Major city braces for chaos with train shutdown

Sydney trains will be shut down for four days as an industrial dispute reaches a stalemate.

NSW Transport Minister Jo Heylan said on Tuesday there would be no train services in Sydney from Thursday to Sunday due to industrial action by the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU).

The union had given the government an ultimatum to either run all rail lines around the clock from Thursday to Sunday, or face a complete shut down.

The government agreed to 24-hour trial last weekend, but said it would not be possible this week. Instead it had proposed to run a 24-hour service between Hornsby and Strathfield.

Ms Haylen said the union’s demand was unviable and it rejected the government’s compromise at an online meeting on Tuesday.

“If we continue to try and run 24-hour services over the weekend that fact is that it will eventually lead to the failure of our rail network,” Ms Haylen said.

She said Sydneysiders should expected significant disruptions over those four days.

She said it would cause “major disruption for millions of train passengers”.

Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland said the strike would cause major delays across the city’s train network, which carries one million people per day.

“At this point we have to prepare for no train services,” he said.

“I’m asking people to think about travelling well outside the peak, to make alternative arrangements, to plan well ahead.”

Mr Longland said Sydney Trains was working with Sydney Metro for more services, but the Metro will be closed on the weekend for maintenance.

“That will be an additional factor as we look towards the weekend that we will not have Metro services to augment a stoppage at Sydney trains,” he said.

Meanwhile, thousands are expected at Olympic Park on Thursday and Saturday for a Pearl Jam concert

The powerful rail has demanded the government to run 24-hour train services on Thursday, Friday and Saturdays.

It’s part of its enterprise agreement with the government.

Mr Longland said fans should make alternative travel plans.

“We will have no major event buses at this stage, we will reply on car parks, carpooling and ride share services,” he said.

RBTU NSW secretary Toby Warnes said on Tuesday the bans would be lifted if the government agreed to the 24 hour service.

“We’ve told the NSW government that our bans remain for the weekend,” he told reporters.

“Of course if the government decides to run the trains 24 hours a day, those bans don’t apply.”

At the heart of the dispute is the union’s Enterprise Agreement, which expired six months ago.

He last week accused the NSW government of “dragging its heels” to respond to calls for better pay and conditions.

He said the call for a 24-hour weekend service was in response to public feedback.

“The overwhelming feedback from the public is that they want 24-hour services on the weekend, not just to go between the CBD and inner suburbs but for those travelling further including Gosford and Wollongong,” Mr Warnes said last week.

More to come

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