Bizarre video shows new Melbourne train loaded with bags of SALT – but there’s a simple explanation
- A new train with carriages full of salt sacks was filmed at Flinders Street Station
- The salt bags’ weight was being used to test the new High Capacity Metro Train
- High capacity trains are now being tested across Melbourne for a 2021 launch
- The Victorian Government has ordered 65 trains as part of a $2.3billion spend
Commuters have been left confused after a brand new train with carriages full of salt sacks arrived at a busy station.
One city worker filmed the new High Capacity Metro Train at Flinders Street Station in the Melbourne CBD on Wednesday before posting a video to Reddit.
‘Fancy looking new train under testing pulled into Flinders Street Station full of salt. Get your chips ready,’ he captioned the post.
One city worker filmed salt sacks (pictured) inside of a new High Capacity Metro Train at Flinders Street Station in the Melbourne CBD on Wednesday before posting a video to Reddit
In the video, bags of salt were stacked on seats and strewn all over the floor as the person filming panned across the carriage.
The train’s doors also appeared to tied together from the inside to prevent people getting inside.
Melbourne Metro trains typically have blue seats with a multicoloured pattern and either yellow or green bars for commuters to hold on to.
The new train that arrived at Finders Street Station had completely blue seats and blue bars, which matches the upcoming High Capacity Metro Train.
It was likely filled with salt sacks to simulate the weight of passengers and test whether the train could handle the load.
High capacity trains have been spotted across Melbourne during tests of the new public transport in recent months.
In the video, bags of salt were stacked on seats and strewn all over the floor as the person filming panned across the carriage. The bags were likely to simulate the weight of passengers and test whether the train could handle the load
A train enthusiast posted a video of the new train model arriving at Laverton Station in the city’s west during another vehicle test in January.
‘Stop. Do not enter. Train testing,’ signs on the train read.
The Victorian Department of Transport announced train testing would be ramping up earlier this month.
‘Testing is now underway on Melbourne’s new High Capacity Metro Trains which will be capable of carrying 1,100 passengers – 20 per cent more than any other train on the network,’ a department spokesman said.
‘Passengers travelling between Pakenham and Dandenong stations may catch a glimpse of the new High Capacity Metro Trains as a series of safety and performance tests are carried out around regular timetabled train services.
‘The new trains will be clearly marked as test trains and will not be taking passengers. The testing has been designed to minimise disruptions, however some passengers may experience some minor delays.’
A train enthusiast posted a video of a High Capacity Metro Train (pictured) arriving at Laverton Station in the city’s west during another vehicle test in January
The Victorian Government has ordered 65 High Capacity Metro Trains as part of a $2.3 billion commitment.
Initially, the new trains will run on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines when they go into service in early 2021.
They will eventually go to Sunbury once the Metro Tunnel opens in 2025, where they will be the main train in operation.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Victorian Department of Transport for comment.
The new train was spotted at Flinders Street Station (pictured) in the Melbourne CBD, which is the city’s busiest station