Latest news with #RTBU
Sydney Morning Herald
21-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Passengers on this train line were hammered by delays. Now there's more bad news
John Cenzato was debating whether to board the 4.11pm to Lithgow on Tuesday, as screens started flashing that no trains were running between Central and Strathfield because of an electrical issue. The Leura resident and university librarian, who has commuted to Sydney for more than 20 years, decided to get on – he is used to delays on a service that has gone from 'OK for a while' to 'worse and worse'. Ten minutes later, an announcement told Blue Mountains line (BMT) passengers no services would be departing. 'I have no idea how I'm going to get home,' he said. In the confusion before it was revealed a live wire had fallen on a train at Strathfield, causing days of public transport chaos, the Herald approached Cenzato to discuss another delay. Transport for NSW has said BMT and South Coast passenger services on the new intercity Mariyung fleet, once expected by the second half of this year, would not commence before late 2025. For Cenzato, contemplating unknown hours on top of his two-hour journey, there were bigger issues. 'They've been promising [the new fleet] since 2014. The main thing for a lot of us is that the trains run on time.' But the Mariyung fleet rollout is emblematic of problems faced by BMT users, who have experienced some of the worst delays this week, and earlier this year as part of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union's (RTBU) ongoing pay dispute with the state government. The $4.03 billion Korean-built trains, which arrived in 2019 to replace ageing V-set models, sat unused amid another dispute between successive governments and the RTBU over safety issues. They began on the Newcastle Central Coast line in December 2024 to rave reviews from enthusiasts, after an agreement on changes to cameras, screens and emergency doors was reached in November 2022. Earlier negotiations resulted in tunnel-widening work on the Blue Mountains line completed in 2020. Craig Turner, president of the RTBU's NSW branch, said he understood the fleet would not start on the line before 'at least the end of 2025' and the South Coast before 2026. 'All these projects get delayed for some reason,' he said. 'We refute anyone that says that we've held up that train. The reason it's been held up was 99.9 per cent on safety. You can't have a train that went out there and actually killed people.'
The Age
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
Passengers on this train line were hammered by delays. Now there's more bad news
John Cenzato was debating whether to board the 4.11pm to Lithgow on Tuesday, as screens started flashing that no trains were running between Central and Strathfield because of an electrical issue. The Leura resident and university librarian, who has commuted to Sydney for more than 20 years, decided to get on – he is used to delays on a service that has gone from 'OK for a while' to 'worse and worse'. Ten minutes later, an announcement told Blue Mountains line (BMT) passengers no services would be departing. 'I have no idea how I'm going to get home,' he said. In the confusion before it was revealed a live wire had fallen on a train at Strathfield, causing days of public transport chaos, the Herald approached Cenzato to discuss another delay. Transport for NSW has said BMT and South Coast passenger services on the new intercity Mariyung fleet, once expected by the second half of this year, would not commence before late 2025. For Cenzato, contemplating unknown hours on top of his two-hour journey, there were bigger issues. 'They've been promising [the new fleet] since 2014. The main thing for a lot of us is that the trains run on time.' But the Mariyung fleet rollout is emblematic of problems faced by BMT users, who have experienced some of the worst delays this week, and earlier this year as part of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union's (RTBU) ongoing pay dispute with the state government. The $4.03 billion Korean-built trains, which arrived in 2019 to replace ageing V-set models, sat unused amid another dispute between successive governments and the RTBU over safety issues. They began on the Newcastle Central Coast line in December 2024 to rave reviews from enthusiasts, after an agreement on changes to cameras, screens and emergency doors was reached in November 2022. Earlier negotiations resulted in tunnel-widening work on the Blue Mountains line completed in 2020. Craig Turner, president of the RTBU's NSW branch, said he understood the fleet would not start on the line before 'at least the end of 2025' and the South Coast before 2026. 'All these projects get delayed for some reason,' he said. 'We refute anyone that says that we've held up that train. The reason it's been held up was 99.9 per cent on safety. You can't have a train that went out there and actually killed people.'
