Sydney’s rail network will come to a complete halt from Thursday to Sunday after negotiations between the NSW government and a transport union fell apart.
The Rail Tram and Bus Union (RBTU) rejected an offer from the Labor government to make one line from Strathfield to Hornsby run for 24-hours a day.
The RBTU had demanded 24-hour train lines as a tactic in its wage dispute with the state.
The government initially agreed, but this week told the RTBU only a 24-hour service between Hornsby and Strathfield would be possible.
NSW’s Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the union rejected this compromise during a meeting on Tuesday and would launch a strike.
‘We have respectfully asked the unions to withdraw these bans,’ Ms Haylen said. ‘Unfortunately, they are yet to do so.
‘These bans make it harder and harder for us to operate our train network, and it does mean that passengers should expect disruption later this week.
‘That could involve a complete stoppage of operations across the rail network.’
But RBTU secretary Toby Warnes said ‘The Transport Minister and CEO of Sydney Trains have been disingenuous with their comments today.
‘The CEO of Sydney Trains wrote to the RTBU NSW this morning saying they would run one partial line for 24 hours this weekend, citing vague “maintenance” concerns as a reason for robbing Sydneysiders of the benefit of 24 hour running.
‘We immediately wrote back – by 9.40am this morning – to inform them that they’d misunderstood our actions, and if there are maintenance requirements they should let us know and we’ll consider how to work around them.’
Mr Warnes said the government is to blame for whatever happens to Sydney Trains in the coming days.
‘If the NSW Government chooses to shut down the rail system at any stage this week, it will be entirely their decision.’
Ms Haylen, though, said a shutdown would cause ‘major disruption for millions of train passengers’.
‘This will cause significant disruption to people’s lives and to the operation of our city.’
Commuters have been urged to avoid peak travel times on those days.
Transport for NSW is preparing to use replacement services, including buses for major events over the weekend and school services.
The RTBU has been engaged in a six-month stand-off with the NSW government in a bid to get higher pay and better conditions.
The union is demanding a 32 per cent pay rise over four years, which is an 8 per cent pay rise per year, and a 35-hour working week.
But the state government has offered rail workers a vastly lower rise of 9.5 per cent pay over three years.
Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland said the strike would cause chaos across the network, which carries 1million people per day.
‘At this point we have to prepare for no train services,’ he said.
‘I’m asking people to think about travelling well outside the peak, to make alternative arrangements, to plan well ahead.’
He said Sydney Trains had asked Sydney Metro to put on extra services on Thursday and Friday before the Metro closes this weekend for maintenance.
‘That will be an additional factor as we look towards the weekend that we will not have Metro services to augment a stoppage at Sydney Trains,’ he said.
Among those affected will be the estimated 70,000 fans of American rock band Pearl Jam heading to Sydney Olympic Park on Thursday and Saturday nights.
Mr Longland said the concertgoers should make alternative travel plans.
‘We will have no major event buses at this stage, we will reply on car parks, carpooling and ride share services,’ he said.
Josh Murray, the NSW Secretary of Transport ,said alternative services would not be able to carry the same number of passengers who usually travel on Sydney Train services.
‘A million people a day are carried by the Sydney Trains network and it’s simply not possible to accommodate them on alternative services no matter which mode,’ he said.
He said passengers should plan ahead for the disruption and consider travelling outside peak hours to get to work or appointments.
‘I’m asking people now to think about travelling well outside the peak to make alternate arrangements, to plan well ahead with any urgent appointments across the Thursday to Sunday period and please be kind and patient to each other … and to our transport staff.’
Ms Haylen has urged the RTBU to come back to the negotiating table.
‘My door is always open, and I would welcome the union withdrawing these bans at any time,’ she said.
Daily Mail has contacted the RTBU for comment.