Sydney, Nov 19 (IANS) – Sydney's entire train network will be closed for four days starting Thursday as rail workers prepare to strike over a pay dispute with the New South Wales (NSW) state government. The shutdown, lasting from Thursday through Sunday, is expected to impact millions of commuters, according to Transport Minister Jo Haylen.
Last-ditch negotiations between the Rail, Tram, and Bus Union (RTBU) and the government failed to prevent the strike. The union is demanding a 32% pay increase over four years for Sydney’s 14, 000 rail employees, along with a commitment to operate 24-hour weekend services across all train lines. However, the government argues that such changes would strain the network, instead proposing limited 24-hour weekend services between western Sydney, the central business district, and northern suburbs—an offer rejected by the union.
“This will cause major disruption to the millions of people that rely on these services, ” Minister Haylen said, cautioning that all suburban and inter-city rail lines would be affected, impacting even those commuting from outside Sydney.
In response, the government is exploring options to increase other public transport services to accommodate the anticipated demand. However, Transport NSW acknowledged that it would be unable to arrange special buses for all major events in the city during the shutdown period, potentially affecting weekend sporting and music events.