The New South Wales government has accepted the demands of the transport union to modify a new train fleet to try to put an end to the ongoing industrial action affecting passengers.
NSW Transport Minister David Elliott said he did not want a major strike to take place again which would have caused major disruptions for passengers.
Elliott hopes reaching an agreement means trains will run normally tomorrow and Friday instead of the planned strike action, which would mean a reduction of up to 75 per cent in services.
The strike was held ahead of the union’s concerns over security issues in the New Intercity Fleet. (9 News)
The union has been concerned about crucial blind spots in the surveillance of the new fleet because it relies solely on monitoring CCTV cameras mounted on the sides of trains, which have no audio and a restricted line of sight due to the design of the wagons. .
“I’m happy to spend millions of dollars to modify what safety regulators have said are perfectly good trains? Absolutely not,” he said.
“But the cost of this industrial action, the cost to the NSW economy and the inconvenience to travelers must be taken into account.”
The money will be used to move control screens to increase surveillance of the new fleet.
Transport Minister David Elliott says the government has accepted the union’s demand. (new)
Elliott warned that there could still be some disruptions to trains tomorrow, but expects them to return to normal on Friday.
“Right now they have no reason for industrial action,” he said.
“The government expects the union to act in good faith.”
He maintained that the new NIF trains were safe despite a commitment to the millions that the union demanded additional security measures.
“I’m very happy that mom and kids are taking the trains tomorrow,” she said.
“This money is being spent because the union has said that if we don’t spend it, it will cost a lot more than running the NIF.”
Rail interruptions are expected to continue throughout the week. (Supplied)
Drivers began a four-day strike yesterday, keeping trains at less than 60km / h.
The delays of up to an hour saw stations full of travelers trapped in the middle of the dispute.
Sydney has experienced a week of strike action with nurses and midwives also on strike yesterday.
On Thursday, the penultimate day of the quarter, we will also see thousands of public sector and Catholic school teachers quit their jobs demanding a pay rise.
The nurses went on strike yesterday. (9 News)
Demonstrations will be held at 14 NSW locations and the largest will be held at Sydney’s CBD.
A group of climate change activists who have been protesting in Sydney for the past two days are calling for a temporary break before action resumes on Thursday and Friday.
Some 20 people from Blockade Australia have been arrested since the start of a week of action on Monday.
Some have been evicted from New South Wales as part of their bail conditions.
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