24-hour train running action update

15 November 2024

Dear Members,

Last night, Sydney Trains royally stuffed up their first chance to run a 24-hour service across the Sydney metropolitan network. They did schedule services for the entire period, and some trains did manage to operate, but many were cancelled due to some mismanagement by senior management.

Many members have asked us what the consequence of that stuff up is. It has taken some serious planning given the nature of all of our work and the fact that none of us operate in isolation, and each of our jobs affects one another.

For example, if our Signallers dropped tools instantly, our Crews and passengers would get caught between stations which is unsafe and unacceptable for obvious reasons.

Tonight, we have told Sydney Trains that if last night is repeated, i.e. if 24-hour services don’t run tonight, we will not work between 0800hrs and 1200hrs tomorrow, Saturday 16 November 2024. This effectively means that trains won’t be brought out tomorrow until 1200hrs.

And this will be just the beginning, if trains don’t run 24 hours on Saturday night, that action will escalate. And then again next weekend, and so on.

We can’t let Sydney Trains get away with not running 24-hour services, it’s our action, and we know the public love it, and its good for all of us as it shows that heavy rail can deliver just as good of a service as the new metro line.

Our delegates in the Rail Operations Centre will assess whether trains have run consistently enough throughout the night and we will send a text message out at approximately 0400hrs tomorrow to let all members know whether they should present to work at 0800hrs or not. If you start before 0800hrs, you will still need to show up at work at your start time.

It’s time to show the Government that we’re serious about the value of our work, but we hope for the sake of the network that Sydney Trains can provide services tonight.

In unity, 

RTBU NSW