Metro train commuters have their say after a fire in a Richmond station signal box caused cancelations to the train network
MELBOURNE’S commuter chaos is set to ease this morning after two days of major delays.
Metro worked feverishly through the night to get services back on track for this morning’s peak, after a fire caused by ravenous rats near Richmond station on Tuesday sparked chaos on the network.
The damaged signalling equipment was repaired about 4.30am.
Metro said commuters may see a small number of delays and cancellations due to scheduled driver training, but expected the majority of services to be back up and running.
Delays plagued four major train lines - Pakenham, Cranbourne, Frankston and Sandringham - from first to last service yesterday, with Metro forced to reduce its services as crews tried to repair damage caused by the blaze.
The fire burnt through a box housing signal cables about 6.30pm on Tuesday.
Its cause was still being investigated, but police said it was not suspicious.
Passengers wait for a late-running train after afire damaged signals at Richmond station. Pictures: Nicole Garmston
Rail workers said the likely trigger was rats chewing through the cable cover and exposing high-voltage wire.
“Rats have got a penchant for gnawing into PVC,” Electrical Trades Union organiser Gerry Glover said.
“Members said a rats nest was found not far from away, and they found indications rats had been in there.
“The cabling’s only relatively new - 10-12 years old - so you can’t blame infrastructure.”
Commuters endured major peak-hour delays before being squashed into carriages during the meltdown.
The plight was colourfully dubbed #trainageddon by disgruntled passengers on social media.
The line for the 401 bus at North Melbourne station about 8.50am.
Workers try to repair signals damaged by a fire.
Passengers endured frustrating delays after rail signals were damaged by fire.
The trip between Richmond and Flinders St proved particularly troublesome, with Twitter users reporting they were stuck on halted trains in between the stations for more than half an hour, with little communication about what was happening.
“A very slow trip home from work tonight. Forty minutes and I’ve nearly made it to Richmond station from Flinders St,” Chris Bright tweeted.
Wolf Cocklin tweeted that “the big screen timetables at Flinders St are aspirational goals not core promises #Trainageddon”.
Public Transport Users Association president Tony Morton said the fact a small fire could knock out four train lines showed more government investment was needed.
“Failures are gonna continue until we put more money into fixing the network,” he said.
Shadow public transport spokeswoman Jill Hennessy said the meltdown showed how important it was the Melbourne Metro Rail be built.
samantha.landy@news.com.au
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