Sydney commuters are in for a “very messy day” as the NSW rail union continues with industrial action that will shut down 70% of the train fleet.
The Rail, Tram, and Bus Union has been at odds with the Perrottet government for a long time over a new Korean-made Intercity fleet, which it claims is unsafe.
While the government has indicated that it may be willing to spend $264 million to modify the fleet, the union claims that it has refused to sign an agreement confirming that it will address the safety concerns raised by train drivers.
‘This will be the fourth time the government has offered to make the changes, announced the changes, and then backtracked as a result of internal politics,’ it said in a statement on Friday.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW Secretary Alex Claassens said that during a meeting with the government on Thursday, elements of the modification offer had been taken off the table.
‘I’m just not sure where we go from here but our members are resolute,’ he said.
‘We are going to continue fighting to get these trains made safe, and we’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen.’
Protected industrial action planned for Friday is going ahead, which will see train drivers refuse to operate foreign or privately made trains.
This means only 30 per cent of Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink services will be operate.
‘It’s going to be a very messy day,’ Mr Claassens said.
‘It’ll be a weekend timetable with other trains taken out of it.’
On Thursday, Transport Minister David Elliott announced that the government had offered $3000 bonuses to railway workers.
‘The families of the railway workers right now could be having $3000 deposited in their account, instead of having that money spent on modifying perfectly good trains,’ he said.
Mr Classeens, on the other hand, called the payments made to railway workers in order to keep the fleet on the tracks without modifications “bribes.”
On Friday, Sydney commuters should expect significant train delays and cancellations.
People travelling to Sydney airport and on buses are likely to be affected.
The strike began on Tuesday, when train drivers reduced train speeds to 60 km/h.