While more than a million people packed the Sydney Harbour foreshore in a bid to enjoy the city’s famous New Year’s Eve fireworks – one woman had a brilliant idea to escape the crowds.
TikTok user fayleyherris, who goes by Hayley, enjoyed uninterrupted views of the fireworks after hopping on a near-empty city loop train 15 minutes before midnight.
The woman timed her run to perfection and was able to enjoy stunning views of the display as the train drove past thousands of people crammed by the water at Circular Quay.
“POV: You time the train to do a drive by at the fireworks on New Year’s Eve,” she wrote on TikTok, revealing she had only thought of the idea an hour earlier.
Her video was flooded with dozens of comments from frustrated Sydneysiders who wished they had caught the train.
“Next year I’m doing this,” wrote one, inspired by her post.
“No way, I didn’t even know they were running.” added another, while a third simply wrote “genius”.
Others poked fun at Sydney Trains, with one joking: “The only time city rail was on time”.
Another called them brave, saying “this is too risky knowing Sydney trains”.
The young woman also shared footage from Seven News, which revealed how her train’s arrival at Circular Quay partially blocked the view of the fireworks for some partygoers.
In a cheeky dig at those who had their view spoiled, she shared a video comparing the two perspectives.
“For one a bumpy start, for the other just the opposite,” one person replied.
It’s understood over a million people flooded the city’s vantage points during the New Year’s celebrations.
Many struggled to get home after the fireworks, stuck outside full and bustling train stations for hours after midnight.
Despite an additional 1000 trains and 1258 bus services, thousands remained stuck well into the early morning.
But for Hayley and her friend, they stayed on the train to get back home early.
“Was back in bed by 12.20am,” she said.