After a relatively quiet period of minimal disruptions, the smooth operation of the south coast line has again been disrupted by breakdowns, delays and passenger violence during April.

Recent weekend travellers were horrorified when a youth bashed a 59-year-old man on a Central to Kiama train, leaving the victim bleeding profusely with head wounds before he was rushed to hospital.

The same weekend a grandfather was attacked in front of his wife and two grandchildren, allegedly being punched in the head by another male who witnesses claim was part of a larger group of about 10 other young men.

There was also a report of a sexual assault of a woman in her 40’s who was travelling early on a Sunday morning.

The reports follow a major incident when about 1000 commuters had to be evacuated after reports of smoke and a fire on board a train during peak hour city-bound train on the Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line near Wolli Creek station.

Commuters on the line were advised to expect delays of up to 30 minutes. This came just two weeks after tens of thousands of commuters on the same train line were left stranded for over an hour in the morning peak after power lines were damaged at Tempe station.