Commuter to wait five times as long for trains during strikes

Commuters are being urged to avoid travelling as they may have to wait five times as long for their trains during the third day of chaotic strikes.

Commuters may be forced to wait five times as long for their usual train services as rail workers continue to strike across NSW in a record week of industrial action.

Widespread disruptions are expected during the third day of protected strikes launched by rail workers in response to ongoing safety concerns, including the operation of a $2.88bn intercity fleet built in South Korea that the union has deemed unsafe.

Transport for NSW estimated train services could be reduced by up to 70 per cent on Thursday as rail workers refuse to travel outside their home depot during an indefinite ban on Sydney Metro services.

Commuters are being urged to avoid travelling as wait times blow out during peak time. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Sydney Trains chief executive Matthew Longland told 2GB’s Ben Fordham that commuters would be facing lengthy delays.

“Services will operate at a reduced frequency, services are likely to be more crowded and journeys will take longer for customers,” he said.

“The timetable will be equivalent to a weekend timetable, so the biggest impacts will be felt in the peak periods.”

Mr Longland estimated commuters would be waiting up to five times longer for trains during peak periods when they would normally expect a train every three minutes.

“We’re asking customers if they can avoid travel today,” he said.

The disruptions are expected to impact rail services across the state.

Sydney Trains chief executive Matthew Longland said the frequency of trains would be reduced to a weekend schedule.

However, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union told 2GB that claims of a strike were “untrue” and there wasn’t any reason for reduced rail services on Thursday.

RTBU NSW branch secretary Alex Claassens claimed the government had agreed to one of its demands for a $264m safety upgrade on the billion-dollar intercity fleet. The funds will pay for upgrades to the CCTV systems on trains to allow train guards to better monitor potential interference.

Mr Claassens said the upgrades would help protect commuters after 140 people fell between the platform and the tracks last year.

“We’re doing this to keep the public safe,” he said.

Mr Claassens accused the government of reneging on previous promises, so industrial action wouldn’t halt until the government provided a more concrete commitment to rail workers.

“This isn’t the first time the NSW government has promised it will fix the safety issues. Rail workers and commuters have been burnt too many times to believe what one minister in one meeting says,” he said.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW secretary Alex Claassens said rail workers were worried about the public’s safety. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

“We need to see the whole package in writing to make sure this isn’t just another case of the NSW government playing political games.”

Further strike action is expected on Friday when rail workers will refuse to operate trains made overseas – which constitute three-quarters of the state’s train services.

During the record week of strikes, teachers from public schools and Catholic schools are also expected to walk off the job on Thursday in a historic joint action.

They are asking the government to urgently address widespread staff shortages that have resulted in thousands of full-time vacancies in NSW. It’s the third time in three months teachers have taken industrial action.

The deluge of public sector strikes comes only a few days after the NSW government announced it was planning to increase fines for illegal industrial action. Under the proposed changes, unions would be fined up to $55,000 for the first day of action and $27,500 for each following day.

Trains are expected to be much more crowded during the reduced services. Picture: John Grainger

“Illegal strike action has had incredibly damaging consequences for students, families and workers across the state,” Finance and Employee Relations Minister Damien Tudehope said.

Public Service Association of NSW general secretary Stewart Little condemned the “draconian” announcement, claiming the government was trying to bully workers who were speaking up about systemic issues.

“Public sector workers have a deep sense of public duty and they don’t strike lightly. They’ll only take industrial action when a government has mismanaged things to the point of crisis,” he said.