Train services have resumed after a mass of sparks erupted above a train and caused peak-hour chaos on Thursday morning.
The electrical fault was fixed about 3pm after services were suspended on the Sandringham line between Elsternwick and South Yarra for eight hours.
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Sparks fly on Melbourne train
There are train delays around the city after sparks were seen flying from a train near Flinders Street station.
The train was about 100 metres from Federation Square when it suddenly started to slow down.
Passengers rushed to the back carriage of the train after power line connectors exploded, sending sparks flying about 7.20am.
The sparks also damaged a nearby train, leaving both trains stuck between Flinders Street Station and Batman Avenue.
Two videos showed sparks shooting from the roof of the first carriage of the train.
A Metro spokeswoman confirmed an overhead power issue caused the pantograph, which sits on top of the train, to collapse, creating the sparks and smoke.
The electrical sparks cut power to the train, leaving commuters in the dark.
"There was a big flash, the lights went off and we just heard from the train driver that the train in front had hit the Batman bridge," one commuter told Channel 9.
Another said: "The lights went off, and we started smelling a 'chemically' smell."
All passengers on board eventually had to evacuate the train and climb onto the tracks, before many walked back to the city along Batman Avenue. As of 1.20pm, the affected train was still stuck outside Flinders Street Station.
Metro is investigating what caused the "overhead wire issue".
Meanwhile passengers were stranded on station platforms along the Sandringham line, with some unable to get onto packed trains.
Fairfax travel editor Craig Platt's usual 25-minute commute to work took more than 90 minutes due to the Sandringham line issues.
"After the first train at Windsor Station at about 9am (running about 15 minutes late) was too crowded ... I boarded the second one. Unfortunately we only made it about 50 metres before grinding to a halt," Mr Platt said.
The train driver told passengers that services were backed up all along the line to Brighton, Mr Platt said.
After it took about 25 minutes to travel one stop to Prahran, Mr Platt said most passengers gave up and left the train to try their luck on trams.
Some commuters were not pleased:
I have missed a meeting with my company CEO as a result of this. How do I receive compensation for not getting the service that I paid for?
— Paul (@whoisdanze) August 2, 2017
One hour late
— manal yassin (@imanal87) August 2, 2017
But at least one train driver tried to lighten the situation:
Our @metrotrains driver is telling jokes to keep us entertained while we're stuck. "What day do eggs hate the most? Friday! (Fry day)"
— Craig Platt (@LastLaughBlog) August 2, 2017
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