Sydney Train Disruptions Will Happen Again This Week As Strikes Continue

Sydneysiders have been warned to expect train disruptions from Monday to Wednesday this week as industrial action continues, whilst the government and the railway union continue to point the finger at each other for the impasse.

Trains were mostly running on time mid-afternoon on Monday. However, Transport for NSW advised travellers on suburban and intercity lines that “there will be major service reductions and cancellations” due to protected industrial action, which over three days will progressively limit the distance drivers and guards can travel.

Suburban train crew will be limited by an additional five kilometres each day, whilst intercity crew will be limited by eight kilometres per day.

Buses were rostered to supplement some suburban train services, including along the T6 on which no trains ran. Intercity travellers are most impacted, with frequencies on the Blue Mountains and South Coast lines reduced to one train per hour in each direction, with the Central Coast & Newcastle Line receiving half-hourly service.

The T7 Olympic Park Line is alone among suburban and intercity services for having no forecasted disruptions.

“Passengers on Intercity services should plan ahead and look for alternative modes of transport where possible, in particular, for students travelling to school,” the agency advised.

“Sydney Trains apologises to our passengers for the disruption, and thanks commuters for their understanding as staff work to minimise the impacts of the difficult industrial period.”

Train disruptions continue over continued industrial action between government and unions

The disruptions come after Transport for NSW attained a Federal Court injunction on Sunday night against additional industrial action, which would have caused much greater disorder. Prior to the injunction, Premier Chris Minns lamented the state of negotiations.

“After two weeks of negotiations we have not been able to come to a fair deal with the combined rail unions. Daily exhaustive negotiations have not resulted in a breakthrough despite the government’s best efforts,” Minns said.

“I’m disappointed and I’m very sorry about it, but unfortunately that’s where we are at.”

In turn, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) accused the New South Wales Government of effectively shutting down discussion.

“Sending threatening legal notices at a moment in the negotiations when it looked like we were very close to being able to land an agreement is unbelievably irresponsible and disruptive,” RTBU NSW Secretary Toby Warnes said.

“We are desperate to reach a deal, but it appears the NSW Government is more interested in threatening workers and continuing chaos. They have been aware of this action for over six weeks, but they’ve waited until the 11th hour to pull a stunt like this.”