Buses on standby to battle any rail chaos on Sydney network
NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance has admitted the rail network has a “problem” with how it moves on from major incidents as more than a dozen services were cancelled across the city despite a planned driver strike being suspended.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Sydney train strike: Australia’s workplace relations system broken
- Government begs retired train drivers to return
NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance has admitted the rail network has a “problem” with how it recovers from major incidents.
More than a dozen services were cancelled across Sydney this morning despite today’s planned strike not proceeding due to the intervention of the Fair Work Commission.
Sydney Trains said the cancellations were due to unexpected sick leave, graffiti and a mechanical fault.
Speaking to 2GB this morning, Mr Constance was adamant they had enough staff.
How many people have not shown up for work today? #SydneyTrains pic.twitter.com/OzxPZHpu4x
— MegEliza (@adrizzlyautumn) January 28, 2018
... so it begins anew
— Shane Miles (@shane___miles) January 28, 2018
Thanks, Sydney Trains! pic.twitter.com/rwRE4M8LdH
“On the advice given to me absolutely, but (Sydney Trains Chief Executive) Howard Collins has come back to me quite rightfully and said, ‘Look, the recovery when major and unexpected incidents happen, there’s a problem,’” Mr Constance said.
“Obviously (we’re) going to look at how we can free up capacity.”
However, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she thought it was “business as usual” for the Sydney’s train network today, despite 10 cancelled services.
“From all accounts today was pretty much a business as usual day on the rail network,” she said. “I’m looking forward to continuing to get on with the job.
“When you are running hundreds of services on a daily basis, it’s quite a common thing to have some services affected, so I’m not concerned about that at all. In the main people were able to get to their destinations as scheduled.”
“I’m confident that moving forward all parties have one thing in mind, to restore consistency and the ensure public always comes first. It’s always about the public, that the customer comes first.”
A spokesman for Sydney Trains said 10 services were cancelled across Sydney this morning, leaving 366 services going ahead as scheduled.
“From the 376 scheduled services scheduled during this period, we had to cancel 10 services as a result of a mechanical fault, vandalism, and sick leave,” he said.
“Sick leave was not above the average for Sydney Trains this morning.”
“Sydney Trains services operated well this morning with a 93 per cent on time running during the peak period,” .
He said Sydney Trains employs 1169 drivers and recorded 24 drivers on unplanned sick leave today.
The delays began last night as Transport for NSW cancelled services in a desperate bid to catch up with demand by the morning peak with managers “monitoring” the network and extra buses placed on standby in the event angry train drivers called in sick.
Mr Constance was confident rail workers wouldn’t call in sick but admitted there was a driver shortage overall. “It’s tight at the moment, but it’s going to improve as we get 165 drivers onto the network in the next six months,” he said.
RTBU NSW Secretary Alex Claassens, however, said the new timetable only runs properly when workers do overtime.
“Management have been put into a position where they weren’t allowed to staff the network appropriately. We were 40 drivers short under the old timetable, we introduce the new timetable and overnight we’re 150 drivers short,” Mr Claassens told 2GB on Monday.
Mr Constance said the government will look at the issue of overtime.
“Overtime is part of the roster, it always has been, always will be, and some of the drivers rely on it ... but we will work with the union bosses reasonably and have a look . at when critical incidents happen and if we have to free up capacity I’m happy to do it,” he said.
It comes after rebel posters appeared at bus stations over the weekend stating public transport workers had “no confidence” in Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Transport Minister Andrew Constance.
“We the workers have enough of being ripped off and blamed for poor arrangements,” the poster said. “We ask that at the very least Mr Constance be stood down.”
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) told The Daily Telegraph they were not responsible for the posters.
Yesterday, the union’s NSW secretary Alex Claassens said they were “an honest, law-abiding union” and would abide by the commission’s ruling.
“We always follow the rules and will continue to follow the rules,” he said.
Negotiations will continue today between the unions and Sydney Trains after workers rejected a 2.75 per cent a year pay rise as part of a package including free bus travel and a one-off $1000 payment.
The union has been seeking a six per cent increase and improved conditions.
CANCELLATIONS DUE TO UNEXPECTED CREW CHANGES
Western Line 06:34 Central to Richmond service
North Shore Line 06:19 North Sydney to Central service
North Shore Line 06:00 Central to North Sydney service
Western Line 04:39 Richmond to Central service
07:41 Central to Parramatta
Leppington Line 06:05 Leppington to Central service
06:51 Leppington to Blacktown service
06:35 Blacktown to Leppington service
06:51 Leppington to Blacktown service
06:34 Blacktown to Leppington service
07:48 Ashfield to City limited stops service
08:00 Schofields to Central service
08:03 Leppington to Blacktown service
Ex-boss given files after leaving infrastructure unit, ICAC told
A senior human resources adviser described colleagues who had raised complaints about the Education Department’s infrastructure unit as “problem children”, an Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing has heard.
Blood stains link in Ballina murder trial
Multiple blood stains found on a variety of items in a laneway behind an op-shop where 64-year-old Lindy Lucena was found dead have been linked to her accused killer, a trial has heard.