More than 360 Sydney train services cancelled as minister calls for union to withdraw action

ABC NEWS (Australia)

More than 360 train services across Sydney have been cancelled, resulting in wait times of up to one hour in some locations. The delays are due in part to planned industrial action from five unions, including the Rail, Tram, and Bus Union (RTBU).

Transcript

00:0040% of train services across Australia's largest city are expected to be impacted today with

00:08361 services cancelled.

00:12It comes as Sydney Trains says the impacts will be felt right into the evening and across

00:18the coming days.

00:19They said that the T1, T2, T3 and T8 lines are experiencing delays of up to an hour.

00:28They also said that people should avoid non-essential travel even as we head into the Christmas

00:34and festive celebrations ahead of Christmas and New Years.

00:39They also said that travelling to the airport, people should do so as early as possible or

00:45if they can, try to find another mode of transport.

00:48Transport Minister Jo Halen spoke to media today outside Sydenham station, here's what

00:54she had to say.

00:56People need to be able to celebrate with their families, they need to be able to get

00:59where to go, where they need to go.

01:02Families need to be able to get on with their holidays, workers need to be able to get to

01:07work and businesses need certainty.

01:11No level of industrial action over New Years Eve is tolerable and I'm calling on the unions

01:17to withdraw their actions now.

01:20Business for New South Wales is predicting a revenue loss of up to $120 million if the

01:25New Years Eve celebrations don't go ahead and they've also said that many businesses

01:30face bankruptcy because of these train delays and disruptions during what is their peak

01:36business period of the year.

01:40On Monday, the court proceedings and submissions will be heard from the state government as

01:44well as various other businesses impacted by these delays and cancellations and we'll

01:49expect to hear some form of decision on those court proceedings within hopefully the next

01:54five days.

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