On May 20, 2025, a significant disruption occurred when a high-voltage wire collapsed onto a train at Strathfield station, trapping 300 passengers and triggering a network-wide power outage.

The outage impacted all but one heavy rail line, causing chaos and confusion at major stations like Central.

The state government apologized for the disruptions, stating that repairs to the overhead wiring were completed by May 21, 2025, with services expected to gradually return to normal.

By the morning of May 22, 2025, trains were reported to be running according to a normal timetable after two days of chaos.

Despite the outage, the Sydney Metro remained operational but faced overcrowding as commuters sought alternative routes.

To alleviate the situation, Transport for NSW activated a partnership with Uber to mitigate unreasonable surge pricing, effective only after fare increases.

Passengers were advised to delay travel or use alternative transport due to reduced services and unpredictable train schedules on May 21.

In light of these events, Premier Chris Minns acknowledged the government's failure to meet public expectations, stating, 'we’ve had a shocker.'

He emphasized the need for improvement, asserting that the Sydney train service has been inadequate and stating, 'we have got to do better.'

Minns called for an independent review of Sydney trains' maintenance, punctuality, and communication practices, highlighting critical issues that need to be addressed.

The Premier confirmed that a 'short and sharp' independent review of the train network would be initiated in response to the major disruptions.

To compensate for the inconvenience caused, Mr. Minns announced that commuters would travel for free on Monday, May 26, 2025.