NSW government backs down over Sydney train drama

Transport Minister David Elliott has snapped at reporters after announcing the government was backing down on the Sydney train drama.

Sydney’s train drama is finally coming to an end, after a bitter fight between the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) and the NSW government saw thousands of commuters stranded on Monday.

Transport Minister David Elliott has announced the state government will withdraw its bid before the Fair Work Commission to block rail workers from performing protected industrial action.

“As a result of that I have agreed with the union today that we will start to commence rewriting the enterprise agreement which expired in May last year,” Mr Elliott told reporters on Tuesday afternoon.

“That will see us working with the union to ensure that we provide them with the certainty that they require.”

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Minister for Transport David Elliott has addressed the media. Picture: John Grainger

The NSW government and RTBU were due to meet before the Fair Work Commission again on Wednesday morning.

Mr Elliott said he has asked the union “as an act of good faith” to see train workers return as quickly as possible to the Covid timetable, which is the enhanced weekend schedule.

Speaking at Parliament House, Mr Elliott appeared to quickly become frustrated with the line of questioning from journalists.

He snapped at a reporter who asked why he wasn’t aware of Sydney’s Trains’ late night decision to shut down the network until Monday morning.

“What do you think I was doing? What do you think I might have been doing at 12.43 in the morning?” Mr Elliott said.

“This might come as a surprise to you but I go to bed between 10 and 11pm, then 12.43pm on a Monday morning I am in bed.”

He continued: “I don’t expect them to send a car at two o’clock in the morning and wake me up and tell me”.

The decision to cancel the trains was made just before 2am on Monday, leaving thousands of commuters who rely on train services scrambling to find alternative transport.

An empty Town Hall station in Sydney on Monday as all Sydney train services were cancelled. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Following Mr Elliott’s announcement on Tuesday afternoon, the RTBU claimed the NSW government dropped its Fair Work Commission claim after the union requested to see a copy of the “risk assessment” used to justify shutting down the rail network.

“The risk assessment hasn’t been forthcoming, but just moments after we issued a subpoena for it, the NSW Government dropped all of its claims against the union in the Fair Work Commission,” RTBU Secretary, Alex Claassens said.

“The NSW Government’s dummy spit might be behind us now, but the reason we’re in this situation still remains – the NSW Government is refusing to deliver an enterprise agreement that enshrines basic safety and employment conditions for rail workers and commuters.”

The state government and RTBU have been in negotiations over the enterprise agreement and what the union describes as safety, privatisation and hygiene issues.

The union says the planned industrial action, which the NSW government has been attempting to block and which led to them shutting out workers, would only impact management, not commuters.

What services looked like on Tuesday

The state government announced on Monday night that train services would resume from 5am on Tuesday, running at a minimum 30 minute frequency throughout the day.

Some commuters may experience a service every 15 minutes but journey times will be longer as trains are required to stop at more stations.

Sydney Trains encourage commuters who typically rely on the rail network to find alternative travel options, if possible.

These limited services were put in place to support essential workers and commuters who have no other options to get to where they need to go.

The impacts of the reduced timetable quickly became evident, with pictures emerging on social media showing travellers packed into overcrowded trains this morning.

Sydney trains are so funnyy, were sardines yall😉#SydneyTransport#sydney#transportpic.twitter.com/VypFQSBBTN

— stVn buNo (@StevenBuno) February 21, 2022

#Sydneytrains on 30 min reduced services. Haven't felt this crammed since 2019 pre covid. While standing crammed Some with seats putting bags beside them in effort to social distance rather than make room. pic.twitter.com/sVqDR8UdgJ

— Kerrie Davies (@KerrieMDavies) February 21, 2022

With many people returning to the office this week, the impacts of the train chaos has also been felt on the roads.

Traffic was heavy heading into the city this morning, with commuters still being told to avoid using the trains and to find other modes of transport if they can.

Monday’s train shutdown saw a 22km traffic jam along the M2 motorway. There was also gridlock traffic along Victoria Road, the M5 and the Hume Highway.

