252 minute delays: Service comms reveal Sydney train mayhem

Internal transport communications seen by the Daily Telegraph show train services completely disintegrated, with delays of over four hours on the T4 eastern suburbs and Illawarra line.

Stranded commuters were waiting for trains for over four hours as of midday on Wednesday.

Internal transport communications seen by the Daily Telegraph show services have completely disintegrated, with delays of 252 minutes on the T4 eastern suburbs and Illawarra line.

The midday update for the T1 and T9 western and north shore lines saw delays up to almost three hours, while the T2 and T8 Airport line had delays up to 170 minutes with significant service gaps.

Commuters on intercity trains travelling from the Blue Mountains and the South coast suffered delays of 180 minutes.

The head of the rail union admitted work bans initiated on Wednesday were designed to cause commuter pain, while declaring his members would be unlikely to accept a 15 per cent pay rise over four years.

The train network was in chaos on Wednesday morning amid a perfect storm of equipment failure and union work bans.

An Electrical Trade Union work ban stopped critical maintenance taking place at Bondi Junction and Homebush overnight, causing widespread cancellations and cascading delays across the network.

By 6.30am, hundreds of services had already been cancelled.

Frustrated commuters at Central Station on Wednesday. Picture: Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

Sydney Trains Chief Executive Matt Longland holds said early delays were due to maintenance work not being done due to Electrical Trades Union industrial action. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Rail, Tram and Bus Union Secretary Toby Warnes admitted that his union’s action was designed to inflict pain on commuters.

“We always try to do things that ensure people can still get from A to B, but have at least some impact to open the government’s eyes,” he told ABC radio.

Mr Warnes said his members would not accept a government wage offer which would boost pay by 15 per cent over four years.

The total package includes a one per cent superannuation bump and a one per cent “mutual gains” increase by combining the state’s two rail entities.

Commuters at Central Station on Wednesday. There are widespread delays across the Sydney rail network. Picture: Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

Mr Warnes criticised the government for bypassing the negotiating table with a publicised offer.

“There ultimately has to be a point where we say ‘this is good enough to put to the members, let’s ask them to vote,’” he said.

“Unfortunately, yesterday the government unilaterally did that for us. I mean we know our members, I don’t think 13 per cent over four years is going to cut it, but the government did what it did.”

Granville trains running late and cancelled

Penrith trains running late or cancelled

Sydney commuters were warned to expect “major” disruptions throughout the day, avoid travel and seek alternatives if they must travel to the city.Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink told passengers to expect “major service disruptions on Wednesday due to more than 350 industrial bans.

On the Penrith to Central line three services had already been cancelled by 5.50am.

Similarly on other Western Sydney platforms, trains from Granville and Parramatta toward the city had multiple delays and cancellations.

RTBU NSW Secretary Toby Warnes has initiated the action after an unresolved pay dispute. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Blue Mountains line services were at a standstill at Granville shortly before 7am, with conductors announcing “infrastructure damage” at Homebush was also resulting in significant delays.The union action forced Uber prices to surge out of control, with rides from Hurstville to the city blowing out to $81.

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen has been in a standoff with the union over the pay dispute. Picture: NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

RTBU President Craig Turner accused Sydney Trains “management” for cancelling services “for no reason”.

“I’ve had some text messages this morning from our members, there were 18 trains cancelled out of Campbelltown and Leppington yards this morning before (the) crew arrived,” he told 2GB.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen called for the union to drop its work bans which she said were preventing people from getting to work”.

Opposition Industrial Relations spokesman Damien Tudehope accused Ms Haylen of “buck-passing” by blaming the unions for the delays.

“Once again, chaos reigns on Jo Haylen’s watch, with Sydney commuters stranded and businesses paying the price,” Mr Tudehope said.

Originally published as 252 minute delays: Service comms reveal Sydney train mayhem