A single incident brought Sydney’s train network to a standstill – again. Here’s why it keeps happening

Poorly planned rail lines and a reliance on hand-delivered messages combined with 170-year-old infrastructure provides a picture of a network with myriad vulnerabilities

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Once again, vulnerabilities of Sydney's rail network have been exposed, bringing the city to a standstill. Unlike train systems in most global cities, almost all rail lines converge over a short stretch in the city's west. Complicating the issue further is a reliance on hand-delivered paper communications between train staff.

At peak hour on Wednesday morning, buses were packed with frustrated commuters who normally rely on trains to get from Sydney's north shore into the city.

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