Trains to operate 46-hours straight to safely move huge NYE fireworks and party crowds

Trains over New Year’s Eve will run 46 hours straight to allow Sydneysiders to see the fireworks – despite uncertainty following the rail union’s bitter wage dispute with the Minns government.

Trains over New Year’s Eve will run 46 hours straight to allow Sydneysiders to see the fireworks – despite weeks of uncertainty following the rail union’s bitter wage dispute with the Minns government.

After the train workers union formally withdrew its industrial action in the Fair Work Commission on Christmas Eve, public transport will now run continuously over two days as originally planned.

Premier Chris Minns warned earlier this month that any industrial action undertaken by the Rail, Tram and Bus Union over NYE could result in authorities cancelling the fireworks over public safety fears that mass crowds would not be able to leave the city.

Now, with the union’s industrial action on hold until next year, Transport for NSW will run an additional 1000 rail services from NYE to 5am on New Year’s Day.

This is a 40 per cent increase on the number of services across a normal weekday.

Fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House at midnight on January 1, 2024. Trains will run 46 hours straight to allow Sydneysiders to see the new year’s fireworks. Picture: Izhar Khan/AFP

As has been done in previous years, additional services will run across most lines from 2pm on NYE, with frequent trains running after midnight.

Trains will not stop at Circular Quay from 3pm on Tuesday, while trains running from the city to the north will not stop at Milson’s Point after 6pm.

Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland, and Transport Minister Jo Haylen. Picture: NewsWire/John Appleyard

The 46-hour continuous timetable will run all day Tuesday through to 2am on January 2, with 5,800 services operating across the entire rail network.

Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland said in order for the trains to be able to run the intensive 46-hour period, extensive maintenance had to be done across the lines in the lead-up to NYE, with some lines closed till Tuesday for trackwork.

“Approximately 3,600 Sydney Trains staff will work across the network on New Year’s Eve to help the million-plus crowd expected to flood into the city’s vantage points have a safe and reliable public transport trip,” he said.

“The Rail Operations Centre is abuzz with activity this week, with around 120 people per shift working 24 hours a day.”

Revellers will also be able to catch the Metro to see the fireworks for the first time, with service frequency increased to every five minutes, running until 2am.

Passengers getting into the city will also be able to catch more than 1,100 additional light rail services, which will run until 4am.

The L2 and L3 line will run every six minutes, while the L1 will run every five minutes till 2am on New Year’s Day.

These services will be supported by 1,500 additional bus services with southwest buses replacing the T3 from Sydenham to Bankstown running more services until 3am.

There will also be an increase in the number of late night ferries on NYE.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said she was relieved the massive NYE transport plan that had been prepared months earlier could go ahead.

“This is the biggest transport event of the year and right now thousands of workers are getting ready,” she said.

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