'Hopeless': Commuters slam new Sydney Metro trains over delays
Sydney’s new driverless Metro Trains service had a rocky start on its first day of operation with “technical problems” causing major delays.
Photos of huge crowds gathering at stations along the 36-kilometre line showed chaos due to issues involving the functionality of the train’s boarding processes.
Sydney Metro announced on Sunday afternoon there would be a 15 to 20-minute delay in services along the line because of an issue with doors on one of the trains.
Commuters were asked to allow extra travel time ahead of setting off on their journeys, but, for many, this was too little too late.
Many unhappy travellers vented on social media, blaming the service for putting an unwelcome, annoying dent in their weekend plans.
“Fills me with confidence that one set of doors on one train can cause chaos to the whole metro line,” a Twitter user said.
“Lines hundreds of metres long for new Sydney Metro. Overcrowded trains. Haven't seen a train in more than 30 mins (sic). Supposed to be every four minutes,” another said.
One commuter claimed there was “chaos up and down the line due to trains overshooting platforms and doors failing”.
They said there were “massive crowds of up to one kilometre at some stations”, while another said trains were stopping for 10 minutes at every station.
“So they had months to test this and on day one after an hour of running – the new Metro implodes. Not good enough – no communication with poor commuters stuck on trains,” one person added.
A train user argued more than one train was to blame for the delays, despite Sydney Metro’s announcement just one was at fault.
“It’s more than one train. Two in a row had door failures at Rouse Hill – very annoying and scary when the doors don’t open,” the commuter said.
“Open day is hopeless in the metro lines. Trains breaking down. Massive queues. Crying kids. Way to under deliver on the project,” a disgruntled passenger said.
Free rides on the new service were offered on the Sydney Metro’s opening day, drawing hundreds of keen Sydneysiders to the 13 stations hoping to be one of the first to experience it.
The line, which connects Rouse Hill’s Tallawong Station and Chatswood, cost the state government more than $6 billion.
Yahoo News Australia has contacted Sydney Metro for comment on the matter.
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