The massive delays, cancellations and chaos Sydney train travelers experienced on Wednesday are likely to continue on Thursday and Friday.
And for those who even arrived at work on Wednesday morning, the trip home in the afternoon will be a worse ordeal.
“The advice we are receiving, particularly from the Electricians Union, is that there will be no movement on their work bans this afternoon, and that these types of delays that we have seen today will continue into tomorrow,” Sydney said. Rail CEO Matt Longland said.
‘That’s why we ask everyone to plan ahead. If you need to travel tomorrow, stay up to date with the latest information.
“Please use travel apps to search for other modes of public transport that may be suitable to ensure you can complete your journey as efficiently as possible.”
Longland said if maintenance work at Gosford is not completed tonight as planned, there could be even further delays on the Central Coast line on Thursday.
The train journey home on Wednesday afternoon and evening is likely to be worse than this morning, with 80 per cent of services canceled or delayed.
The New South Wales government is considering legal options over what it called “intolerable” union labor bans.
Sydney train commuters have been warned to expect further delays on Thursday and Friday.
“By the end of the day, we will see over 1,000 train services cancelled, including major delays. “We are seeing the situation getting worse across the network,” said Transport Minister Jo Haylen.
“As we look into the afternoon and evening, the scenario is going to get worse in terms of train and crew availability, and we also see some inclement weather on the horizon, which may make afternoon travel even more difficult,” said the NSW Transport Secretary. Josh Murray said.
The Bureau of Meteorology backed this, saying there is “a very high chance of showers in the late afternoon and evening, the possibility of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening, possibly severe.”
Train services were canceled due to the actions of members of two unions, causing widespread disruption throughout the day.
Transport Minister Jo Haylen (pictured) said: “At the end of the day we will see over 1,000 train services cancelled.”
Officials said Electrical Union members failed to carry out critical maintenance in two key areas of the rail network on Tuesday night – at Homebush and Bondi Junction – causing major delays.
For services that were running, members of the Railway, Tram and Bus Union deliberately drove trains slower on the tracks, reducing speeds by 23 km/h on lines where trains normally travel at 80 km/h.
By 6.30am, hundreds of train services had already been canceled and many more delayed, causing major disruption as hundreds of thousands of workers tried to get to work.
Transport for NSW said the rail network was facing more than 350 industrial action bans.
“Expect delays and cancellations to Sydney Trains, Intercity and NSW TrainLink services due to ongoing protected industrial action,” Sydney Trains wrote in X.
‘Allow additional travel time and consider all your transportation options.
Transport NSW said: ‘Passengers should expect delays, service cancellations and major service disruptions, particularly on the T1 North Shore and Western, T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra, T8, Airport and South lines.
“These impacts will have a flow-on effect throughout the network.”
More to come…