Sydney Trains

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Sydney plagued by public transport failures despite billions spent on infrastructure

Sydney is a city under construction, with the NSW government spending billions on public transport infrastructure.

The Sydney Metro network alone is going to cost upwards of $40 billion by the time it is finished, with a trip from Parramatta to the CBD touted to take 20 minutes when the Metro West line is completed in 2030.

But the delivery and operation of many of these projects — from trains and trams to ferries — have been plagued by issues.

The most recent, the decommissioning of the entire inner-west light rail fleet for up to 18 months, is just the latest in a long list of public transport problems.  ...

[ozbob]

SMH --> The Sydney trains assets in 'very poor' condition amid maintenance backlog $

A sensitive government document has revealed a litany of maintenance issues across Sydney's train network, with hundreds of kilometres of poor overhead wiring forming part of a growing backlog that risks blowing out to $1.65 billion within 10 years.

The confidential Transport for NSW document, released to the NSW Parliament and seen by the Herald, also said operating expenditure on the city's train network had been below the required sustainable level for the past five to 10 years. ...

[ozbob]

7 News Less train services in Sydney during the Omicron outbreak
30th December 2021

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1493597066781679626

[ozbob]

ABC --> NSW passenger train network halted as dispute between rail union, state government flares up

NSW's train network will be out of action today as the long-running dispute between the state government and the rail union flared up at the weekend.

Key points:

Transport for NSW says it is "impossible" to safely operate passenger services today
The union says workers are ready to drive trains as soon as they are allowed
Commuters are urged to avoid travel wherever possible

Transport for NSW said a snap strike, called last night, has made it "impossible" to safely operate passenger services and will leave thousands of commuters stranded.

However, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) this morning denied rail workers were at fault and blamed the government for shutting down the network to "make a point".

RTBU NSW Secretary, Alex Claassens, said staff turned up to work this morning prepared to take part in low-level protected industrial action, which would not have impacted commuters, only to be told by management that trains would not be running today.  ...

[ozbob]

RTBU --> Rail workers ready to drive the trains: NSW Government dummy spits shuts train network

Media release, 21 February 2022: Today's rail chaos is the result of the NSW Government's decision to shut the train network to make a point, and not the action of the state's rail workers, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union says.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) NSW Secretary, Alex Claassens, said workers turned up to work this morning prepared to take part in low level protected industrial action which would not have impacted commuters, only to be told by management that trains would not be running today.

"This is a dummy spit from the NSW Government," Mr Claassens said. "Workers were prepared to take protected industrial action, but only transport management would have noticed the impact, not commuters. The impact to services today is not because of workers' actions, but because the NSW Government is spitting the dummy and trying to make a point.

"We're ready to drive the trains whenever the NSW Government will let us.

"All members were at work, ready to work. They were ready and waiting to crew the trains only to be told the trains aren't running today. There is no impediment, only stubbornness on behalf of the NSW Government.

Mr Claassens said rail workers have been bitterly disappointed by the NSW's Government's approach to current enterprise agreement negotiations, particularly over the past days which have seen the NSW Government take a heavy-handed, expensive, legal approach to workers' legal right to take industrial action.
"We're tryng to negotiate an enterprise agreement that enshrines safety on our train network. For the NSW Government to suggest otherwise is unbelievable. It's time the NSW Government stopped trying to bully workers into submission and starting resolving the laundry list of safety and employment issues workers have raised."

Among the key sticking points in current enterprise agreement negotiations are:

Privatisation – workers want a commitment that no train services or lines will be lost in the event of privatisation;
Safety claims – workers want a guarantee that any changes to our services will leave them as safe or safer;
Hygiene – workers want a commitment to maintaining the existing level of hygiene using good, full time jobs.

[#Metro]

Privatisation – workers want a commitment that no train services or lines will be lost in the event of privatisation;

Auckland, Melbourne and now Adelaide have privately managed railways pursuant to contract. NSW and QLD will come in good time.

[ozbob]

For Tuesday 22nd February 2022

@cokeefe9

BREAKING: Limited train services will run in Sydney tomorrow. From 5am every half an hour at minimum. Some services will be every 15 minutes but they will be all stations. 150 rail replacement buses also to operate.
@9NewsSyd

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Reduced train services to resume across Sydney Tuesday morning

Sydney's trains will be running again but with only limited services.

Key points:

Following late-night talks, limited services are set to resume from 5am on Tuesday 
Commuters are warned to expect delays and are advised to find alternative transport if possible
Replacement buses will run along major rail corridors

NSW Transport Minister David Elliott said reduced services would operate across all lines on the Sydney rail network from 5am and would run at a minimum 30-minute frequency throughout the day.

