Melbourne: Dangerous moment fed up with Stakes Day racegoers stranded on a train for more than an hour, prize car doors opened and poured onto the tracks
- Delays lead to exodus from the train
- Revelers trip over tracks
- READ MORE: Stakes Day fashion
Frustrated racegoers forced open the carriage doors and began stumbling across the tracks after their train was stopped for more than an hour following a wild brawl.
The astonishing scenes unfolded near Melbourne’s Southern Cross station on Saturday evening, as the well-dressed Champions Stakes Day crowd left the train and poured onto the track.
A brawl had earlier broken out on a CBD train, bringing the inner rail network to a standstill and stranding the agitated crowd.
Unwilling to wait any longer, some forced open the doors as Metro staff helped people make the steep descent to ground level.
Two people were injured while trying to navigate the difficult terrain, which features a steep gravel slope.
Mars Karmalita, who was on the train and filmed the exodus across railway lines, said the ground was unstable and some of those attempting the journey were “drunk”.
“People weren’t happy, they were complaining about why we had to stand here,” he told Nine News.
Despite Metro staff helping people get off the train, the driver condemned the desperate behaviour.
“While we understand passenger frustration when trains are delayed, forcing doors is incredibly dangerous behavior and means all trains in the area must stop, further inconveniencing people trying to get home,” a Metro statement said .
Metro released a statement on X just before 7.40pm announcing that the Flemington line was at a standstill.
“Delays via Southern Cross due to a request from @VictoriaPolice,” the message read.
A man stumbles while trying to cross the tracks after a serious train delay in Melbourne on Saturday
Train operator Metro has condemned the exodus to rail as ‘incredibly dangerous’
“If your train is between stations, stay on the train.”
The Craigieburn, Sunbury, Racecourse, Upfield and Werribee lines also experienced major delays with normal services not fully resuming until around 8.45pm.
Daniel Bowen, from the Public Transport Users Association, said such a situation should not happen again.
“Metro and law enforcement need to look at what they could have done to reduce that delay, but ultimately passengers need to stay on board the train because it is incredibly dangerous,” he said.
Melbourne police reportedly took an hour to resolve an altercation that left a 51-year-old treated in hospital with serious head injuries.
A 48-year-old man spoke to investigators about the incident.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information is asked to get in touch Crime Stoppers.
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