Sydney faces rail disruptions as train strikes loom over Christmas and New Year holidays

Commuters were hit with cancellations on Friday with Transport for NSW warning of further delays and disruption after the Federal Court approved train strikes over Christmas and New Year.

Sydney commuters are bracing for potential rail disruptions this festive season after the Federal Court cleared the way for train strikes over Christmas and New Year.

Transport for New South Wales has warned passengers to prepare for delays and cancellations across Sydney Trains, Intercity, and NSW TrainLink services starting Friday.

“Expect delays and cancellations on Sydney Trains, Intercity, and NSW TrainLink services due to ongoing protected industrial action,” Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink said in a statement on Friday morning.

The T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line has already seen cancellations on Friday morning.

“This morning, we’re seeing cancellations and delays already, particularly hitting the T4 Line,” Transport Minister Jo Haylen said on 2GB.

“But all parts of the network, trains are not running to the timetable unfortunately, so we need passengers to make sure they allow extra time to check their travel apps.”

Speaking at the opening of the Parramatta Light Rail on earlier Friday morning, Ms Haylen said there will be train disruptions but buses and the metro will not be affected by the strike.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said there will be train delays on Friday morning. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

“Our bus, metro and light rail services are not affected but we will see disruption on our train today,” she said.

“Industrial action is taking place and look, it is very inconvenient for passengers. We remind people to check their travel apps to allow extra time.

“The government is taking every legal step available to make sure that we protect New Year’s Eve. We want certainty for passengers, and no level of industrial action when it comes to New Year’s Eve is acceptable.”

Impacts of the impending train strikes action began to be felt by travellers just before 7pm on Thursday.

NSW TrainLink said that services stopped running Wollongong and Bomaderry due to protected industrial action, with replacement bus services running instead.

Earlier Thursday afternoon, the NSW government said it would lodge a court application on Thursday to block rail strikes on the basis of community safety, and economic grounds.

Transport minister Jo Haylen said the government is taking all legal options to stop the work bans.

Sydney Trains CEO Matt Longland said mid-afternoon the union had not yet clarified what bans will be in place, but strikes could begin as early as Thursday afternoon.

TRAIN UNION WINS RIGHT TO STRIKE IMMEDIATELY

Just before lunchtime on Thursday, the rail union has been cleared to go on strike immediately after Premier Chris Minns copped an embarrassing legal loss in the federal court.

RTBU secretary Toby Warnes. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

That decision means potential chaos on Sydney’s network in the lead-up to Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

The train network could shut down from as quickly as tonight, with the rail union set to impose strike action unless the NSW government runs a 24/7 network.

The Rail Tram and Bus union was cleared to impose a raft of work bans “immediately” after a win in the federal court on Thursday morning.

Those actions include a ban on running services from Thursday night if weekend trains do not run 24 hours a day.

Asked if his members would impose the 24 hour bans, RTBU boss Toby Warnes said:

“RTBU members will do whatever it takes to achieve what they deserve”.

The federal court loss with an embarrassing legal loss for Premier Chris Minns.

A general view of Central station in Sydney as issues continue with the breakdown of negotiations between unions and the government on enterprise bargaining. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

The court threw out an injunction which was stopping the Rail, Tram and Bus union taking strike action, which the government said would cripple the network over Christmas.

The Minns government did not appeal the judgment but is now preparing to file a fresh application to ban union members going on strike.

Union rail Grinch boss backs down on NYE call while on coffee run

Earlier on Thursday, the business community responded to previous threats to strike on New Year’s Eve.

Rail strikes on New Year’s Eve would cost the economy up to $78 million if revellers stay home or turn metropolitan Sydney into a traffic jam if people turn to the road to avoid rail cancellations, the state’s peak business body says.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union officials were last night meeting with Treasurer Daniel Mookhey after days of radio silence between both parties, amid warnings of a “disaster” on “all transport systems” if the strike goes ahead.

Liberal Leader Mark Speakman yesterday accused rail union boss Toby Warnes of flipping the bird at Sydneysiders after he said they could catch a taxi into the city or “watch the fireworks at home” to avoid disruptions caused by his members.

The RTBU has undertaken some form of industrial action for more than half the time Mr Warnes has been secretary.

A career union lawyer, Mr Warnes took over as RTBU Secretary from June 29.

RTBU SECRETARY Toby Warnes has back tracked on his call for Sydney siders to stay home and watch the fireworks saying he had misspoke. Picture: Thomas Lisson

He has worked as a train driver in the past; RTBU rules require secretaries to have worked driving trains.

There have been 89 days of protected industrial action since June 29 – from September 11 to December 8, where they were banned from stopping work by a court order.

Mr Warnes did not speak publicly yesterday, after revealing that his members will only be working at half capacity on New Year’s Eve.

He admitted there would be service disruptions but disputed claims that the network will fall into chaos.

How The Daily Telegraph sees the union boss. Picture: digitally altered.

However, on Thursday morning, Mr Warnes said: “Maybe I misspoke” when quizzed by The Daily Telegraph about his suggestion that Sydneysiders “watch the fireworks at home” amid any potential industrial action on New Year’s Eve.

He also said he now thought his union and the state government would come to an agreement before then, staving off any strike action on the city’s rail network on one of its biggest nights of the year.

“Maybe I misspoke, but I don’t think we’re going to get to that point,” Mr Warnes said on his coffee run.

“I think the government and us are going to come to an agreement.”

Mr Warnes indicated that negotiations with the government were “getting closer and closer by the minute – when we actually speak to each other”.

RTBU leaders met with Treasurer Daniel Mookhey on Wednesday. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

The federal court will rule on Thursday morning whether or not the strike action blocked by an injunction last week is illegal, or whether it can resume.

If the court sides with the RTBU, strike action could begin almost immediately.

Business NSW estimated that the rail strike could cost businesses up to $78 million in lost revenue if two-thirds of people stay at home on New Year’s Eve.

If crowds are half their usual size, the estimated loss would be $59 million, Business NSW said.

If people try to battle through, CEO Daniel Hunter warned that of clogged roads and traffic chaos across Sydney.

“It would be a disaster not only for the city, but the whole of metropolitan Sydney”.

Trains would be running at half the normal weekday capacity on New Year’s Eve if a rail strike goes ahead.

“Basically all transport systems would become a major problem right across the city and the state,” he said.

Mr Hunter said that unless the matter is resolved in the next six days, businesses could go under.

“The threat needs to be resolved before Christmas,” he said.

There are warnings of transport chaos if a strike goes ahead. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

“That threat of a strike, make no mistake, is already having an impact, because people are holding off on their bookings,” he said.

He said businesses need the Christmas and New Year period to recoup losses from during a tough year.

“If that opportunity is taken away, it will push some businesses into bankruptcy, there is no doubt,” Mr Hunter said.

Rail union members want a 32 per cent pay rise. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

The Opposition leader said Mr Warnes’ comments “show the union’s utter contempt for the people of NSW”.

“For this arrogant union to take that attitude (and) give the bird sign to the people of NSW and say ‘stay at home’ is just outrageous.”

Despite Transport Minister Jo Haylen previously declaring that “any” level of industrial action on New Year’s Eve would be unacceptable, the government’s lawyers did not make an application to have the strike ruled illegal during a Fair Work Commission hearing on Wednesday.

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