Transport chaos in Sydney as all peak hour trains heading west are affected by major failure

By ASHLEY NICKEL, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA and PRANAV HARISH, NEWS REPORTER

Published: | Updated:

A signal malfunction triggered delays for hundreds of customers during the evening peak hour across the Sydney train network.

The issue brought several services to an abrupt standstill on Thursday afternoon.

Services on the T1 Western Lines, T2 Leppington, T5 Cumberland and the Blue Mountains lines were impacted by the issue at Granville in Sydney's west.

Commuters heading home from work were urged to delay non-essential travel or make alternative arrangements and allow extra travel time.

'Trains are currently at stand and unable to pass through Granville due to urgent signal repairs,' a Transport for NSW spokeswoman said.

'Technicians are currently en route to the affected area in attempt to rectify the issue.'

A signalling malfunction has triggered mass delays across several train lines on the Sydney rail network on Thursday (pictured stock image of commuters at Central Station in Sydney)

A signalling malfunction has triggered mass delays across several train lines on the Sydney rail network on Thursday (pictured stock image of commuters at Central Station in Sydney)

Commuters were also warned that trains will stop at or between stations.

'Stops may also change at short notice for some trains, a travel alert stated.

Impacted commuters took to social media to vent about the widespread delays. 

'Twice in a day. Urgent train repair this morning peak hours and now another one just as we roll into evening peak. Sydney Trains incompetence is beyond belief,' one fumed. 

Another added: 'Crazy idea here ... how about you spend some money and upgrade these signal repairs. This is an almost daily occurrence.'

Dozens of services on the Blue Mountains, Cumberland and Western Lines have been affected by the issue (pictured commuters during train delays at Sydney's Town Hall station)

Dozens of services on the Blue Mountains, Cumberland and Western Lines have been affected by the issue (pictured commuters during train delays at Sydney's Town Hall station)

Transport for NSW have since confirmed that all trains are running back to normal after technicians worked quickly to fix the issue (pictured a train departing Strathfield Station)

Transport for NSW have since confirmed that all trains are running back to normal after technicians worked quickly to fix the issue (pictured a train departing Strathfield Station)

The issue has since been fixed by technicians and services have since returned to normal with no further delays expected. 

Daily Mail Australia understands services were only affected 'in the vicinity of Granville' and there were no disruptions at Central Station as previously reported. 

Customers were also provided with frequent services and trains were only held for 20 minutes.  

The disruption occurred just hours after hundreds of fans boarded the 'Elvis Express' at Central Station to attend the annual Elvis Festival in Parkes in central-west NSW. 

The signal issue was the second disruption to Sydney's train network in less than 24 hours after commuters were advised of urgent track repairs at Central Station earlier on Thursday morning. 

Customers were urged to catch Metro services to continue their journey and were informed stops would change at short notice. 

Sydney

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