Victoria’s opposition has labelled Metro Tunnel train delays a “disgrace” after commuters were trapped for hours during peak time.
Victorian opposition public transport spokesperson Matthew Guy has blamed major train delays on the state government’s failure to upgrade ageing rail power systems.
The criticism follows disruptions on lines running through the Metro Tunnel, which ramped up to full capacity on Monday.
Guy said up to 1,200 passengers were trapped on trains for as long as two hours, calling the situation “third world conditions”.
He argued that while the Labor government invested in the new tunnel and high-capacity trains, key power substations feeding the network were “decades old”.
Guy warned that introducing new trains without upgrading the power infrastructure risked overloading the system, particularly on hot days.
He also claimed Melbourne’s train air-conditioning systems were not designed to cope with temperatures above the mid-30s, compounding passenger discomfort during breakdowns.
The state government has acknowledged the disruption and apologised to affected commuters.
