Passenger Rail, Events, Legal & Compliance

Sydney set for standstill again

rail maintenance Sydney

Sydney’s rail network will once again be disrupted by industrial action next week, with services running at a reduced frequency and taking longer to reach their destinations.

The Rail Tram and Bus Union has notified Transport for NSW of the actions, to take place on Monday, 20 to Tuesday, 21 December.

During that period:

  • Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink Intercity services will not operate on Monday evening and early Tuesday morning. Some Intercity services will be disrupted from mid-afternoon.
  • Regional trains will also be significantly disrupted.
  • A limited supply of buses will be replacing suburban and Intercity train services on key routes from 6pm Monday until 6am Tuesday.

TfSW advises passengers to plan ahead and consider travel options on Monday as their commute home will be affected.

Bus marshals and Transport for NSW staff will be out on the ground at key stations and transport hubs to assist customers.

Commuters should consider:

  • driving where possible
  • working flexibly
  • using alternative transport modes including regular metro, buses or ferries services
  • walking or cycling for shorter trips
  • driving to a nearby station commuter car park to have better connection with alternative transport services
  • allow extra travel time as traffic may be heavier than usual due to the increased number of buses on the network
  • that taxis and rideshare are also expected to be in high demand.

Discussions are continuing between the parties over provisions of a new enterprise agreement, which include privatisation of transport services and jobs, a refusal to commit to a continued high standard of cleaning and the level of pay increases.

More reading

Industrial action for Sydney