Sydney Trains has warned commuters to expect major delays after a car crashed into rail signalling equipment in the city’s south and repairs are carried out on the western line.
The white Honda Accord ploughed through a wire fence and into the front of the metal box at Riverwood before 2:00am this morning.
Sydney Trains chief Howard Collins said the incident “badly damaged” the signal relay room.
“Expect major delays on this line,” he tweeted.
Sydney Trains said the airport, Leppington and inner west lines would all be affected.
Extra customer service staff have been put on to help customers and the organisation said busses have been placed in strategic locations to ease congestion.
By 7:00am, some airport line services were running more than half an hour late.
Around 10:00am the train network experienced more delays on the T1 western lines due to an object being found on the track at Wentworthville and ongoing delays due to a signal equipment repair at Clyde.
Commuters on the line reported many of their morning trains into the city were cancelled entirely.
Mr Collins said earlier the only train line affected is the T8 line in Sydney.
“It will affect trains running to and from the Airport, customers should allow extra time for travel,” he said.
He said the signal box is a vital piece of equipment.
“It contains thousands of wires which control signalling in the area.Mr Collins said the site of the signal box, which was installed in the mid-2000s, would be reviewed.
“It is a very rare event but we want to make sure we are offering maximum protection to our rail corridor,” he added.
NSW Police said the driver had left the scene by the time officers arrived.
“The vehicle has been towed away and is being forensically examined,” a spokeswoman said in a statement.
In a separate incident, a 4WD landed upside down on railway tracks in the Lake Macquarie area after it hit a fence last night.
The railway line was closed for an hour while the vehicle was removed.
Police charged the driver with high-range drink driving and said his licence had been suspended.
He is due to face Toronto Local Court next month.