Sunita Somvanshi
A technical incident reported to involve power systems near Chatswood disrupted Sydney Metro services between Macquarie Park and Barangaroo during Wednesday afternoon peak (September 10, 2025). This incident was one of several service disruptions experienced since the City & Southwest segment opened in 2024, affecting the $20-21 billion network.
Sydney Metro confirmed on their official X account: “Due to a technical incident, metro services are running between Tallawong and Macquarie Park, and between Sydenham and Barangaroo only. We apologise for the inconvenience.” The operator directed passengers to check transportnsw.info for updates.
In a follow-up tweet, Sydney Metro reported: “Services between Chatswood and Sydenham have resumed running. Services from Chatswood towards Tallawong are still impacted, due to a medical incident. Please allow extra travel time. A further update will be provided.”
The power systems that support the City & Southwest section have attracted attention following service incidents. Sydney Metro’s power supply documentation describes how the network relies on traction substations at junction points like Chatswood that support the harbor tunnel segment. Engineering analyses suggest that while redundancy is built into the design, the configuration of high-voltage feeders and traction substations means certain technical incidents can affect multiple connected segments.
Sydney Metro documentation details the 33kV bulk supply and 11kV transformation infrastructure powering the underground sections, with information about system redundancy and segmentation capabilities.
A Transport for NSW spokesperson confirmed they were investigating the incident and working to determine why the disruption occurred despite built-in system redundancies.
For context, Sydney Metro reported 66.8 million journeys on the City section in its first year of operation. The disruption likely affected thousands of commuters during the Wednesday afternoon peak, though no official passenger impact figures were released by the operator.
Approximately an hour after the initial disruption, Sydney Metro announced: “The earlier technical incident at Chatswood has now been resolved. Please continue to allow extra travel time while metro services return to normal. We apologise for the inconvenience.”
The incident underscores ongoing challenges as Sydney’s transport infrastructure evolves. According to public performance reports, Metro services have maintained high punctuality rates, though specific monthly figures can be found on Transport for NSW’s performance dashboard.
Transport for NSW implemented its standard disruption response, with replacement bus information provided through the Trip Planner tool. Social media posts indicated crowded conditions at interchange stations as passengers sought alternative routes.
For affected passengers, Transport for NSW’s fare adjustment policy allows for potential fare adjustments in some service disruption situations. While some reimbursements can be applied automatically to Opal cards or collected on the next trip, passengers may need to lodge a request in certain circumstances as outlined on the Opal refunds page.
Sydney Metro’s technical documentation shows that the network includes traction substations at locations including Chatswood, Victoria Cross and Waterloo that enable system segmentation. The City & Southwest extension’s electrical architecture incorporates design principles used in major metro systems globally, with specific adaptations for Sydney’s harbor tunnel environment.
Transport for NSW continues to recommend that passengers check real-time service information through the Trip Planner app or website before traveling, with system monitoring ongoing following the incident.
