consider metro, light rail, and local bus services, which were not affected by the incident.
Overnight Repair Efforts and Safety Checks
Sydney Trains teams worked overnight to remove the defective train and carry out repairs on the overhead wiring that caused the disruption. The damaged 1,500-volt cable had posed a serious safety risk, requiring careful and meticulous repair work before power could be safely restored.
Transport Minister John Graham praised the hard work of the crews who worked through adverse weather conditions. “The priority is getting the trains running safely again,” he said. “It’s not like flicking a switch — we have to go through a gradual build-up to get the timetable back to normal.”
Final safety inspections were underway early Wednesday to ensure the network’s live wires could be re-energised without risk. Once completed, six tracks from Homebush were expected to resume limited operations, easing some of the pressure on the network.
Impact on Commuters and Government Response
The disruptions affected nearly all lines on the Sydney rail network, with stops and platforms subject to sudden changes throughout the evening. Transport for NSW urged passengers to listen carefully to announcements and check information displays for service updates.
Premier Chris Minns addressed the public’s frustration on Wednesday, acknowledging that the network’s performance was “nowhere near good enough.” In response to the chaos, Minns announced that train travel would be fare-free on the network next Monday to help alleviate the financial burden on commuters affected by the disruption.
“In no way is that going to make up for the disruption of the last 24 hours, but hopefully it can go some way to alleviate the financial burden that families have had to deal with,” Minns said in a radio interview. He also encouraged those who could work from home to do so in the coming days to reduce pressure on the transport system.
Investigations Underway Into Cause of Incident
Transport for NSW’s Coordinator General, Howard Collins, offered reassurances that preliminary investigations suggested neither poor maintenance nor the wet weather were responsible for the live wire falling on the train.
“We’re asking people to be very patient — I know it’s very frustrating,” Collins said. “We will find out why this incident occurred and take appropriate measures.”
The ongoing inquiry aims to identify the root cause to prevent similar incidents in the future. Meanwhile, Transport for NSW continues to keep commuters informed through their official website and social media channels.
Commuters Urged to Stay Updated and Plan Ahead
Sydney Trains and Transport for NSW apologised sincerely for the inconvenience caused by the continuing disruptions. Passengers were advised to monitor the latest travel information closely, as schedules remain subject to change while the network recovers.
With repairs expected to be completed later Wednesday morning, authorities hope to transition back to normal timetabled services for the afternoon peak, but further delays may persist as operations gradually return to normal.
For real-time updates, commuters can visit Transport NSW’s website and follow announcements to stay informed about service changes.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of Sydney’s ageing train infrastructure and the need for ongoing investment and maintenance to ensure safe, reliable transport for the city’s millions of daily commuters