Sky News AU
21-05-2025
- Sky News AU
Commuters issue blistering response to Sydney train operator after a 1500-volt live wire collapsed onto a carriage causing widespread chaos
Commuters have delivered a resounding vote of no confidence in the NSW public transport system as Sydney's train network continues to be deadlocked. Sydney commuters were warned on Wednesday of 'major disruptions' after a "catastrophic event" at Strathfield Station caused huge disruptions across the entire network. The repairs have since been fixed with "all lines at Strathfield now open", as per a Transport for NSW alert, but delays and service gaps "will continue". While Sydneysiders are incensed by the continued disruptions on the rail network, Transport for NSW has issued an apology and attempted to characterise the incident as an "inconvenience". "Sydney Trains apologises again to passengers for the inconvenience of the continuing disruption," Transport for NSW said in a statement. Commuters took to social media to vent their frustration at the ongoing setbacks and 'constant failures' of Sydney's transport system. 'I really can't put my rage at Sydney Trains into words anymore. These constant failures are unacceptable and it's deplorable that they all still think they are owed something more. Tear it all down,' one user said. 'Sydney's Trains have been a disaster since this ALP Govt took control and are getting worse by the day,' a second user wrote. Another user said Sydney's economy had been 'held to ransom' by Sydney Trains, while another called it 'embarrassing' that tourists were having to endure the delays. 'If it's not greedy blackmailing union strikes holding Sydney trains to ransom, its live wires falling on carriages. Sydney commuters can't win a trick,' one user wrote. While another said: 'Whoever is in charge of Sydney trains needs the sack and revamp your work force.' Since last November, Sydney commuters have been plagued with delays and industrial action as the Minns government has locked horns with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) over a pay dispute. Throughout January and February, commuters were jolted around by the 'go-slow' industrial action employed by the RTBU, before the Minns government successfully won its case against the RTBU with the Fair Work Commission ordering the union to enter a 'cool off' period. In March, the Federal Court dismissed an appeal by the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) to challenge the FWC suspension of industrial action by rail workers until July 1. Transport for NSW tracks Customer Satisfaction based on cleanliness, ticketing and scheduling, with its latest survey recording an 86 per cent satisfaction rating on timeliness. The latest survey is from November 2024 with the next survey to be released this month. On the latest calamity to beset commuters, Transport for NSW Executive Director Rail Operations Jas Tumber said it was an 'unusual type of failure' which occurred "from time to time". Mr Tumber told ABC radio on Wednesday it normally required weeks to investigate and fully understand the root cause. NSW Premier Chris Minns called the crippling commuter chaos across Sydney 'nowhere near good enough' and that the travelling public had been let down. 'We put $1.5 billion a year into rail maintenance and infrastructure, but we need to do a lot better. And I know that we're on notice, the government's on notice,' he told 2GB host Ben Fordham. contacted Transport for NSW for comment.
Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Why an extraordinary demand from the rail union could cost taxpayers MILLIONS and disrupt services
A rail union is demanding the NSW government modify Sydney Metro trains to have staff cabins, despite the service being driverless. The demand is part of ongoing enterprise agreement negotiations between the Rail, Train and Bus Union (RTBU) and Metro Trains Sydney (MTS). The RTBU has insisted cabins on the driverless Metro will keep workers safe in the face of escalating violence on the rail network. 'Cabins are needed on board for the safety of staff - they are not 'driver's cabins' as there are no drivers on Metro trains,' a spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. 'As incidents of anti-social behaviour and assaults have increased across the rail network, workers need a safe space aboard the train to ensure both their safety and the safety of passengers. 'There has been no discussion with the operator or Transport for NSW regarding the infrastructure cost to install the cabins.' The Opposition has lashed the request, with NSW Liberal Deputy Leader and Shadow Transport Minister Natalie Ward describing the cabins as a 'union stitch-up'. 'The RTBU leadership have already torpedoed the train network, they need to keep their hands off the Metro,' Ms Ward said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia. 'The Government should rule out yet another union stitch-up that will cost taxpayers millions of dollars and disrupt commuter services.' Ms Ward also questioned the practicality of retrofitting the advanced rail system. 'We already have a driver on the driverless Metro, retro-fitting cabins onto these state-of-the-art trains is pathetic and an example of why Sydney is losing momentum under the Government,' she said. In a bulletin issued to members this week, the RTBU said the proposal is 'being actively considered' by MTS. 'This is a very large piece of work and will involve negotiating with Transport for NSW, Sydney Metro and the regulator ONRSR as it involves altering approved infrastructure,' the union stated. NSW Transport Minister John Graham told Daily Mail Australia the government would 'not be supporting the changes'. 'Metro trains are driverless and they will remain so,' he added. Other requests from the RTBU include body-worn cameras for staff, pressure mats, and designated staff seating at Metro stations. Industrial action has plagued the Sydney Metro in recent months and is being blamed for delays to the under-construction Sydenham to Bankstown extension. Disruptions on the line are estimated to have resulted in 130 days lost to industrial action, with the project now delayed from its original opening planned for this year. A union stand off between the state government and Sydney Trains saw major delays and headaches for travellers earlier this year. Industrial action on Sydney Trains has been suspended until July 1, following a ruling by the Fair Work Commission. The RTBU remain in negotiations with the MTS, and are set to meet again on May 14.
