We’ve received more than 100 emails from readers today about the train shutdown. And the frustration is only getting worse as the disruption continues.
“My daughter started Uni today. What a great start to the next chapter of her life, following two years of COVID-interrupted schooling and HSC.” – Anthony
“I left the office in the middle of the day to work from home as much as I could. A 60-minute trip has blown out to three hours so far and will knock on to the whole rest of the week even when service is restored.” – Mitch
“I live in Kogarah and I work in North Sydney. With only one local bus from Kogarah to city every half an hour I experienced super frustration. Left home 8am and managed to arrive at work 4 hours later. Have no idea how I’m going to go home as I am finishing midnight and I am running low in my phone battery.” – Pinelopi
“I had to take the day off and spent 3 hours on the road this morning just to send my two children to school.” – Carol
As if things couldn’t get any worse for Sydney commuters… the Bureau of Meteorology has just issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the city’s west.
The warning says to expect large hailstones, damaging winds and heavy rainfall. The Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and Nepean areas are expected to cop the worst, but the radar shows plenty of rain heading east towards the CBD.
The storms are predicted to hit Richmond, Windsor and Riverstone by 6.05pm.
It never rains, it pours.
Here are some photos from this afternoon’s rush hour – or crush hour.
Commuters are crowding onto buses as they scramble to find alternative ways to get home during the evening peak.
Queues for buses at Central station as commuters try to get home. Credit:Edwina Pickles
A packed bus heads west away from the CBD.Credit:Edwina Pickles
Rydo, a taxi booking app, sent a text message to customers earlier this afternoon advertising its services and having a little dig at Uber’s surge pricing.
“Today’s strike was a surprise!” the text said. “Just letting you know Rydo has more drivers offering fixed fares.”
The timing was terrible. It was to be the day on which Australia fully reopened to the world, welcoming international visitors, and local businesses were desperate for Sydneysiders to return to work in CBD offices following a relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions.
Those hopes were dashed on Monday when Sydneysiders woke to learn that the state’s transport agency had decided hours earlier to shut down the city’s rail network due to fears that protected industrial action would compromise rail safety.
Many people were stranded by the shock shutdown. Credit:Wolter Peeters
The sudden shutdown was entirely unexpected, throwing the travel plans of tens of thousands of passengers into chaos across the city. Commuters were stranded at train stations, while motorways clogged as residents were forced to drive.
Less than 48 hours earlier, senior transport officials had reached an agreement for the rail union to drop its more disruptive actions – notably a ban on overtime work – during two weeks of protected industrial action due to start on Monday.
A lawyer representing the rail union told the Fair Work Commission hearing on Monday afternoon that they could not understand the rationale behind the government’s decision to shut down the network.
“If it’s explained, if our understanding changes, we remain willing to negotiate. I’ve been asked about that very clearly for the record,” the lawyer representing the Rail, Tram and Bus Union said.
A sign at Strathfield station on Monday afternoon. Credit:Wolter Peeters
The transport agency contends it had significant safety concerns over the slated industrial action.
The matter was adjourned until Wednesday morning, casting doubt over what services would run on Tuesday.
It’s after 4pm and still no word on when Sydney’s trains will resume.
That’s not good news for commuters anxiously wondering how they will get home tonight.
Trains parked at Auburn Stabling Yards.Credit:Wolter Peeters
The issue has been before the Fair Work Commission today, but we don’t have news yet about the outcome.
So, how will you get home? Share your journey plans below and leave your details for a journalist to get in contact.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union NSW & ACT says the suspension of the Sydney train network over planned protected industrial action from the Rail, Tram and Bus Union is “designed to have commuters turn on workers who are fighting for a fair deal”.
“This shutdown is just the latest obstacle to securing a fair enterprise agreement,” the AMWU said in a statement today.
“Union members would never put commuter safety at risk when taking industrial action. The only people impacted would be Sydney Trains management.
“Sydney Trains and Transport for NSW must stop the attacks on workers and return to the bargaining table.”
AMWU NSW & ACT state secretary Cory Wright said the shutdown indicated Sydney Trains had “never intended to negotiate with workers in good faith”.
“The government has shown it will disrupt the lives of NSW residents simply to try and damage the reputation of transport workers and their unions,” he said.
It has been a disrupted day across Sydney for many people, and the state of the afternoon commute remains unknown, as travellers battle closed train stations and surge pricing on ride-share vehicles.
Buses were delayed by 15 to 20 minutes this morning due to heavy traffic on Chapel Road at Bankstown and on Parramatta Road in Clyde and Granville, according to Transport for NSW.
Central Station was a ghost town on Monday morning as commuters and rail staff were locked out. Credit:James Alcock
A quiet Devonshire Street tunnel under Central Station today.Credit:Kate Geraghty
Commuters at one of the closed entrances at Central Station.Credit:Kate Geraghty
The usually bustling Redfern station on Monday, when all greater Sydney train services were suspended.Credit:James Alcock
“My poor son’s first day at uni has been a nightmare. Having to drive in from Camden and miss his first lecture. Shame on the responsible parties.” – Lisa
“I showed up to work at 4am, ready to work trains, looking forward to another day on the network only to find out that the government had cancelled all services.” – Gretchen
“I was fortunate enough to have my partner drive me from Hornsby to Kings Cross. Traffic wasn’t too bad but Palmer St at Woolloomooloo was crazy.” – Sarah
“I live 15 minutes away from my work at RNSH [Royal North Shore Hospital] by train, this trip took me 90 minutes this morning. I had multiple buses not stop at bus stops as they are at maximum capacity and Uber fares reaching $90. So I found myself having to walk halfway to get a cheaper Uber for the rest of the way. I naturally arrived to work quite late.“ – Hayley
“$97.23 to get to the airport from Surry Hills at 5.30am. 3.4x surge.” – Anthony
“Almost had to close my childcare centre today as educators were unable to get into work. No educators means we are not meeting our regulations and would not be able to take children which then causes more chaos as families have no care to allow them to go to work.” – SJ
“I am a resident of the Wollondilly Shire and attend school all the way in Beverly Hills, Sydney. This normally takes me around an hour and a half. Now, because of the suspended trains, it’s impossible for me to get there. It’s affecting my studies severely, and not to mention the fact that I am a HSC student now and this has ruined my day. I’m hoping for this to resolve as soon as it can. I’m sure I’m not the only one affected by this.” – Saliha
“It’s completely stuffed. Stop putting the blame on the unions, it’s the state gov who shut the trains.” – Jay
NSW Labor’s spokeswoman for transport Jo Haylen has suggested the state government negotiate with the union today to “get the afternoon peak service rolling”.
“After all, rail workers turned up at 2am today ready and willing to work. Let’s let them,” she said on Twitter.
“Transport workers stand ready to get the trains running now.”
The state’s rail operators and the rail union are back before the Fair Work Commission this morning.
Sydney train shutdown LIVE updates: Services suspended across city as RTBU slams NSW government
Source: Philippines Alive
