Sunita SomvanshiSydney commuters faced significant delays Tuesday as a signal fault between Town Hall and Central stations disrupted service across multiple train lines. Transport for NSW advised passengers on T2, T3, and T8 lines to allow extra travel time, with replacement buses requested for airport routes and southern lines.
“Transport for NSW advised customers to allow extra travel time on the T2, T3 and T8 lines after urgent repairs between Town Hall and Central,” according to official TrainsInfo updates on X (formerly Twitter).
The disruption began at 10:00 AM when trains were halted due to the signal equipment issue. Some passengers reported being stationary for up to an hour as engineers worked to repair the fault. Transit officials warned that a residual backlog with uncertain wait times would affect commuters throughout the evening.
“Buses have been requested to supplement the T8 line between Central and Domestic/International Airport and between Campbelltown and Macarthur,” Transport for NSW confirmed through their social channels.
Airport travelers should plan alternative routes or allow substantial extra time, especially if using the T8 Airport Line. The timing is particularly notable as the delay coincided with the one-year anniversary of the Metro M1 opening from Sydenham to the city center, which was being publicly noted by the transport minister.
For passengers with accessibility needs, station conditions may be more challenging than usual with potential platform changes. Official accessibility information for affected stations remains available on the Transport for NSW website.
Signal systems use track circuits to detect trains and control whether signals show green or red. When a signal or track circuit reports a fault, trains are held as a safety measure until engineers verify the section is clear – creating the immediate stoppage and resulting in knock-on delays across busy corridors.
Passengers seeking information about service disruptions should refer to the Transport for NSW complaints page, though no specific compensation has been announced for today’s disruption.
For current travel information, Transport for NSW recommends using their Trip Planner tool or following TrainsInfo and line-specific accounts on X.
The signal fault between Town Hall and Central, the lines affected (T2, T3, T8), the operator’s advisory to allow extra travel time, the deployment request for buses on T8 and the Campbelltown–Macarthur corridor, and the practical guidance for passengers to check official feeds and use the Transport for NSW Trip Planner were covered in this report.
