Commuter nightmare continues as only limited train services return

Sydneysiders will face another nightmare commute on Tuesday as limited rail services resume amid a bitter government-union stoush.

Sydneysiders will face another difficult commute on Tuesday as limited rail services resume amid a bitter battle between unions and the government.

Reduced services will run across all lines from 5:00am, at a minimum 30 minute frequency throughout the day.

Commuters have been warned to seek alternative modes of transport where possible.

The service will continue to rely on 150 train replacement buses operating along major rail corridors.

“Some commuters may experience a service every 15 minutes but journey times will be longer as trains are required to stop at more stations,” a statement from transport minister David Elliot said.

Sydney rail commuters are again being told to seek alternative transport options, despite the return of limited services. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) NSW Secretary, Alex Claassens, welcomed the NSW Government’s decision to allow some train services to return.

“We have said all along that the NSW Government could run services with our bans in place, and we are pleased that they have finally listened. Services may be disjointed, but at least there will be trains moving again,” Mr Classens said.

Transport authorities on Monday sensationally suspended services across Sydney. Newcastle, Central Coast, Blue Mountains and the Illawarra due to a long-running dispute with the Rail, Train and Bus Union.

The union wants greater protections over safety guarantees, hygiene and privatisation concerns.

Both parties put the blame on one another, with the rhetoric sensationally escalating after Mr Elliott accused the union of engaging in “terrorist-like” behaviour.

David Elliott accused the RTBU of hijacking the city. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

Mr Elliott unloaded on a union’s “bulls**t” spin.

“I think we’re going to have a large standoff right now because they cannot use Sydney’s transport system for some sort of terrorist-like activity,” Mr Elliott told 2GB radio.

Asked if the services were shuttered amid confusion over a Fair Work Commission deal that was struck between the two over the weekend, Mr Elliott reponsed: “That’s bulls**t.”

“That is union spin and to say that – I’m furious about them taking the city for a ride today.

“Why the hell would I want a strike to occur on a Monday that universities are going back? I’m so furious.”

Commuters were left stranded when trains were cancelled in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

However, the RTBU’s recollection of events is in stark contrast to Mr Elliott’s.

NSW secretary Alex Claassens said staff turned up to work only to be told the government had cancelled trains.

“We are not on strike,” Mr Claassens said.

“All the people sitting in the meal rooms all across the network are ready to work at a minute’s notice.”

Services were cancelled around midnight on Sunday after negotiations between the union and Transport for NSW broke down.

Both parties had twice appeared before the Fair Work Commission at the weekend before the decision to cancel services following the union’s threat of industrial action.

Premier Dominic Perrottet claimed the union left Sydney Trains with no choice.

“I am incredibly disappointed, I feel the anger of everyone across the city,” he said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the union behind Sydney’s train strikes is being ‘disrespectful’ to fellow citizens. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Prime Minister Scott Morrison was also quick to weigh in on the fracas.

“This is just not how you behave. This is not how you treat your fellow citizens,” he told 2GB.

“We’ve had nurses, we’ve had teachers, we’ve had police officers and everyone working hard through the pandemic, and we’ve got international arrivals opening up today and the union’s welcome to them will be a train strike.

“I feel for all those Sydneysiders today who are affected by the strike.”

His comments come a week after the government “stared down” the Australian Maritime Workers Union, which planned to strike in the face of the AUKUS agreement.

“They backed off. That’s what our government will do when it’s falling into our areas of responsibility, and I’ve no doubt the NSW government will take a strong stand as well,” Mr Morrison said.

“But when they (unions) think they’ve got the power, well, you know what they do? We’ve seen it before from our waterfront to now our trains.”

The Rail Tram and Bus Union cancelled all Sydney trains on Monday following a breakdown in talks with the NSW government. Picture: Gaye Gerard / NCA NewsWire

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the union was being “deliberately provocative and belligerent”.

“It will exacerbate the problem full stop. When you call a strike at 2am you are picking a fight, not calling a strike, and being a bully,” he told Channel 7.

Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon responded by saying despite the disruption, a “lot of Sydneysiders will be sympathetic to their cause”.

“When strikes are called, it is usually for complex reasons. Surely Barnaby is not suggesting that workers be denied the right to withdraw their labour,” he said.

“They have been on this campaign for a long time and the NSW government has mismanaged it.”

Originally published as Commuter nightmare continues as only limited train services return