Sydney’s rail network will be disrupted by industrial action planned for Tuesday 7 December, when services will run at a reduced frequency and take longer to reach their destinations.
The Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) has indicated the slowdown would occur after representatives turned down an offer of a 2.5 per cent per annum pay increase.
Sydney Trains Chief Executive Matt Longland said it was a disappointing outcome for both Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink, and more importantly, their customers.
“We have been meeting with the unions regularly for six months, with more than 40 meetings having been held between the two agencies and unions. We have spoken about the 2.5 per cent per annum pay increase, inclusive of superannuation, and it is incredibly disappointing unions are pushing ahead with more disruptions,” he said.
“Proposed industrial action over the next month includes cleaning bans, loud and excessive train-horn blowing across the network, and two days of major disruption. Now is not the time for the unions to be carrying out any action.”
The RTBU has advised protected industrial action on Tuesday will impact the use of Waratah, Millennium and OSCAR trains, which combined make up about 70 per cent of the fleet and operate around 75 per cent of services.
NSW TrainLink Chief Executive Dale Merrick said customers rely on its services to get them to where they need to go, and have already had to bear the brunt of union actions.
“It is incredibly disappointing that action will continue despite both Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink executives being at the table and committed to reaching an agreement with the union that benefits our people,” he said.
“As always, we will do everything we can to minimize impacts to customers but we implore the union to call off their disruptions and consider the impacts on the NSW community during this challenging time.”
Customers who need to use the rail network are encouraged to plan their journey before they travel. Services will run to a reduced frequency on most lines, make additional station stops and take longer to reach their destination.
A heavily reduced service will operate on the T1 North Shore & Western, T2 Inner West & Leppington, T3 Bankstown (Liverpool to Circular Quay via Bankstown), T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra, T7 Olympic Park and the T8 Airport & South Line.
There will be no service on the T5 Cumberland Line. Customers will be able to change trains at Granville.
Buses will replace trains between Lidcombe and Bankstown on the T3 Bankstown Line.
On the Intercity network, services will run to a weekend timetable on the Blue Mountains and Central Coast & Newcastle Lines.
South Coast Line trains will run at reduced frequency between Wollongong and Waterfall only. Buses will replace trains between Wollongong and Kiama and Wollongong and Port Kembla.
There is no change to services on the Hunter and Southern Highlands Lines or between Kiama and Nowra.
Public transport customers should visit transportnsw.info for the latest information and to consider alterative transport options.