Union strike forces NSW government to slash train fares for huge sporting weekend

Stalled enterprise agreement negotiations have forced the NSW government to make train travel free this weekend.

The New South Wales government is making all train travel free this weekend to soften the blow of disruptions caused by strikes.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) members will strike on a monster weekend of sport in the harbour city, in a dispute over a key train line being shut for a year to build a high-speed Metro link to the western suburbs.

Trains to Saturday night’s Wallabies versus All Blacks Bledisloe Cup test are likely to be affected, but whether trains will run to the rugby at all is unclear.

The Wallabies test is likely to be affected by the strikes. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Well over 100,000 footy fans will be travelling to AFL and NRL finals matches on Friday and Saturday night as well.

“We know rail travel could be a challenge as a result of industrial action,” Transport Minister Jo Haylen posted on social media Thursday night.

“So this weekend, we’re making all rail travel free.”

Transport Minister Jo Haylen has made train travel free this weekend. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Transport for NSW secretary Josh Murray has advised fans heading to the Wallabies for the 3.45pm game on Saturday in particular to check news updates and travel apps.

As of early Friday morning, the Transport for NSW journey planner is not showing any disruptions.

Buses are replacing trains between Lindcombe, Bankstown and Campsie because of pre-scheduled track work this weekend though.

This latest strike action centres on stalled negotiations for a new enterprise agreement between the government, Sydney Trains and NSW Trains which has been hammered over since June.

“I would say to the union, don’t let families be the victims here,” Ms Haylen said after a late-night meeting on Wednesday failed to get a result.

The union has a laundry list of 250 demands. A key issue is the fact the Bankstown line will be shut while it is converted to a Metro line for 12 months.

The industrial dispute centres on changes for train drivers brought about by the government’s Metro networks. Picture: NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers

The union does not want workers’ work varied during the shutdown. The first stage of the closure between Campsie and Bankstown is scheduled to begin on Saturday, and the rest of the line is expected to be shut on September 30.

The government needs the union on board for the shutdown; Any delays could blowout the project in the order of $3m a day.

The new Sydney Metro opened in August. Picture: NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers

The union also wants a qualified Sydney Trains driver on every metro train, the Transport Minister has said.

“I need those Sydney Trains drivers for the Sydney Trains network. Those are the kind of things that I could not agree to,” the Minister said.

Also on the union wishlist is $0.50 train fares. Across the border in Queensland the Labor government has lowered all bus, train, ferry and tram fares to 50 cents, and the Opposition says it will keep that pricing if it is elected next month.

But in New South Wales, the Transport Minister says Sydney public transport is too heavily subsidised to cut fares to $0.50.

Originally published as Union strike forces NSW government to slash train fares for huge sporting weekend