Traffic distruption

Sydney light rail commuters have had their travel plans thrown into chaos after a tram caught on fire in the city’s inner suburbs.
Fire crews were called to Central station just after 8am on Thursday following reports smoke and flames were coming out from the tram’s roof at Surry Hills light rail stop, on the L2 and L3 lines. The tram came to a stop at Central and services between Central, Randwick and Kingsford were immediately suspended in both directions.
Assistant Superintendent Steve Brown from Fire and Rescue NSW said in a statement commuters were evacuated from the tram and the light rail stop. No injuries were reported and firefighters extinguished the blaze once the power had been cut off.
“Rail authorities will take the tram to their workshop for a further investigation into the cause,” he said.
Commuters who were heading towards Randwick and Kingsford were told by police and tram operators to catch replacement buses from nearby Elizabeth Street and Eddy Avenue. Large crowds flooded bus stops as they tried to finish their commutes, causing long lines and dozens of full buses.
Transport apps reported dozens of service cancellations as the line was closed.
Vania Mehdi got to Central as the fire was being put out. She was on her way to classes at the University of NSW, in Randwick.
“I just saw a bunch of smoke coming out as soon as I got off the escalator (to the light rail stop),” Ms Mehdi said.
“I think half our (university) tutorial is here right now, stranded.”
Social media users said the site was “smelly as hell” and commuters were trying to get the driver’s attention when the blaze broke out.
“We were all banging on the driver’s cubicle trying to tell him (the roof was alight) but he ignored us and continued on to Central,” reported one X user.
Transport for NSW advised commuters to catch trains between Circular Quay and Central, and to allow extra travel time and listen to announcements for further information.