Sydney siders are to enjoy a week of free public train travel as the State works to prevent further industrial action.
The move follows a protracted dispute between the State Government and the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) over safety issues concerning the New Intercity Fleet and workers’ pay and conditions.
Providing details on the week of free travel, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) said travel was free for commuters on all Opal network services operated by Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink, Airport Link, and Sydney Metro across NSW – backdated from 12.01am Monday (21 November) until 11.59pm Friday (25 November).
“Transport for NSW will automatically refund any rail customers that are charged a fare during the fare free week back to the Opal card or credit/debit card that was used to tap,” TfNSW said.
“The NSW Government implemented fare free travel to prevent the Rail Tram and Bus Union’s planned industrial action across the rail network next week and the inconvenience it would have caused to commuters across Sydney,” it said.
“The RTBU has since agreed to stop the planned industrial action next week.”
TfNSW said Opal gates and readers at train stations would be turned off during the fare free period, meaning customers will not need to tap on and tap off.
However, it said commuters on all other services including bus, ferry and light rail, must tap on and off as normal with fares to continue to be charged.
The RTBU had threatened that trains would run on a weekend timetable this week unless the Government met one of the union’s two demands.
This included giving customers fare free travel, which Premier Dominic Perrottet has now committed to.
“This has gone on for way too long,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Providing free travel for the week will ensure that industrial action does not occur.”
