Sydney Trains Probe to Focus on Three Core Issues

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An expert panel has been brought in to take a close look at what’s really going on with Sydney’s troubled train network — and it all comes after last week’s major meltdown caused by a fallen power wire.

If you were caught in the chaos, you’re not alone. A 1,500-volt overhead wire came down at Strathfield Station during peak hour last Tuesday, and it sent 80% of the train network into disarray. The mess wasn’t fully sorted until Thursday. To make things worse, nonstop rain flooded some tracks later in the week, making delays even longer and more frustrating.

Now, a three-member expert panel is stepping in to lead an independent review into the mess. They're finalising their terms of reference this week — basically, outlining exactly what they’re going to investigate.

The panel includes:

• Kerry Schott, who heads the Sydney Metro and Sydney Light Rail Advisory Board

• Carolyn Walsh, former NSW transport safety regulator

• Trevor Armstrong, former Ausgrid boss

They’ll be digging into three key questions:

1. What exactly caused the overhead wire to fail?

2. Has recent investment in rail and fleet maintenance actually improved reliability?

3. Are commuters getting the right information during delays and disruptions?

While that review gets underway, Sydney Trains is also running its own internal investigation into the Strathfield wire incident and will share those findings with the panel.

Transport Minister John Graham admitted there's room to improve:

“We’ve heard the frustration loud and clear,” he said. “This expert and independent panel is going to help make sure we’re focused on the right areas to fix the train system.”

The review is being described as “short and sharp” — with a focus on maintenance, punctuality, and communication — all the areas where commuters have been crying out for change.

Even Premier Chris Minns didn’t hold back, saying straight-up that Sydney Trains' performance just hasn’t been good enough.

“For many people who rely on the public transport system, we’ve let them down,” he said last week.

To try and make it up to commuters (at least a little), Minns also announced a fare-free travel day on Monday, calling it the “least we can do.”

“I don’t expect it to make up for the chaos of the last 24 hours,” he added.

So, while the free ride might be a small consolation, this review is shaping up to be a much bigger step toward holding the system accountable — and hopefully, getting it back on track.

Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka – the leading platform for news for Australians.