Sydney train delays as it happened: Union has ‘noose’ around rail network, says Minns; New legal bid aims to end disruption as wild weather lashes city

We’re bringing an end today’s live coverage after Sydney commuters received a small reprieve as the Fair Work Commission barred the rail unions from taking industrial action until a hearing can take place next Wednesday. Here’s a summary of what happened today:

• The Fair Work Commission prevented the rail unions from taking industrial action from 6:30pm today, until a hearing can take place next Wednesday. The NSW government has welcomed the decision.
• Before the decision, Transport for NSW warned Sydney commuters to expect further disruptions to train services on Friday, with critical safety work at Gosford yet to be completed.
• More than 1000 train services were expected to be cancelled across the network by the end of the day. T1, T2, T3 and T8 were among the lines facing the worst delays.
• Passengers heeded advice to avoid rail travel where possible, with patronage down 40 per cent to about 103,000 in this morning’s peak.
• The government has offered the unions a total 15 per cent pay rise, which includes a 1 per cent super bump. The government said today was the deadline for the unions to respond, but the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) is still pushing for a return to the negotiating table.
• Sydney also had to deal with the aftermath of a wild storm on Wednesday evening that brought trees and powerlines down across the city – including onto rail tracks.
• A man in his 80s died at Cowra after a tree fell on his vehicle. More than 143,000 households and businesses experienced power outages across the state.

Thank you for joining us today. We’ll keep you posted with updates about the industrial action over the coming hours and days.

Uber has defended the use of surge pricing amid complaints from commuters faced with high prices on the platform during yesterday and today’s public transport cancellations and delays.

Uber agreed to a cap on surge pricing of an unknown amount with Transport for NSW during yesterday and today’s rail delays.Credit: AP

In a statement to the Herald, a spokesperson for Uber said the company was in direct contact with Transport for NSW and was working to ensure there are enough drivers “to help get people where they’re going in a reliable manner”.

“We know many Sydney residents rely on Uber for safe, reliable rides every day – particularly in the event of a significant disruption to the city’s transport network,” he said.

The state government has worked with the company to introduce a cap on surge pricing during the delays affecting Sydney’s rail network. A spokeswoman for Transport for NSW said under the agreement, Uber limits surge pricing until alternative public transport options are in place.

“A cap was put in place yesterday and has been extended today across the Sydney Trains network,” she said.

It is unknown what the cap currently stands at. Surge pricing is when prices go up at times of peak demand to entice more drivers onto the platform.

The NSW government has welcomed the Fair Work Commission’s decision to temporarily suspend industrial action across Sydney’s rail network.

“We welcome the news from the Fair Work Commission to issue the interim order for all industrial action to cease until the 424 application is heard. We’re grateful for the outcome,” a spokeswoman said.

“Commuters shouldn’t have to suffer while the matter is heard.”

Most of peak hour has passed at Wynyard station, and it appears people have taken heed of the advice to stay away from the chaos.

Those who did brave the commute faced waits of around 20 minutes as infrequent trains arrived empty along the T9 route. Several told the Herald they had three hour commutes this morning, and left early to beat a rush that never came.

Wynyard station was unusually quiet during the peak rush hour, amid continued delays across the train network. Credit: Rhettt Wyman

It’s a different story further down the tracks, with TripView showing mass cancellations and trains that are barely moving.

Transport for NSW has also provided a network-wide update on the current state of delays with the rush hour commute well underway.

North shore commuters are the worst affected, with the T1 Western & North Shore lines experiencing delays of up to 286 minutes with large gaps in service at various locations.

They’re closely followed by the T2 line to Leppington and the inner west where trains are running up to 285 minutes late. There are similar delays on the T3, T8 and T9 lines.

There are delays across all of Sydney’s heavy rail lines after critical safety work at Homebush and Gosford was not able to completed amid industrial action.Credit: Rhett Wyman

Long delays and cancellations have resulted in large service gaps on the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Newcastle lines.

The South Coast line is less seriously affected, with delays of up to 38 minutes, and the T4 line is experiencing delays of around half an hour.

The Fair Work Commission has barred the rail unions from undertaking industrial action until a hearing can take place next Wednesday, giving Sydney commuters a momentary reprieve.

Justice Adam Hatcher implemented the order from 6:30pm, saying that determining the matter before a full bench before Wednesday was impracticable given the evidence foreshadowed by the respective legal teams for Sydney Trains and the rail unions.

Under Section 424 application of the Fair Work Act, if a matter can’t be determined within five days, a temporary order must be implemented preventing protected industrial action taking place until the Commission can facilitate the proceedings.

Justice Hatcher said the hearing would be scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday next week.

Sydney commuters are being warned to expect further disruptions to train services tomorrow, as the government takes its case against the rail unions’ work bans to the industrial watchdog.

In a statement issued late on Thursday, Transport for NSW said the nearly 350 industrial action bans being imposed by the rail unions will continue to impact services on Friday. It urged travellers to continue to leave plenty of travel time and plan ahead.

“Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink apologise to our passengers once again for the disruption, and thank commuters for their understanding,” it said.

Critical safety work at Gosford has not yet been completed, but safety work at Homebush has now been rectified, clearing a major contributor to the cancellations and delays of the past two days.

Transport for NSW also provided an update on today’s disruptions, saying as of 4pm over 600 services had been cancelled, with an expected 1000 services to be cancelled by the end of the day. Only 18.1 per cent of the rail network is currently running on time.

Rail patronage was down 40 per cent to about 103,000 in this morning’s peak, as many avoided using the network.

NSW Unions will contest the government’s claim that this week’s industrial action on Sydney’s rail network caused a “significant damage” to the economy, the Fair Work Commission has heard.

In a hastily convened directions hearing on Thursday afternoon, Justice Adam Hatcher said his preference was for the matter to be heard by a full bench of the Commission’s members, potentially creating a delay in arguments being made.

Jamie Darams SC, the barrister representing Sydney Trains, said his client’s preference was for the hearing to occur as soon as tomorrow.

But the barrister engaged by the unions, Siobhan Kelly, said there were procedural fairness concerns, indicating they could be prepared for a hearing on Monday.

Kelly said there would be a factual contest over Section 424 of the Fair Work Act, saying there would be a dispute over the economic impact claimed by the Minns government.

Justice Hatcher said he would seek the availability of members before providing the parties with a date for when the substantive hearings would take place.

The hearing has been adjourned until 5:45pm.

It’s 5pm, which means office workers will be clocking off and starting another painful commute home.

Also at 5pm is the directions hearing at the Fair Work Commission, where the workplace umpire will hear the government’s argument that the Combined Rail Unions protected industrial action should end because of its significant impact on the economy and the welfare of passengers.

We have reporters inside the hearing and at train stations around the city to bring you live coverage of every development.

As commuters prepare for long rail journeys, a building fire has caused gridlock on one of the city’s major arteries.

Parramatta Road is closed in both directions at Granville, while fire crews have worked to extinguish the blaze in an abandoned furniture warehouse. Eastbound lanes are expected to reopen shortly, but the road remains closed westbound for commuters returning to western Sydney.

Fire and Rescue acting Superintendent Mat Sigmund said about 30 firefighters contained the fire. Its cause is unknown.

A brief search and rescue operations has confirmed no one was sheltering in the building, which stands near a petrol station.

“Buildings like this are known to provide shelter for homeless people from time to time,” said Sigmund.