Voters set to punish federal Labor amid train strikes

Rail strikes that sent the network into meltdown on Friday could become a political train wreck for Anthony Albanese, with Labor MPs now concerned that the daily train chaos will hurt the government in crucial Sydney electorates.

Rail strikes that sent the network into meltdown on Friday and have plunged commuters into daily uncertainty could become a political train wreck for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Labor MPs are now concerned that the train chaos will hurt the Albanese government in crucial Sydney electorates, with one declaring that threat of voter backlash is “really bad”.

An analysis of train performance over the past two months has revealed that rail lines servicing marginal Labor seats have been woefully falling short of on-time running targets.

One MP said the rail strikes are now a “first tier issue” for the Albanese government.

“Voters just see unions holding the country to ransom and it takes some paint off us,” they said.

Commuters in marginal electorates have copped big disruptions to their travel plans. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

Sydney train services are running close to a normal timetable on Wednesday morning despite 147 train drivers and guards not reporting for their shifts.

It comes as the Minns government will attempt to get the Fair Work Commission to strike out the industrial action amid the increasing cost to the economy.

The T1 Western Line, running through crucial Labor seats of Reid, Parramatta, and Macquarie, was obliterated on Friday, with just 4.5 per cent of services running on time. On average, less than 70 per cent of T1 services have been running on time in February – almost 22 per cent below the on-time running target of 92 per cent.

Only 66 per cent of services on T9 Northern Line have been running on time this month, impacting commuters in Bennelong.

RTBU NSW Secretary Toby Warnes has been behind the continuing industrial action. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Bennelong is held by Labor MP Jerome Laxale but now notionally a Liberal seat after a redistribution.

Other marginal seat holders that could cop a beating from voters over the rail strike include Sally Sitou in Reid, Andrew Charlton in Parramatta, and Susan Templeman in Macquarie.

In the southwest, Anne Stanley’s seat of Werriwa has also been impacted by rail disruptions.

The industrial action could spill over into the federal election campaign. Picture: PM’s office.

The T2 Inner West and Leppington line is running almost 13 per cent below on-time operating targets, with only 78.2 per cent of trains on time this month.

Trains on the South Coast line were stopped completely on Friday’s day of chaos, potentially leaving commuters from Gilmore (held by Fiona Phillips) in the lurch.

One MP said conceded that the industrial chaos was politically unhelpful, and one marginal seat holder said they were “worried” about the train strikes bleeding into the federal election campaign.

Redbridge Director Kos Samaras said the strikes are “compounding” the cost of living crisis for people already doing it tough.

“Most Sydney residents in key seats are already living on the edge, and anything that compounds that stress is politically dangerous.”

Asked on ABC Radio if he would step in to terminate the union’s industrial action, Mr Albanese said the union should back down.

John Zhou, owner of Monkey House Cafe in Strathfield, said the strikes had decimated his business. Picture: Richard Dobson

“Common sense has to apply here and I think that the union needs to acknowledge that it is alienating people,” he said.

Owner of the Monkey House Cafe in Strathfield, John Zhou, 36, said the strikes had decimated his business.

“I reckon we’ve had around a 10 per cent decline in customers because of the train strikes.”

Two tradie brothers Anil Paudel, 30 and Anup Paudel, 33, had been significantly disrupted by the industrial action and insisted it might change their vote.

“You know the boss might believe you the first or second time but if I’m late everyday the boss thinks I’m making up nonsense excuses,” Anil said.

When asked whether these concerns would affect the way they vote in the next election both were adamant it would.

“Yes, most definitely,” Anup said.

Originally published as Voters set to punish federal Labor amid train strikes