Traffic was heavy on the Sydney Harbour Bridge this morning. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

To supplement the limited train timetable, 150 rail replacement bus services were also operating along major rail corridors.

Two pop-up commuter car parks were established at Moore Park and Rosehill Gardens, providing park and walk options for transport customers using other modes to get into the major centres.

Train boss’ urgent message to commuters

Despite the train cancellation being overturned, Sydney’s transport chief urged rail commuters to use alternative transport on Tuesday, with doubts remaining over how well the service will run.

Thousands across Sydney relying on public transport are still without answers after Monday’s snap worker lock out, throwing the city’s peak hour commute into chaos. Not one train was running across the network on Monday.

Sydney Trains boss Matthew Longland defended his decision to shut the network down after a breakdown in talks with the unions.

“Our advice is to avoid travel on the rail network where possible, even if we are able to resolve this issue we will still see impacts across the network tomorrow,” he said in a press conference on Monday.

“Advise customers to use other modes of public transport and check the latest information on the transport website or social channels.”

A quiet platform at Central station on Monday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Where has this come from?

Transport for NSW has said yesterday’s decision to shut down the network was the result of industrial action from the union, citing safety concerns about allowing the trains to run.

However, the RTBU said the planned industrial action wouldn’t impact commuters and the trains were been cancelled by the government as part of a “dummy spit”.

Mr Claassens made it clear yesterday’s train shutdown was not the result of a worker strike but a decision by the government.

When staff turned up for work on Monday morning they were told by management that the trains had been cancelled.

Mr Claassens said he then received a call on Sunday night saying the government was once again trying to terminate the enterprise agreement.

He revealed they came to an agreement with the NSW government on Saturday night surrounding the enterprise agreement, with the union agreeing to drop some of the industrial actions that they had planned for Monday

“You can imagine the shock this morning waking up and knowing that the government had just done the most low and dastardly thing you can imagine the government doing. They have locked out their workforce and they have inconvenienced the people of NSW just because it was going to be a little bit difficult,” Mr Claassens told reporters.

Commuters were scattered after the last-minute walk-off on Monday. Picture: NCA Newswire/Gaye Gerard

Stations were closed and travellers were left to find alternative transport arrangements. Picture: NCA Newswire/Gaye Gerard

Meanwhile, Mr Elliott placed the blame back on the union, declaring their actions as “nothing short of industrial bastardry”.

“The people of NSW are rightfully upset today because the union movement has decided they are going to play silly games at short notice and put our services at risk,” Mr Elliott said.

“This is not anything but a part of the Labor Party's campaign to bully the electorate into supporting their election. I don't think the people of New South Wales are going to buy it.”

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet addressed the media at Sydney's International Airport during the chaos, which coincidentally occurred on the same day the country allowed international travellers back into the country.

He branded the situation a “co-ordinated attack” by the Labor Party and RTBU.

“This is no accident. This is a concerted campaign by the unions and the Labor Party to cause mass disruption across our city. They are not even hiding it,” Mr Perrottet told reporters.

“Today is the first day we have international arrivals coming in, a day where mums and dads are trying to get their kids to school, a day when many university students are going back to class for the first time and many people as a result of our announcement last week returning to work.

“The unions were intent on causing chaos.”

Transport for NSW have said the decision is the result of industrial action, however the RTBU say the planned industrial action wouldn’t impact commuters and the trains have been cancelled by the government in ‘retaliation’.

Mr Perrottet confirmed that the decision to cancel the trains had been made by Transport for NSW, but claimed they were “left with no alternative in terms of safety”.

He said he was incredibly disappointed with what has occurred this morning, saying the union’s wrong interpretation of the decision made by the Industrial Relations Commission is to blame for the action taken by Sydney Trains.

“This is a concerted, predetermined campaign by the union movement,” he said.

“You cannot treat the people of our great state in this way and it is very, very clear that this is the Labor Party in bed with the union movement to cause mass disruption.”