Industrial action continues to disrupt the rail network

The Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) has indicated it will continue to disrupt customers on the rail network throughout December despite continuous meetings between the unions and Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink.

Sydney Trains Chief Executive, Matt Longland, says this is a disappointing outcome for both Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink, and more importantly, our 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 a 2.5 per cent per annum pay increase, inclusive of superannuation, and it is incredibly disappointing unions are pushing ahead with more disruptions,” Mr Longland 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.”

On Tuesday 7 December, the RTBU has advised protected industrial action 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, says customers rely on our 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,” Mr Merrick 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 on Tuesday 7 December 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.

Road users can download the Live Traffic NSW App, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701 for the latest traffic updates.