Sydney, 20 May 2025 — Chaos unfolded across Sydney’s rail network on Monday evening after a high-voltage live wire fell onto a train at Strathfield Station, trapping dozens of commuters in carriages and bringing a large portion of the city’s transport system to a grinding halt.
Emergency services rushed to the scene around 5:15 PM, after the overhead wire reportedly came loose and landed on a stationary train, disabling power and halting services on multiple lines during the peak hour commute. The incident left passengers stranded inside the train, with some reportedly stuck for over an hour before being safely evacuated by transport staff and emergency crews.
Transport for NSW confirmed the incident has caused a major disruption to services on the T1 Western, T2 Inner West & Leppington, and T9 Northern lines, urging commuters to delay travel or seek alternate transport options where possible.
“This is a serious infrastructure failure, and we are treating it with the highest urgency,” a spokesperson for Sydney Trains said. “Safety is our top priority, and crews are working hard to resolve the issue and restore normal operations.”
Several commuters took to social media to share images and videos from inside stalled trains and crowded platforms, with many expressing frustration over a lack of timely communication.
Strathfield Station remains a critical hub in the Sydney Trains network, and any disruption at this junction tends to ripple across the city. As of 7:00 PM, authorities have confirmed no injuries, but the disruption is expected to last well into the evening.
Buses are being arranged to assist with limited replacement services, but heavy traffic and ongoing delays mean extended travel times for thousands of passengers.
Transport authorities have advised commuters to stay updated through real-time service apps and official announcements, and to avoid non-essential train travel this evening.
