More bad news for Sydney commuters as train cancellations and delays continue days before New Year’s Eve
Sydneysiders are still dealing with train delays due to industrial action, even after rail unions dropped major strikes ahead of New Year’s Eve fireworks.
The fireworks were saved on Christmas Eve in an eleventh-hour deal between unions and the NSW government.
And the situation on the rail network is much improved, with around 22 train services canceled on Friday, compared to 107 cancellations on Christmas Eve and 73 on Christmas Day.
But some of these cancellations were caused by minor strikes as the wage dispute continues and negotiations are set to continue in 2025.
Sydney Trains CEO Matt Longland said on Saturday the deal was crucial to securing an additional 1,000 train services on New Year’s Eve and that some minor strike action still taking place on Sunday would be scrapped.
‘We are confident for New Year’s Eve [but] There are still a number of strike actions taking place, even this weekend,” he told the newspaper Sydney Morning Herald.
“We have seen a very significant improvement in the number of cancellations across the network. We do everything we can to keep the inconvenience to a minimum.’
Mr Longland warned commuters to expect “long queues” early on New Year’s Day as more than a million people attempted to leave the Sydney CBD, with the period between midnight and 2am expected to be particularly busy.
Commuters have been told to expect ‘long queues’ early on New Year’s Day as more than a million people tried to leave Sydney CBD
Sydney Trains CEO Matt Longland (pictured) said on Saturday the deal was crucial to securing 1,000 additional train services on New Year’s Eve
“Follow the instructions of our station staff,” he implored.
“They will do their best to minimize queues, ensure passenger safety and keep people moving as efficiently as possible.”
The network will run non-stop from 4am on December 31 to 2am on January 2 to accommodate the huge crowds.
Anyone who feels unwell should stay at home on New Year’s Eve, with a medical incident that could stop trains carrying about 2,000 people each.
The NSW government said trains have been running on time since the deal.
‘On December 24, trains were on time 86 percent of the time, on Christmas Day 94 percent of the time and 89 percent of the time [on Friday]’, says a spokesperson.
The union and the government are at an impasse after seven months of wage negotiations.
Workers continue to demand four annual pay rises of eight per cent, but Prime Minister Chris Minns has said this is unaffordable and cannot happen while denying nurses an equally expensive claim.
Sydney’s rail network will run non-stop from 4am on December 31 to 2am on January 2 to accommodate huge crowds (photo: commuters in Strathfield in the city’s west)
The state government has offered 11 percent for three years, including increases in pension benefits.
The story could continue for several more months.
The Fair Work Commission cannot be asked to settle the substantive dispute – pay and employment conditions – until February.