Sydney commuters are facing a transport nightmare with long queues, delays and overcrowded services after a union strike and the cancellation of a light rail service.
Photos show guards placing barricades on the stairs leading to the City Hall station platforms due to overcrowding.
Elsewhere, L2 Randwick and L3 Juniors Kingsford light rail services were canceled for around an hour due to urgent track repairs following damage from the wet weather.
The guards place barricades on the platforms of the City Hall station. (Jessica Chandra)Light rail cancellations and strikes caused rush hour chaos. (Jessica Chandra)
Commuters are now facing the flow impacts of canceled services at both light rail and train stations.
Other images show trains full of commuters at rush hour.
“Progress” in the negotiations between the union and the government
Meanwhile, the transport union and the NSW government have made “breakthrough” in negotiations after the most disruptive day of strike action.
Thousands of rail workers walked off the job from 10am until 4pm, causing major delays on the North Shore Line, Northern and Western Line, Blue Mountains Line, Central Coast Newcastle Line and all lines regional, except stations south of Melbourne.
About 180 suburbs and towns in New South Wales were affected.
Thousands of Sydney rail commuters are affected by industrial action on main lines today. (new)
NSW Rail, Tram and Bus Union secretary Alex Claassens has made “progress” in negotiations with the state government over a safety deal for the New Intercity Fleet (NIF) that could put end to strikes
The main point of contention at the forefront of union action is security concerns over the NIF. The union is concerned about blind spots in fleet monitoring.
The union wants a government deal to fund security improvements at NIF and keep guards on trains instead of a CCTV surveillance system.
“I can say that we had a meeting this morning and that part of the (writing) process is moving forward,” Claassens said.
“Sometime tomorrow or in the next few days there will be a breakthrough in writing.”
Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW secretary Alex Claassens said there may have been a breakthrough in negotiations. (new)
Claassens acknowledged that commuters are frustrated by the delays, but said the continued strikes are about getting the government to listen to the union.
Commuters are not impressed by the strike
Commuters were not impressed this morning by the long delays.
“I’m over it, I’m over it,” said one man.
Sydneysiders blamed both the union and the government for the delays.
“I think the unions are to blame this time, it’s a bit too much,” said another pedestrian.
“I’m not happy, it’s the government that has to pick up the ball,” added one user.
Claassens said that even if the government signs the deed in the next 24 hours, the strike planned for Thursday will go ahead.
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Treasurer Matt Kean condemned the union’s strike action and the impact on commuters.
“Thousands of school children are late for school, their parents are late for work because of the industrial war,” Kean said.
“I have put a billion dollars on the table to meet union demands for new trains.
“It is completely unacceptable that they are holding the public to ransom.”