Tram fire forces suspension of services on Sydney light rail lines
Light rail services between central Sydney and its eastern suburbs have been suspended for an undisclosed period, while the private operator is assessing a small fire on one of its trams on Thursday morning and the risk to the rest of its fleet.
At around 8.20am, a fire broke out on the roof of a tram, causing services to be suspended as firefighters responded and boarded the light rail vehicle, then secured the area at the Chalmers Street stop near Central Station.
The Rail and Tram Union (RTBU), which represents drivers and other staff, demanded an urgent investigation, claiming it was the third tram fire in a week.
Private operator Transdev said it had suspended services on all L2 and L3 lines between Circular Quay and Randwick and Kingsford as a precaution “given recent similar incidents”.
“This pause allows us to complete a comprehensive risk assessment and ensure that all appropriate safety controls are in place before resuming operations,” the French company said in a statement.
Tram services between the city center and the southeast were replaced by buses.
RTBU department head Peter Grech said the latest incident raises serious questions about the safety of the light rail network and requires an urgent investigation by transport authorities and the state’s safety regulator.
“Three fires in a week must be ringing alarm bells. Unless action is taken immediately, there is a real risk to commuters and light rail workers,” he said.
Grech said there were serious questions about the condition and maintenance of the network operated by Transdev and whether the tram fleet was properly maintained.
Transdev said the incident on the tram in Chalmers Street on Thursday morning was “quickly brought under control” and there were no injuries to customers or staff.
Trams continue to run on the L1 line between Central Station and Dulwich Hill.
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Matt O’Sullivan is the transport and infrastructure editor of The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect with: X or email.
