Overview
If you were planning on catching the train this weekend, you're in for quite the journey. Not just because you may have a long weekend adventure, but because Sydney's trains will be reduced from Thursday, January 25 through to Sunday, January 28.
According to a statement released this afternoon by Transport NSW, trains will run to a reduced timetable across the four days. As well as this, the Carlingford and Cumberland lines will be cancelled entirely, with buses running instead, and services will finish up earlier than usual on Sunday night. This poses a huge problem for those working on Thursday or over the weekend, with Transport for NSW suggesting commuters allow for "extra travel time" on both rail and the roads. Buses, ferries and the light rail will run as usual.
This is because the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) cannot reach a negotiation with rail management — the same negotiations that have seen a 24-hour strike planned for Monday, January 29. Problems with staffing and conditions of the trains have been rife since a new, more extensive timetable was introduced in November last year. Commuters have been directly impacted by these issues this year, battling a string of delayed and cancelled services.
The Monday strike is still planned to go ahead unless the RBTU can reach a fair agreement with the NSW Government and Sydney Trains. This is expected to be announced tomorrow. For more details and updates, check Transport for NSW.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.