Driverless Metro Open Door Sparks Safety Fears in Sydney

Sydney commuters faced chaos as a Driverless Metro Open Door incident unfolded in a tunnel on Wednesday. The rail union quickly demanded a shutdown and a full investigation. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Authorities reported a “door fault” around 8:01 a.m. on a train traveling between Chatswood and Crows Nest stations. Metro Trains Sydney CEO Daniel Williams confirmed two staff members rode onboard.

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Efforts to remotely secure the door failed, so the control center instructed staff to act at the next stop. Williams explained that employees manually closed it, then removed the train.

Metro Trains Sydney apologized to passengers for the distress, and officials began investigating the alarming event promptly. Meanwhile, the NSW government assured one staff member rides every train.

RTBU Secretary Toby Warnes highlighted that the two employees endured “incredible risk” during the high-speed journey. He credited their presence with averting a potential disaster for commuters.

Driverless Metro Open Door: A Wake-Up Call

Videos online showed the train speeding through the tunnel, leaving passengers near the exposed doorway shaken. Warnes called the footage “harrowing” and stressed the need for trained staff.

He pressed the NSW government to investigate Sydney Metro’s safety culture and practices without delay. Additionally, he demanded a pause in operations until interim measures ensure commuter protection.

The union argued that driverless trains require qualified personnel onboard, especially after this near-catastrophe occurred. They noted unsupervised passengers could have faced severe danger without staff support.

Fortunately, no injuries occurred, but Warnes labeled it a “miracle” given the circumstances of the event. He told reporters this ranks among NSW’s worst train safety incidents recently.

Addressing the Driverless Metro Open Door Fallout

Commuters expect safe travel, yet this incident revealed critical weaknesses in the driverless system, Warnes asserted. He emphasized that technology alone cannot guarantee security during unexpected failures.

Sydney Metro must respond quickly, because public confidence depends on robust safety standards, the union cautioned. For now, investigations proceed, and pressure mounts for decisive action to prevent repeats.

Source: www.theguardian.com

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