NSW: Train and shop chaos as Sydney railway station = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-1998
NSW: Train and shop chaos as Sydney railway station = 2

State Rail spokesman Ron Hall said it was becoming unlikely a normal afternoon peak service
would be possible.

"It's really just too early to say when we're going to get back to normal," Mr Hall told
Sky News.

"We're hopeful we'll be able to operate a normal afternoon peak but as the time moves on
it's getting less and less likely."

Mr Hall said extensive delays were being experienced as only trains to and from the North
Shore were stopping at Wynyard while City Circle trains were not able to stop.

"There's been a flow-on effect to Sydney's trains right throughout the network, except the
eastern suburbs and Illawarra lines which are not connected to Wynyard, but all other lines;
the western lines and northern lines have all been affected."

Sydney Water spokesman Colin Judge said water was expected to be restored to several
surrounding buildings shortly.

In relation to compensation, Mr Judge said shopowners should firstly go through their own
insurance companies, however, any uninsured business should contact Sydney Water.

"We have our own insurance coverage and obviously if we have impacted them we want to talk
to them," Mr Judge said.

The owner of Wynyard Salad Bar, who asked to remain anonymous, suffered some of the worst
damage, with part of the roof collapsing and all of his cooking and refrigeration equipment
ruined.

"There's not a place in the store that hasn't been soaked," he said.

"The amount of water which must have poured in here is unbelievable."

The shopkeeper, who expects to be out of business for a month, said water had inundated his
shop before, but never as bad as today's flooding.

"Now is the worst time, with Christmas, when you expect to get a bit more trade.

"You look around and it's everyone affected; like an earthquake."

Coles Supermarket had 15cm of water flowing across its floor, cutting power to
refrigeration units and putting it out of business for the day.

"We've had to dump all refrigerated food and the Salvos and Sydney City Mission are taking
the hams and turkeys which can be distributed today," a Coles spokesman said.

"The store had to be evacuated of our packers and cleaners."

Downstairs, Newslink deputy manager Jillian Marrone said she arrived at 5.20am to a dark,
barricaded building echoing with the sound of moving water.

"I noticed that half of the roof had caved down near our shop," Ms Marrone said.

"There was water everywhere; I just couldn't believe it."

Her shop also had 15cm of silt and oil-laden water on the floor, but most stock escaped
damage because it was elevated, she said.

"The whole place was pitch black because the electricity was turned off.

"If it had happened during peak hour a lot of people would have been wet and tripping over.
It would have been very bad."

AAP shm/sb

KEYWORD: WYNYARD D/L 2 SYDNEY

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