After a full day of discussions between rail and union leaders, more than two-thirds of the city’s train fleet will not be operating on Wednesday.
During the 24-hour strike, services are anticipated to operate at a half-hourly frequency, although all trains on the T5 Cumberland and T7 Olympic Park lines would be cancelled.
During the morning rush hour, only a small number of train replacement buses will run, with delivering kids to school being the first priority.
Sydney Trains CEO Matt Longland issued a warning to commuters on Tuesday morning as they endured significant delays around the network, advising them to ‘definitely’ remain at home on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, there will be a 24-hour rail strike, therefore Sydney residents are asked to work from home.
He told 2GB morning show Ben Fordham, “That is our strong advise, avoid any needless travel and leave the capacity available on trains to people who genuinely need it.”
“My greatest recommendation would be if you can work from home or avoid taking the train tomorrow.”
The warning follows the cancellation of over 30 routes during Tuesday’s morning rush hour, which prompted one irate passenger to walk an hour to get home.
The hardest impacted lines were the T2 Inner West and Leppington, T3 Bankstown, and T8 Airport and South lines; passengers were advised to allow more travel time.
A terrible trip home on Monday night for hundreds of passengers preceded the delays by several hours.
The schedule is working normally today, but due to this industrial action, trains haven’t been put into service, according to Mr. Longland.
As it happened yesterday and the day before, “We anticipate it will lead to pauses in the frequency throughout the day today. This problem persists.
Commuters planning to catch the train to work on Wednesday are warned to expect limited services and lengthy delays
During the 24-hour strike on Wednesday, services are anticipated to operate at a half-hourly frequency (pictured, commuters during a recent strike)
The commotion started when the NSW government offered to end the strike, but the Rail, Tram and Bus Union rejected the offer and called it a “stunt.”
The government removed its demand that a new enterprise agreement for train employees be finalized before construction on the new Intercity Fleet began in a letter sent on Sunday.
The government’s insistence that an agreement be finalized before the changes start has been a source of contention throughout the protracted discussions.
According to RTBU NSW secretary Alex Claassens, “It doesn’t truly offer anything new to this discussion.”
It was just done to give the administration another headline.
David Elliott, the transport minister, refuted suggestions that the offer was a publicity gimmick.
He replied, “It’s precisely what the train union called for.”
Just accept the deed; you got what you asked for.
Managers of Sydney Trains have advised commuters to “definitely” remain home and refrain from unnecessary travel.