Angry passengers share frustration with Sydney Train delays
Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW secretary Toby Warnes says train workers have experienced an “outpouring of support ... from across society” for their industrial action. So the Daily Telegraph asked commuters what they thought. READ THEIR COMMENTS
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Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW secretary Toby Warnes said train workers had experienced an “outpouring of support ... from across society” for their industrial action.
“We have had an absolute outpouring of support from across the union movement, from across society,” he said.
“…We do get a lot of support, when people put out the facts, people understand what’s happening and people support it.”
However when The Daily Telegraph asked commuters their views, frustrated travellers took aim at the rail union and politicians for failing to come to a resolution over pay disputes, with workers genuinely considering quitting their jobs due to commute blow-outs.
Here’s a sample of their views:
David: “We know who to blame and it’s not the government, it’s the Unions with their truly outrageous pay and working hours demands. Emergency service people have earned the right for higher pay claims yet they settled for much less. The union and its members can wait for all I care.”
Robert: “As for the RTBU, they have completely lost this battle in the general public’s eyes. The Secretary is digging in to try and save his job.”
Anthony: “The state and cities are being held to ransom. Workers, businesses and the general public are being used as pawns.”
Steven: “It must be great to have a high paid job with no chance of losing it when you can slack off and do things that hinder the customers and employer, try that in the real work world!”
Philip: “Well done, Mr. Warnes & Co. Every disruption just puts another nail in Albo’s electoral coffin.”
Michael: “This is beyond a joke… I think most of us are sick to death of unions holding us all to ransom.”
Troy: “Unions, doing what they do best, damaging productivity.”
Paul: “I am sure Toby Warnes and other union leaders from the RTBU are not walking the platforms at Central and other train stations announcing who they are.”
Phil: “Take your pay rise and just do your damn jobs.”
Shivani: “Toby admitted the strike was designed to cause commuter pain. That says it all.”
Scott: “Do you know what would be cool? If Toby Warnes and the RTBU, as well as Chris Minns and his government, could all act like functioning adults for a moment instead of spoiled children. The only people who actually lose out in this debacle are the public.”
Kaito: “Cancelling trains is not the solution. People are obviously unhappy with these delays, which doesn’t give them much support for their case.”
David: “This is out of control, three hours my train was just delayed, it’s become a piss take. Bring on driverless trains.”
Suzanne: “Reality: Militant unions inflict tortuous delays on Sydney commuters.”
Dale: “Cancelling services and driving the trains real slow isn’t doing yourselves any favours.”
Blue Mountains resident Mark Donnel said he “can’t keep up” working in the CBD amid never-ending industrial action, as commuters attempting to make it into the city from Sydney’s west faced delays of up to three hours on Wednesday morning.
“This is out of control, three hours my train was just delayed, it’s become a piss take,” Mr Donnel said.
“This has happened more than enough times over the past few months as well, I’m at the point right now where I might not even go into work today and I don’t care if I miss the next train”
“I honestly might even quit my job because this is too much, I’m from the Blue Mountains and I’d I have to keep going through this kind of stuff it’s not worth it”
“I love my job and who I work for but I can’t keep this up.”
Delays and cancellations across the network were caused by a perfect storm of combined union action which meant overnight maintenance was not completed by members of the Electrical Trades Union at Bondi Junction and Homebush, leading to signal delays.
Painting a picture of the stark new reality for Sydney commuters, a local resident passing by Bondi Junction station filmed a queue of locals stretching hundreds of metres along the road as they waited for the bus.
At Concord West train station Kaito Yoneda said it was time for the two sides to make peace or risk losing public support.
“There are always train delays in Australia,” he said.
“Cancelling trains is not the solution. People are obviously unhappy with these delays, which doesn’t give them much support for their case — we need to hurry up and make a negotiation, so we get to a halfway point where everyone is happy.”
Similarly Chris Maxfield called the union’s demands “crazy”.
“They’re demanding so much,” he said.
“Minns need to take a firm line and say we won’t do what you want, meet them in the middle.”
And Riley Morton said the inconsistency of the rail network was hurting business.
“I work in the maritime industry, so getting to work on time is so important. I rely on these trains, and these delays and cancellations are really inconvenient,” he said.
