Power failure halts trains
Passengers wait at a packed Mt Lawley station for trains to resume. Picture: Rowan Ellis
UPDATE 1:50pm: Commuters pried open the train doors and leapt onto the tracks after a power failure in East Perth this morning.
Trains heading to Perth from Midland were at a standstill for more than an hour after the train lost power about 8am.
Commuters became impatient on the hot, packed eastbound train and decided to disembark.
Michael Wretham, one of the people who climbed off the train, took to Twitter to voice his frustration with Transperth.
He said the authority’s response to the power failure was "absolutely disgraceful" and claimed someone had passed out because of the heat.
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Mr Wretham said passengers had forced open the doors to get the woman some fresh air.
"You’ve sealed us into a train this full and forced us to stay. Someone’s just passed out," he tweeted.
"We’ve all just jumped off against guards’ wishes as way too hot in there. Most walking to Claisebrook now.
"Heard people yell it out from other end of carriage. Passengers forced door open and got her out to get some air."
Another train was used to shunt the train to Claisebrook after the passengers had cleared the tracks.
Trains on the Midland line have since returned to schedule.
Public Transport Authority spokesman David Hynes said unfortunately, the power failure had cut communications between the driver and the carriages.
He said the train would have been back in the station a lot sooner if the passengers had stayed on board.
“The passengers, for whatever reason, forced some of the doors open and began exiting the train, which we would prefer didn’t happen,” he said.
“Apparently, there was at least one passenger who did have some, perhaps pre-existing medical condition, who did get a bit distressed.
“It clearly would have been a happier, much quicker outcome if they had stayed on the train.”
Mr Hynes said the PTA was investigating the incident and specifically what caused the driver to lose communications.
Picture: Rowan Ellis
