Passengers stranded inside a suburban train after it hit overhead cables have risked their own safety by climbing outside the carriages and onto the tracks within metres of dangerous electrical wiring.
The incident created significant delays on the busy Werribee line at peak-hour on Monday and into the evening.
Metro staff were working on a plan for the Tuesday rush, but a spokesman could only say more would be known in the morning.
The drama began when the Werribee-bound train brought down cables near Laverton junction just after 4pm on Monday and lost power.
The spokesman said the company immediately suspended the line, with 50 buses ordered to replace trains between Newport and Werribee into Monday evening.
Passengers were urged to consider alternative transport, including V/Line services towards Tarneit and Wyndham Vale.
Authorised officers and Metropolitan Fire Brigade crews were helping passengers, but not before some of the near-200 on board climbed onto the tracks.
The loss of power shut down the internal audio system, meaning the driver could not tell the confused passengers that help was on the way and to stay on board. The doors can also be easily opened from the inside once the power fails.
Live electrical wiring was strewn across the tracks near where the passengers climbed out of the carriages and began walking.
It is understood that it is rare for trains to bring down overhead cabling. How the cables came to be in a position where they could be hit by a passing train was still being investigated.
“We apologise to our Werribee line passengers for the disruptions to their journey home this evening,” a Metro spokesman said.
“Overhead crews are currently at the scene and assessing the issue. Additional authorised officers and station staff are assisting passengers at Newport for their journey home.”
~The Age