In addition, 150 replacement bus services will operate along major rail corridors.

It comes after a day of chaos and disruption for commuters following the NSW government's shock decision to completely shut down the rail network in the wake of negotiations with the rail union breaking down over the weekend.

Sydney Trains has encouraged rail commuters to find alternative travel tomorrow if possible.

Unions and transport representatives were back in the Fair Work Commission on Monday to thrash out their differences, but the ABC understands there was no resolution, with the matter adjourned until Wednesday. ...

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

SMH --> Half-price travel for Sydney commuters as an apology for rail shutdown $

Sydney's commuters will be given half-price peak hour travel on the city's train system and free trips on the weekend as compensation for the chaos caused by Monday's sudden rail shutdown.

As the NSW government comes under increasing pressure over the network-wide closure, commuters left stranded by the rail debacle will be given reduced ticket prices for one month. ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TrainsInfo/status/1500709250208866306

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/smh/status/1501681666112335880

[ozbob]

Rail Express --> Double whammy for Sydney commuters

Industrial action planned by the Electrical Trades Union could once again disrupt train operations across Sydney this week.

It's been reported that the action will stop any members from doing certain maintenance on the rail network, which has already been hampered by the floods.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) said it would stand in solidarity with the ETU and that its members would also refuse to work.

Cancellations and delays are still occurring because of last week's storm damage, with Transport for NSW assuring commuters that crews are working "around the clock" to assess issues and carry out repairs.

It told commuters to expect delays and potential cancellations of train and bus services to continue, as clean-up and repairs ramp up across the transport network. ...

[ozbob]

Daily Telegraph --> NSW train negotiations blow up over $1b RTBU union request for new fleet $

Union bosses are demanding Transport for NSW rip out $1 billion worth of safety equipment and build compartments for old-style guards, in a move which could spark more industrial action and chaos on the city's rail network.

Six weeks of negotiations between the NSW government and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RBTU), aimed at quelling further industrial action, blew up on the final day on Thursday over the union's refusal to operate the $2.88 billion New Intercity Fleet (NIF) unless the changes are made.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the cause of the blow-up is the union's demand that security cameras designed for passenger and staff safety be ripped out and safety mechanisms on doors disabled so train guards can lean out of the door.

The cost of the remedial work on the fleet, which has been standing idle since October 2021, is estimated at $1 billion ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1524763706059812867

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1534910328798326785

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1542156067773509632

" ... The NSW government has backed down from a years-long industrial dispute with unions and agreed to make modifications costing hundreds of millions of dollars to a brand-new train fleet in a bid to stave off chaos across Sydney's railway network.

Transport Minister David Elliott announced on Wednesday that the government had offered to make changes to the troubled intercity fleet at a cost of $264 million. ... "

[SurfRail]

This is the high watermark for the RTBU - there is going to be serious blow-back for them from now on.

If the Coalition win in 2023, you can expect one of the next projects will be to isolate Bondi Junction to Cronulla from the rest of the system and convert it to driverless.  Why shouldn't they?  Chatswood to Tallawong is performing beautifully and service can be scaled up at bugger all cost.  Same strategy already being employed for Sydenham to Bankstown, even with ARTC tracks in the corridor (and previously for Epping to Chatswood).  No technology upgrade is going to get the existing crewed lines above 24tph with any reliability either.  T4 is also mostly operated with Tangaras, which are very much obsolescent and in need of replacing - so why would the government not jump at the chance to phase out crewed service altogether?

They could have focused on a plan to cascade guards into driving positions to expand service over time (especially since the service levels on the CCN line are so anaemic).  Instead, they have doomed themselves with this Luddite tactic.

This is the same union who represent drivers in Melbourne, whose trains carry nearly as many people at max load and which have (mostly) 18 doors per platform face.

I think the union movement in general in this country needs to be stronger, but I truly detest this particular one.

[ozbob]

Fresh hopes of a resolution to the Sydney train strike | 7NEWS

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TrainLinkWest/status/1562193576313819137

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> More disruptions for Sydney rail network despite late bid to resolve dispute $

Sydney's rail network will be disrupted by more industrial action on Thursday despite the NSW government offering unions a new commitment to modify a fleet of trains at the centre of a long-running dispute.

In a last-ditch bid to end the dispute, rail unions were sent a legal deed from the government on Wednesday afternoon that committed to making changes to the brand new intercity train fleet at a cost of more than $260 million. ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/smh/status/1587268623411838978

[ozbob]

Daily Telegraph --> More train disruptions for Sydney commuters amid ramped up industrial action $

Another widespread disruption to train services for Sydney commuters is looming, just weeks after rail unions rejected the state government's latest pay offer.

The Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) vowed to ramp up industrial action for November after a most welcome two months' respite from major service disruptions for commuters, as the two sides failed to resolve their differences over pay and modifications to the state's new intercity train fleet during conciliation hearings.

The RTBU released a bulletin to members confirming it had rejected the government's latest offer because it was "just a recycled version of previous offers".

The union threatened to start with minor actions of overtime bans, before escalating up to workers refusing to operate overseas-built trains – which make up almost three-quarters of the state's passenger rail fleet – by the end of this month. ...

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Commuters warned of grim future for Sydney train fleet $

The NSW government has been warned that the state's ageing fleet of passenger trains risks causing service disruptions and blowing out maintenance budgets as a drop in patronage due to the pandemic slashes fare revenue.

The warnings in two confidential reports by Transport for NSW and Sydney Trains come amid major delays to the delivery of new Spanish-built passenger trains and a prolonged industrial dispute that is set to escalate next week, threatening widespread disruptions to the rail network. ...

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Premier calls urgent meeting with rail boss to avert Sydney network chaos $

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has called an urgent meeting with the leader of the state's rail union in a final bid to avert industrial action that is set to wreak havoc on Sydney's train network next week.

Commuters face widespread disruptions across Sydney's rail network from Monday as rail workers refuse to operate foreign-built trains in defiance of Perrottet's threat three months ago to tear up a commitment to modify a new rail fleet if they took any further industrial action. ...

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Premier offers commuters week of fare-free travel in bid to stop union $

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has moved to head off major industrial action set to cripple Sydney's rail network by offering commuters fare-free train travel next week at a cost to taxpayers of almost $8 million in foregone ticket revenue.

The offer was made less than an hour after the Rail, Tram and Bus Union vowed to escalate industrial action unless the government offered fare-free travel to commuters or signed a deed committing it to modify new Korean-built intercity trains at the centre of the long-running dispute. ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/abcnews/status/1593469577442238465

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Major breakthrough in Sydney's long-running rail dispute $

A long-running industrial dispute that has crippled Sydney's rail network for months is close to being resolved after the state government signed a deal committing it to modifications to a new multibillion-dollar train fleet.

NSW Transport Minister David Elliott said the government and rail union had reached a breakthrough on Friday afternoon, after the state agreed to sign a deed to modify the mothballed intercity train fleet at the centre of the protracted dispute. ...

[ozbob]

ABC News --> NSW government, rail union sign a deal paving way for end to rail strikes

Key points:
The New Intercity Fleet will undergo up to $300 million of repairs under the deal
The union has long argued the fleet was unsafe
A planned network-wide strike for next Friday will no longer go ahead ...

[ozbob]

          

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Years late, NSW's new trains to finally start carrying passengers $

The first of NSW's new intercity trains will be introduced into service, years later than originally planned due to a long-running dispute with the main rail union over modifications to the multibillion-dollar fleet.

Transport Minister David Elliott confirmed on Wednesday that the first of the Korean-built intercity trains, which have been mothballed on the Central Coast, were about to enter passenger service.

"Commuters have been waiting way too long, and I'm very confident that in a very short space of time the premier and I are going to be putting on the Fat Controller's outfit," he said. ...

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> A year of late trains: Is your line the least reliable in Sydney? $

Sydney's western suburbs and intercity services fared worst in a year of disrupted train travel as Sydney commuters returned to the office while peak-hour services on some lines ran late a quarter of the time.

Train travel across all lines was affected by wild weather events and ongoing industrial action in 2022, as seen in data from Transport for NSW's performance reports from January to November. ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TrainsInfo/status/1609190560652316673

https://twitter.com/TrainsInfo/status/1609197625688875012

[ozbob]

ABC News --> NSW train dispute ends as union votes to accept government deal

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1622598393439846402

[#Metro]

There have been a few of these stories over the years. They always seem to not know what they want and stick with that - there's always changes and modifications which sets it off course.

[ozbob]

Transport for NSW shuts down the Sydney rail network | 7NEWS

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Passengers face months-long wait for multibillion-dollar train fleet $

Commuters will have to wait months before the first batch of NSW's new intercity trains enters service because modifications agreed to by the state government last November have yet to be made to the multibillion-dollar fleet.

The hold-up to the rollout of the new fleet is also delaying the retirement of decades-old V-set passenger trains, and the transition of Oscar trains to Sydney's suburban lines. The new fleet of Korean-built trains was purchased to replace the V-set and Oscar trains on intercity lines between Sydney and Newcastle, the south coast and the Blue Mountains.

Despite the government and union reaching a deal four months ago, multiple sources confirmed that the modifications have yet to be undertaken, which means it will be months before the first of the new trains can start services. ...