Commuters Warned Of 'Significant' Delays On Sydney Trains Today ...

Commuters have been warned that there will be significant delays to Sydney Trains services today, due to industrial action impacting the maintenance of infrastructure of railway stations. 

The industrial action will primarily affect Redfern and Central Stations.

This also created delays yesterday morning and evening, particularly peak hour services.

Commuters have been told to expect reduced service frequencies and delays across several lines. A NSW Transport statement reads:

Additional journey times and large service gaps are expected on the T2 Inner West & Leppington, T8 Airport & South, T1 North Shore, T1 Western, T9 Northern, Blue Mountains, and Central Coast & Newcastle lines today.

The T3 Liverpool line will operate between Liverpool and Lidcombe only, at a reduced frequency of 1-2 trains per hour. 

Customers travelling to Airport link stations from the CBD will only have a train every 15 minutes and should allow up to 15 minutes’ additional journey time.

 Limited buses will replace trains on the T6 line all day between Lidcombe and Bankstown.

All other suburban and intercity lines will experience some delays, cancellations, additional stops, and additional journey times.

A NSW Transport spokesperson apologised to commuters about the disruptions.

“Sydney Trains again apologises to our passengers for the disruption, and thanks everybody for their understanding as staff work to minimise the impacts of this industrial action,” said the statement.

“The Rail Agencies and the Combined Rail Unions (CRU) are continuing to bargain for a new Enterprise Agreement.”

ETU secretary, Allen Hicks told 7 News despite weeks of “intensive” negotiations, workers were still “no closer to a fair agreement” with the NSW Government.

“Despite having months to come to the table and bargain on key claims, the government has thrown workers’ needs under the bus and stubbornly refused to make progress towards a deal that recognises the skills, work and experience of Sydney Trains members, as well as the exorbitant rise in cost-of-living pressures for those living in greater Sydney,” he said.

“Workers have no choice but to ramp up protected industrial action to get the government to take notice and work constructively towards a fair deal.”

Hicks acknowledged that the entire point of the industrial action is to cause ‘a headache’ for the management rather than commuters themselves.

The ETU secretary also told 7 News that at present, electrical workers at Sydney Trains are paid up to 57% less than electricians doing the same work at Queensland Rail.

“What electrical workers at Sydney Trains are asking for is incredibly reasonable – we just want an enterprise agreement that keeps pace with the cost of living and ensures a safe workplace,” Hicks said.

Hicks said that workers would be responding to emergencies and hazards during the strike.