Sydney bus services cancelled, major delays expected

Commuters have been warned they face major delays on Monday with hundreds of Sydney bus services cancelled across multiple routes.

Sydney commuters have been warned to brace for major disruptions with hundreds of bus services cancelled across the city on Monday.

Bus services in the Inner West, Inner North, Northern Beaches and Eastern Suburbs are set to be the most affected.

Transport for NSW said the timetable changes were prompted by a lack of bus drivers.

It said the cancellations were temporary service adjustments and it was working with private operators to reinstate the services as soon as possible.

“We will continue to work with operators and scheduling experts to ensure timetable adjustments are as efficient as possible and are working towards reinstating suspended services as soon as possible.”

Commuters in Sydney are set to be affected by updated bus schedules. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

It comes as the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) claimed the industry struggled to gain new drivers and retain current ones due to the privatisation of the state’s network.

But RTBU tram and bus division president Peter Grech pointed the blame elsewhere.

“There is no action by bus drivers, nor has there been any suggestion of it. All we’re doing is informing commuters of the bus cuts coming into place today – a job Transport for NSW should have been doing themselves,” Mr Grech said.

Minister for Transport David Elliott said the country is experiencing a labour shortage. Picture: Richard Dobson

The president condemned NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet for suggesting that the union is to blame for these updates.

“The Premier’s comments reek of the fake rail strike of last year where they tried to blame workers for their decision to stop the railway. It is outrageous for the Premier to suggest that there is any action being taken, knowing full well that there is no action at all.”

However, NSW Minister for Transport David Elliott said that the cancellations have nothing to do with industrial action or privatisation.

“I’m a bit disappointed with what the union put out, I think they have tried to put the frighteners on commuters,” Mr Elliott told Ben Fordham on his 2GB radio show on Monday.

“This is not industrial action, this has nothing to do with privatisation, this is because we have an industry shortage of bus drivers.

“That happens around the world at the moment, it’s got nothing to do with the private versus public because there are plenty of public services at the moment that are short of quality staff because of the labour shortage we have in this country.”

Sydney commuters have faced public transport chaos for almost a year as the state government and union continue to struggle to find a middle ground in negotiations.

The untimely bus cancellations come as thousands of children return to school with many others returning to work.