‘Going to be difficult’: Sydney trains strike averted, but Bankstown Metro conversion next hurdle

Millions of Aussies have been warned of a “difficult” travel period ahead as works begin on a major transport project.

The New South Wales government and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union have struck a deal to avert disruptions on a big sporting weekend and get on with a major infrastructure upgrade.

Speaking on Saturday, NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen apologised to Sydney Swans and Cronulla Sharks fans whose travel to the finals games on Friday night was disrupted.

Because of industrial action, 700 trains were cancelled on Friday.

Trains are back to normal on Saturday, and all rail travel is free this weekend.

The union deal also gives the greenlight for construction on the southwest Metro line to Bankstown to continue while allowing special event trains to the Wallabies versus All Blacks Bledisloe Cup match at Olympic Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Wallabies test was likely to be affected by the strikes. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

As well as immediately making it easier for rugby fans on Saturday night, the deal provides some certainty for people who have been promised a Metro line to Bankstown for five years.

From September 30, the existing train line to Bankstown will be replaced with buses “for some time” while the old line is upgraded for frequent high-speed Metro trains.

“That is going to be a difficult period for passengers … there will be long lines,” Ms Haylen said.

“Those journey times will take much longer, because moving some 60,000 passengers each and every day from a rail line to other public transport services is a huge logistical challenge.”

The state government forecasts converting the 130-year-old line could take 12 months, as the construction is subject to national safety accreditation tests, working with emergency services, and work on the physical conversion of the existing line.

Ms Haylen said a Metro out to Bankstown will be worth it, as one million passengers use Metro in the city every five days.

“We want to take those Metro services to Bankstown and get more people to be able to enjoy those turn-up-and-go reliable services.”

Transport Minister Jo Haylen has made train travel free this weekend. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

The deal struck with the union means every train and platform has a Metro Trains Sydney staff member present, a key demand from the union.

The government and the union will resume enterprise agreement bargaining again after coming to an agreement to prevent strike action on Friday evening.

The union pulled its threat just hours after the state government announced all train fares would be free over the weekend.

“The plan is exactly what we said, if you’re offering free fares over the weekend then we’re happy to run the trains as normal … that’s always the offer we put to the government, we put that to them two weeks ago,” Unions NSW assistant secretary Thomas Costa told ABC Radio Sydney on Friday.

The New South Wales government had made all train travel free this weekend to soften the blow of disruptions caused by impending strikes.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) members planned to strike on a monster weekend of sport in the harbour city, in a dispute over a key train line being shut for a year to build a high-speed Metro link to the western suburbs.

Trains to Saturday night’s Wallabies versus All Blacks Bledisloe Cup test were likely to be affected, but whether trains were even going to run was unclear.

The industrial dispute centres on changes for train drivers brought about by the government’s Metro networks. Picture: NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers

Well over 100,000 footy fans did or will be travelling to AFL and NRL finals matches on Friday and Saturday night as well.

“We know rail travel could be a challenge as a result of industrial action,” the Transport Minister posted on social media Thursday night.

“So this weekend, we’re making all rail travel free.”

Transport for NSW secretary Josh Murray had advised fans heading to the Wallabies for the 3.45pm game on Saturday in particular to check news updates and travel apps.

Despite the cancellation of the strike, buses will replace trains between Lidcombe, Bankstown and Campsie because of pre-scheduled track work this weekend.

This latest strike action centres on stalled negotiations for a new enterprise agreement between the government, Sydney Trains and NSW Trains which has been hammered over since June.

“I would say to the union, don’t let families be the victims here,” Ms Haylen said after a late-night meeting on Wednesday failed to get a result.

The new Sydney Metro opened in August. Picture: NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers

The union has a laundry list of 250 demands. A key issue is the fact the Bankstown line will be shut while it is converted to a Metro line for 12 months.

The union does not want workers’ work varied during the shutdown. The first stage of the closure between Campsie and Bankstown was scheduled to begin on Saturday, but the government is now working out when that will be, after the backroom meetings with the union on Friday and Saturday. The whole line is expected to be shut on September 30.

The government needed the union on board for the shutdown; Any delays could blowout the project in the order of $3m a day.

The union wanted a qualified Sydney Trains driver on every metro train, the Transport Minister has said.

“I need those Sydney Trains drivers for the Sydney Trains network. Those are the kind of things that I could not agree to,” the Minister previously said.

Also on the union wishlist is $0.50 train fares. Across the border in Queensland the Labor government has lowered all bus, train, ferry and tram fares to 50 cents, and the Opposition says it will keep that pricing if it is elected next month.

But in New South Wales, the Transport Minister says Sydney public transport is too heavily subsidised to cut fares to $0.50.

Originally published as ‘Going to be difficult’: Sydney trains strike averted, but Bankstown Metro conversion next hurdle