Bankstown train line shutdown raises concerns over looming transport chaos in Sydney
A new year, with the same transport troubles. This week’s Monday edition of the Sydney Morning Herald front page (8th January) brings attention to the imminent commuter chaos to come from the shutdown of the Bankstown Train line.
David Babineau, Tram and Bus Divisional Secretary and a member of the Bus Industry Taskforce highlighted a crucial issue in his conversation with the paper — there’s a severe shortage of drivers to handle the extra 1400 services needed during the upcoming shutdown. This issue, which the Union has repeatedly raised, has been a major focus in warnings to TfNSW, as seen in the first report issued by the Bus Industry Taskforce.
The seriousness of the problem becomes clearer when faced with the 60,000 commuters left without transit options during the shutdown period. That’s 1400 additional services a day.
How can we expect improvements when this will only pile on more stress for the bus workforce? It’s not fair to commuters, and it sure isn’t fair to the workforce. Instead of tearing up a perfectly functional train line, the TfNSW should have considered addressing the systemic issues within the Bus industry – whether it’s improving workforce standards or ending two tiered systems.
The Union will be following this closely to hold TfNSW to account and to make sure the best outcomes are won for workers and commuters.
Ramping up media coverage of our bus system will help expose systemic industry issues, be it two-tiered systems, low pay, and payslip problems. For coverage of this story:
