Peak hour cuts, line shutdowns: NSW Government launches attack on commuter services as more secret cuts revealed 

Media release, 17 September 2024: The NSW Government has launched a bizarre attack on commuter services, cutting peak hour train and bus services in busy areas and completely shutting the Bankstown rail line over the coming weeks, the Rail, Tram, and Bus Union says. 

Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) NSW Secretary Toby Warnes said the NSW Government’s secret plans to axe rail services revealed today will see peak hour services significantly cut across two key rail lines – the T1 and the T8 lines. 

The service cuts are in addition to plans to completely shut the Bankstown Rail line for over 12 months and force commuters onto replacement buses. 

Mr Warnes said the continued attacks on public transport are illogical and clearly only designed to justify the government’s multi-billion-dollar metro spends. 

“The NSW Government has a responsibility to provide a good quality, safe, affordable public transport system, but this government seems intent on shirking that responsibility,” Mr Warnes said. 

“It’s quite clear that what the government is doing is axing heavy rail services so they can then point to their new metro systems as the answer and justify the big spend. 

“There’s no reason at all why the frequency of our existing rail services can’t be increased, but instead the government is cutting them.”

Mr Warnes said the NSW Government’s illogical attacks on transport services are in stark contrast to Queensland which just committed to 50 cent fares permanently. 

“In Queensland they’re giving commuters 50 cent fares and improving services, yet here in NSW we’re making commuters pay more for fewer services. 

“When you have a government that treats public transport like this, is it any wonder why many of Sydney’s roads are like carparks some days?”

Mr Warnes said successive government attacks on transport highlight why rail workers have been forced to take protected industrial action time and time again. 

“This is exactly why we’ve been forced to take protected industrial action lately. Our actions so far have been designed to force a conversation with workers about running our network better and showcasing how great our heavy rail actually is. We’re hopeful they will, but it really shouldn’t be up to us.

“We’re being forced to take action because our transport system has been neglected for over a decade and unfortunately rather than fix the mess, this current government is continuing to attack our transport system and its workers just like the previous government.”

Current protected industrial action includes wearing union gear to work, putting campaign material up at stations and refusing to accept alterations to their work.