How Sydney Trains drivers salaries compare globally

Sydney Train drivers are paid some of the largest salaries of any rail network across the globe, with drivers earning more than their counterparts in Japan and most European countries.

Sydney Train drivers are paid some of the biggest salaries of any rail network across the globe, with drivers earning more than their counterparts in Japan and most European countries.

Should the Minns government accept the rail union’s wage claims of a 32 per cent increase over four years, drivers would be some of the best paid in the world, topping Switzerland, whose drivers can earn up to 104,000 Swiss francs, the equivalent of nearly $184,000.

Transport for NSW claims the average Sydney Trains driver earns a total package of $128,196. The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) says the average base salary for a driver is $78,388.

In comparison, drivers of Japan’s bullet trains earn an average yearly salary of the equivalent of nearly $79,000 AUD.

Meanwhile train drivers in Germany earn more than 37,000 Euro per year or more than $61,000 AUD. Train drivers in France earn even less averaging a salary of nearly $60,000 AUD.

Scandinavian train drivers earn slightly more, at around 57,000 Euro, the equivalent of nearly $94,000.

Train drivers in New York and London currently earn more than Sydney Train drivers. The average driver working for the US Metropolitan Transportation Authority earns around $84,000 USD or $135,000 AUD.

Meanwhile train drivers in London earn more than $138,000 AUD after British rail unions secured a more than 14 per cent pay rise last year.

Government documents detailing projected pay scales, reported by The Daily Telegraph in December estimate the 32 per cent increase would result in an average total package for Sydney Trains drivers to rise to $198,764 in the fourth year, reaching up to $157,081 in the first year. The projected figure includes loadings, allowances and superannuation.

Transport for NSW claims the average Sydney Trains driver earns a total package of $128,196. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

NSW Public Transport Advocacy group secretary Paul Nolan said he did not think train drivers needed “an excessive increase” of 32 per cent, and would be well compensated by international standards by as much as 15 per cent.

“Sydney Train drivers have different types of trains and technology they need to learn how to operate, whereas overseas they primarily don’t have a fleet that is different from one train to the next,” he said.

“I think negotiations around the conditions are more important … they don’t need an excessive (pay) increase.”

RTBU NSW secretary Toby Warnes said all transport workers deserved to be paid fairly.

“Every transport worker, no matter where they live in the world, deserves to be paid fairly for the work they do,” he said.

Sydney Train drivers are paid some of the biggest salaries of any rail network across the globe. Picture: Tim Hunter

Former Liberal Transport Minister Andrew Constance said Sydney Train drivers could already earn “pretty significant wages”.

“Chris Minns dumping the wages policy has meant there’s no parameters on what the public service can ask for ... abolishing the wages cap is the single most damaging thing to the NSW economy,” he said.

“Thinking you can disrupt a person going to work during a cost of living crisis for a 32 per cent pay rise is seriously out of touch.”

Mr Constance said a large part of a train driver’s shift did not involve driving a train.

A Transport for NSW spokesperson said there was no time that a train’s operation is “completely automatic” when being driven.

“Drivers also spend time conducting other duties including train safety preparation and preparation for duty including reading safety critical documentation.”

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Originally published as How Sydney Trains drivers salaries compare globally