Sydney’s commuters face major disruptions to rail services on Wednesday, after the state’s train operators warned that key rail lines between central Sydney and Wollongong will be shut down for six hours in response to a planned strike.
In advice late on Monday, Sydney Trains and NSW Trains said services would not run between 10am and 4pm on Wednesday on the T4 Eastern and Illawarra, and South Coast lines. The lines connect Bondi Junction in Sydney’s east to Bombaderry, south of Wollongong.
The operators have also advised that some Sydney Trains and intercity services may be canceled or run to a reduced timetable during other parts of the day.
Trains will not operate on the Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra lines for six hours on Wednesday.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
The looming disruption comes despite Premier Dominic Perrottet and Transport Minister David Elliott holding discussions with the head of the rail union on Monday. The two sides remain locked in a standoff over modifications to the state’s intercity train fleet, and a new pay deal.
Rail Tram and Bus Union secretary Alex Claassens said management’s decision to shut down the lines for six hours was a “disgraceful response” to rail workers’ protected industrial action, which had been deliberately designed to ensure services could continue to run.
“There is absolutely no reason for the Illawarra line to be shut down on Wednesday. The protected industrial action being taken by rail workers will, by design, impact very few workers at any one time,” he said.
Last week, the union announced escalating industrial action this month, which will disrupt various rail lines and culminate in a refusal to operate foreign-built trains on August 31. Foreign-built trains make up about three-quarters of the state’s rail fleet.
The state’s transport agency said the planned stoppage on Wednesday would disrupt commuters throughout the day, including in the morning and evening travel peaks, due to fewer services, delays and changes to stopping patterns across the rail network.
“While the union action officially starts at 10am, our customers will start to feel the effects from around 6am,” it said. “Although all staff will return to work at 4pm, customers will need to allow plenty of extra time while trains return to the network.”