NSW Government Dismisses Safety Concerns After Firefighter Suffers Electrical Shock On Metro Project
Image: Martin Place Station. Image via sydneymetro
The NSW government has dismissed safety concerns for Sydney’s new metro rail line after a firefighter suffered an electrical shock during a final evacuation drill.
A firefighter experienced a “minor electrical shock” during routine safety testing at Barangaroo Station on Thursday. According to an incident report, obtained by The Sydney Morning Herald, the firefighter was opening a door on a driverless train during a search-and-rescue drill when he was electrically shocked.
The firefighter was participating in the final exercise at Barangaroo station, which involved an “uncontrolled detrainment” on the Metro City and Southwest line’s city section. This drill was the last exercise of four conducted this week.
An ambulance was dispatched to evaluate his condition. Last week, Transport Minister Jo Haylen stated she was not worried about the network’s capability. “This railway is 99 percent ready,” she said.“The railway is safe, it’s not a question of safety,” she added.
Metro’s August 4th opening delayed
The news of the electrical shock comes just days after the scheduled August 4 opening of the Chatswood to Sydenham line was postponed. The planned opening of the $21.6 billion metro rail line was delayed after failing to receive the sign of approval from the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR).
A recent incident on the Chatswood to Sydenham line trapped passengers in tunnels for over two hours.
FBEU condemns government’s deadlines for project
Fire Brigade Employees Union State Secretary Leighton Drury stated the organisation “strongly opposed the State Government’s hard deadlines for this project”.
The FBEU issued a public statement in response to the government’s criticism, clarifying that they do not certify projects as this responsibility falls to the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR).
According to the FBEU, certification has been withheld because the project has not met required safety standards.
The FBEU emphasised that what is unsafe for firefighters is equally unsafe for the public.
The FBEU criticised the fourth and final exercise (an uncontrolled evacuation drill) at Barangaroo, which saw a firefighter suffering an electrical shock.
“The exercise demonstrated a complete failure of the operator’s emergency management plans”, FBEU State Secretary Drury said.
“Despite the MTS Operations Centre providing confirmation of a rescue power outage (RPO), an FBEU member received an electric shock from the train’s manual evacuation door. Luckily, the member was treated onsite and is safe”
“Both Safe Work NSW and ONRSR have been made aware of the situation. MTS state that the cause was a ‘stray current’. This explanation is completely unacceptable”, Drury said.
A Sydney Metro spokesperson stated that the emergency drill exercise was immediately suspended when the firefighter was shocked.
“NSW Ambulance attended as a safety precaution, and consistent with FRNSW protocols, the participant will be monitored for safety.
The man was treated at the scene before being taken to St Vincent’s Hospital.
The FBEU has called for an independent investigation into the matter to be conducted by an electrical engineer.
Projected Journey Times for Sydney Metro
The Sydney Metro from Chatswood to Sydenham features seven new Metro stations, including Crows Nest, Victoria Cross, Barangaroo, Martin Place, Gadigal and Waterloo, along with a new underground platform at Central and upgraded platforms at Sydenham.
The metro services will offer commuters a fast and efficient public transport system, with trains expected to run every four minutes by 2025.
The projected journey times for the Sydney Metro City & Southwest line are as follows:
Central to Chatswood: 15 minutes
Macquarie University to Central: 26 minutes
Sydenham to Central: 7 minutes
Castle Hill to Martin Place: 35 minutes
Central to Martin Place: 4 minutes
Victoria Cross to Barangaroo: 3 minutes
