Rail commuters from the Illawarra are urging the government and unions to reach a final agreement so trains can return to normal after weeks of disruption.
Key points:
- Unions will down tools from 10am till 4pm today, but Transport for NSW says the impact on services will last until 8pm
- Unions want a commitment in writing on agreed changes to train safety, but NSW TrainLink says written guarantees from two ministers have been provided
- Wollongong MP Paul Scully says Transport for NSW is to blame for escalating the conflict
Extensive delays will occur throughout today, with no trains running at all between 10am and 4pm on the Illawarra, South Coast and Eastern Suburbs lines due to industrial action over train safety.
Buses will replace some but not all trains and customers are being encouraged to use other forms of transport if possible.
Tony Horneman of the Illawarra Rail Fail says the unions and the government have let the dispute drag on for far too long.
“Because of this ongoing industrial action, the consequences of it is people like me who just want to get to work and earn a buck are inconvenienced,” he said.
“That’s the consequence and it’s adding more stress.”
Wollongong MP Paul Scully says the union bargained with the government in good faith for the inner-city fleet improvements.
He said promises were made and that the unions wanted those promises in writing.
Mr Scully said the decision by Transport for NSW to escalate the dispute from limited action to shutting down the line was an extreme response.
“The union has been asking for some pretty simple responses, which includes signing the deed of agreement to fix the new inner-city fleet,” he said.
“If the government can’t do that then the union has every right to be cynical about whether the government is actually committed to doing it.”
Promises delivered: TrainLink
NSW TrainLink chief operating officer Dale Merrick said he had been directly involved in the negotiations and that written guarantees had now been provided.
“The government has absolutely committed – and committed in writing – to making the changes to the trains to address the concerns that the unions have,” he said.
“There is a signed document that gives that commitment from two ministers and the unions have that document.”
“That is a written commitment to make the changes that they have sought for them to feel comfortable about the trains.”
Wollongong rail commuters asked about the industrial action have provided mixed responses.
“We definitely need the strikes, and we need the strikes to win,” said one commuter.
“It’s how I get back to Kiama from school so it will probably just increase the length of the trip by probably having to catch a bus,” a local school student at Wollongong station said.
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