After a few weeks of relatively regular programming, Sydney’s rail workers are taking industrial action again – meaning trains across the city will be delayed, disrupted and cancelled from today. By 9am this morning (Friday, February 14), more than 400 services had already been cancelled, and it’s not likely to get better any time soon. (Hope you weren't planning to train it to a Valentine's Day date.)
The disruption comes as the Rail and Tram Bus Union (RTBU) have come to another standstill in their negotiations with the NSW government – with rail workers deliberately running trains more than 20-kilometres-per-hour slower than usual in an act of defiance. When the government stated they wouldn’t be paying participating drivers, the RTBU encouraged rail workers to stay home instead of coming in to work today.
So far, today’s industrial action has impacted most lines in the Greater Sydney area, including the Blue Mountains and South Coast lines – so if you were planning a trip for Valentine’s weekend, you might want to take a car. While most lines are experiencing significant delays, the South Coast Line has halted entirely – with buses operating between Wollongong and Kiama and Kiama and Bomaderry.
Is the Sydney Metro running?
The Sydney Metro is still running, but as with buses, it's expected to be more packed than usual.
At this point, Transport for NSW is encouraging Sydneysiders to “delay non-essential travel”, explaining that although their teams are “working hard to recover as much of the timetable as possible”, the high level of staff absences means that “we are looking at ongoing, substantial, and worsening disruption.”
You can learn more about the RTBU's current industrial action via their website, and you can stay up to date and plan your trip over here.
Can’t handle the hassle? Keep things local with our guide to the best things to do this weekend – keep in mind that roads will be extra-congested, so it’s best to walk or cycle where possible over the next few days.
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