Widespread delays and cancellations are hitting the New South Wales train network, mainly in Sydney, but some regional services have also been affected. The disruption comes amid industrial action by the Rail, Tram and Bus Union which is in a long running pay dispute with the New South Wales government.
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00:00There's not a single line across the suburban network which is what most people catch in
00:07Sydney and indeed it's the most populated train network within the state.
00:12Basically every line has cancelled services or delayed services, some by more than an
00:16hour with the next train continually being pushed back and pushed back and pushed back.
00:20So some real impacts already being felt as we get into the peak hour commute between
00:257.30 right up through until 10 o'clock in the morning.
00:29We spoke to some commuters here already who are bearing the brunt of this and here's what
00:34they had to say.
00:36There was a delay in the morning, like I had to catch my train, I think it was from 6,
00:41I think I forget, it was supposed to come here at 16 but I had to start my job at 7
00:49o'clock but now I'm delayed.
00:51I had to start job at 6 o'clock, still I'm here only.
00:55So it took you 90 minutes, how long should it usually take?
00:5740 minutes, it's more than one and a half hour journey today, it's too late.
01:02If you're a betting person you might say it seems unlikely from the union's early indications
01:07they've said that the offer they believe their members will vote down, it's a long way short
01:13of what their demands have been throughout.
01:15So just to recap for the uninitiated, the unions wanted to see a 32% pay increase over
01:20a four year period, so about 8% a year.
01:23The government yesterday essentially offered 13% over four years plus an additional 2%,
01:28so 15% combined increase, less than half of what the union's asking for.
01:33As well there's also been some amendments to some safety agreements that have been baked
01:38in already.
01:39The government argues it's about modernising the train network.
01:42The union says they're concerned about those agreements, however they've only had a precursory
01:48look at it and will be taking today to talk to its members a lot about exactly what is
01:53on the table, what's at stake and whether or not they should or should not support it,
01:57as well as hearing from members about whether they want to support it.
02:00There's also some efficiencies the government has identified which has been part of this
02:04ability to offer a slightly increased deal to the rail union, however would come at the
02:08cost of 103 jobs roughly, so initially that has also caught the union's attention and
02:15something that they think it's unlikely members are willing to vote in favour for.
02:20If that is the case we could see more industrial action down the track.
02:24Now it's Wednesday to Friday that this action is supposed to run and it includes slowing
02:29down top speeds of intercity trains, these are regional services as well, as well as
02:32the disruption I've told you already about across the suburban network, so the impacts
02:37are pretty much felt in every part of the state that services a rail network, so there
02:42is an appetite to see this solved.
02:44If we're any closer for that matter, well at the moment it looks like the answer is
02:48a big fat no.