source : the age
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Sydney is set for more transport woes as union work bans continue today. It comes as the city recovers from a wild storm that put even more pressure on the network.
Here’s everything you need to know:
- More than 130 train services have already been cancelled across the network this morning. Severe disruptions are expected on the T1, T2, T3 and T8 lines.
- The government has offered the unions a total 15 per cent pay rise, which includes a 1 per cent super bump. The government has given today as the deadline for the unions to respond.
- The Rail, Tram and Bus Union has asked the government to come back to the negotiating table. One union official said the government pay offer hadn’t been received well by members.
- Sydney was lashed by a wild storm on Wednesday evening that brought trees and powerlines down across the city – including onto rail tracks.
- A man in his 80s died at Cowra after a tree fell on his vehicle. More than 143,000 households and businesses experienced power outages across the state.
Sydney commuters were experiencing delays of about 20 minutes on all lines across the rail network at 6.30am on Thursday, which is expected to worsen throughout the day.
New figures reveal the extent of the chaos on Wednesday, showing that 1913 services were cancelled, and more than 95 per cent of trains delayed or cancelled. Fewer than 5 per cent of trains arrived within five minutes of their operated timetable.
Delays are expected to continue today. Credit: Steven Siewert
With the chaos extending into a second day, Premier Chris Minns has returned from holidays and is expected to address the media this morning.
The T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line was the worst affected on Wednesday with delays reaching almost five hours.
However, some workers completed maintenance on critical infrastructure at Bondi Junction overnight, which has allowed equipment to be certified. As a result, delays will be less severe on Thursday on the T4 line, although it set to be affected by flow-on impacts from delays and cancellations on other lines across the city.
A ban by the Electrical Trades Union on locking and unlocking padlocks has meant that maintenance at Homebush station was not completed for a second night. The incomplete works at Homebush will again cause severe disruptions to the T1, T2, T3 and T8 lines.
Work on maintenance at Gosford which was meant to start at midday on Wednesday also remains incomplete, which will cause significant disruptions to intercity trains on the Newcastle and Central Coast line.
A train needing repairs has stopped services running between Mulgrave and Richmond on the T1 Western and T5 Cumberland lines.
Buses are replacing trains, and delays are expected.
Severe weather brought an already crippled train network to its knees last night.
Multiple stations including Lidcombe and Cabramatta were without power last night. The Town Hall concourse flooded, and trees on overhead wires at Normanhurst and Bell.
The storm from the Northern Beaches.Credit: Nick Moir
A Transport for NSW spokesperson said all trains returned to stable yards by midnight last night in a bid to reduce the impact of the storms and to better prepare for services today.
Commuters avoiding the train pain by taking the roads didn’t escape the storm impacts – flooding and fallen trees closed roads across the city.
Sydney is set for more transport woes as union work bans continue today. It comes as the city recovers from a wild storm that put even more pressure on the network.
Here’s everything you need to know:
- More than 130 train services have already been cancelled across the network this morning. Severe disruptions are expected on the T1, T2, T3 and T8 lines.
- The government has offered the unions a total 15 per cent pay rise, which includes a 1 per cent super bump. The government has given today as the deadline for the unions to respond.
- The Rail, Tram and Bus Union has asked the government to come back to the negotiating table. One union official said the government pay offer hadn’t been received well by members.
- Sydney was lashed by a wild storm on Wednesday evening that brought trees and powerlines down across the city – including onto rail tracks.
- A man in his 80s died at Cowra after a tree fell on his vehicle. More than 143,000 households and businesses experienced power outages across the state.