“There are other avenues they could take to get their point across rather than flat out cancelling trains. It’s been going on since early last year.”
Closer to the city, at Central Station, Devan Kodali said he was heading towards the Blue Mountains, where his train was delayed by 20 minutes.
He was more sympathetic towards the rail workers.
“It does get in the way of my plans, but it’s understandable for them to be striking, everyone deserves fair pay,” he said.
Dennis Emery, told The Daily Telegraph the go-slow move meant he had to rise an hour earlier, and will get home at least an hour later.
“I know they’ve been offered 15 per cent (pay rise) so I hope (the union) takes that seriously, and I hope all gets resolved sooner rather than later.”
Another commuter at Central Station, Paul Harris, told The Daily Telegraph it was a “complete joke” with his train two and half to three hours late.
“If you order a meal you expect it to arrive on time, if you order a cab you expect it to arrive on time or you lose business, so how do transport keep getting away with being late over and over”
I think they are being greedy with this strike, everyone wants a 30 per cent raise but we can’t all get it however, that doesn’t just mean you just hang up your gloves for the day”
“It’s unfair to us”
At Penrith Station, commuter Ben, who declined to give his surname, said the impacts on travel could cost him his job.
He said he commuted from Penrith to the Liverpool and Preston areas, which typically took two hours, and was hoping to still arrive at his destination around the same time by
taking a different route.
“I’ve already told my boss I may or may not even turn up,” he said.
He said the strike action was “frustrating” and “seems to keep happening”.
“I could potentially lose my job over it,” he said.
Another commuter, Paul, who travels from Penrith to Werrington for work, said the government needed to “wake up to themselves” and “give the (unions) what they want”.
“It messes everything up,” he said.
He was looking at a 30-minute delay, but said he thought the afternoon commute would be worse.
The sentiments on social media were less sympathetic.
Furious commuters have vented their frustration on X over two hour delays.
The Sydney Trains account and sub-accounts for each individual train line were flooded with complaints about the industrial action and sharing their journey disruptions.
Alissa S, who wrote that she was stuck at Flemington Station due to an unspecified issue at Homebush.
“We were promised to reach Town Hall at 7.20am (via limited stops).
“What is wrong with you?”
A union representative defending the action was met with little sympathy from one passenger, who wrote: “Bring on driverless trains”.
Daniel Boronski said ‘signal failure’ was being used as an ‘excuse’.
“Two trains I’ve been on both had signal failures,” he said.
In response to a service alert issued by Sydney Trains’ account, Phil Barber wrote: “Take your pay rise and just do your damn jobs”.
Dale Ronquillo added: “Cancelling services and driving the trains real slow isn’t doing yourselves any favours”.
“All of Sydney hates you” another stated.
Hey Sydney trains want to pay me for my shift I’ll probably never get to ? pic.twitter.com/2regTMY3X5
— Chloe (@gunnerx182) January 14, 2025
Extra time for travel? That is an absolute joke, just for reference to what they mean by extra time is 45 mins stuck at wentworthville while you have been sitting on a train for over an hour, how do you deserve 30% raises?
— Eiyzak (@hasin_zaidi) January 14, 2025
The best part is that, even though our trains are delayed by over an hour, we still pay full price
— CMoss (@CameronMoss97) January 14, 2025
Only in Sydney: trains delayed every other day, industrial action every other week, and the excuse? ‘Signal failure.’ Meanwhile, they’re still cashing in like clockwork. How about fixing the system instead of blaming it? 🙄 #SydneyTrainspic.twitter.com/YfBoy19DrE
— Dollar Gill (@DollarGill) January 14, 2025
Hour 2.
— Andrew Rollason (@rollo75) January 14, 2025
Blacktown to not yet Flemington - 126 minutes.
Automated announcements are telling us to consider "alternative travel plans", when we are very obviously already on a train.#sydneytrains
Thanks to the Rail, Bus and Tram Union and their greedy members for turning my usual 30 minute train journey into a 1.5 hour and still counting pile of 💩. You're a disgrace #SydneyTrains
— Bomber (@Bomber0601) January 14, 2025
One user stated at Redfern nurses in scrubs were waiting on the platform for a cancelled train, writing:
“Customers please think about your travel and plan ahead before travelling…’” is being blared out on speakers like it’s the working public’s fault.”
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