The Sydney train network is set to see major disruptions over the weekend as train drivers take industrial action, bringing the heavy rail network to a shutdown.
All train services in the Sydney city network will be affected, stopping running early on Friday morning, when the Rail, Tram and Bus Union’s work ban begins. The strike will lift on Sunday morning but the NSW government has warned disruptions could extend throughout Sunday.
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There are already disruptions occurring across the network due to industrial action, with 100 services delayed or cancelled on Tuesday.
Cancellations and delays have also already hit intercity lines connecting Sydney to Newcastle, Gosford, the Blue Mountains, the Southern Highlands and the south coast, due to a separate industrial action.
The rest of Sydney’s public transport networks will not stop running during this shutdown, with all buses, ferries and light rail services expected to continue as normal.
However, these services – particularly buses – are expected to be at capacity over this period due to heightened demand, with a very real possibility of delays due to traffic congestion.
So far, Transport for NSW plans to introduce more bus services during the shutdown. But it hasn’t publicly stated what that number, is or what routes will be supported.
“Some limited emergency bussing is being organised for wherever possible, however numbers will be extremely limited,” a Transport for NSW spokesperson says.
“Across Friday and Saturday there will be some replacement bus services but we are expecting major disruption and we’re asking people to make other arrangements,” transport minister Jo Haylen says.
No announcement has been made as of yet that outlines a clear plan, but the government is urging commuters to work out alternative travel or organise to work from home.
“We will do everything we can, but we cannot accommodate a million people a day switching to other modes of transport,” transport secretary Josh Murray says.
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