Sydney's train system set for shutdown with major strike to hit commuters

The action, by the Rail, Bus and Tram Union, will mean trains are set to be unmanned for the eight hours between 8pm on Monday and 4am on Tuesday.

However, the first disruptions will start at 3pm on Monday with thousands of express services expected to be cancelled.

This will ramp up at 6pm when all services are expected to become significantly less frequent.

Road users have also been warned to expect heavier than usual traffic.

“You should consider driving where possible, working flexibly, using alternative transport modes including regular metro, buses or ferries services,” Transport for NSW said in a statement.

“Be aware that taxis and rideshare are also expected to be in high demand.”

RTBU NSW secretary Alex Claassens said the strike was triggered by the NSW government’s “shocking handling of transport”.

“Rather than moving forward and addressing the obvious failings, the Perrottet government is insisting on pushing back against workers’ basic safety needs,” he said.

“We want basic hygiene, safety and privatisation commitments and we simply can’t let the NSW Government get away with no delivering them.”

Adding to commuters’ woes is the shut down of two major lines over Christmas due to maintenance.

‘Essential upgrades’ are being blamed for interruptions to the T3 Bankstown Line and the T4 Illawarra Line over the coming weeks.

For Sydneysiders using the Bankstown line, trains will cease to run between Central and Birrong from Boxing Day to January 9.

Slightly less disruptions are expected for those on the Illawarra Line with Central to Sydenham stops unavailable from December 26 to 28.

Train users will be able to jump on replacement buses for the duration of the works.

The strike comes a week after workers refused to driver foreign-made trains, despite these making up the majority of the network’s rail fleet.

Foreign-made vehicles make up 75 per cent of Sydney’s rail services, which all came to a halt last Tuesday.

It resulted in the T3 Bankstown service bearing the biggest brunt of the changes and Blue Mountains and Central Coast running to a weekend timetable.

Mr Claassens downplayed suggestions last week’s lack of services could be a potential Covid super spreading event.

“It is what it is,” he told 2GB.

“We are trying everything we can to continue to run the service, rather than having a total stoppage.”