The RTBU has agreed to stop the planned industrial action next week, which would have led to the union refusing to operate more than 70 per cent of trains across the network.
Travel will be free on Sydney Trains, NSW Trainlink and Sydney Metro networks from 12.01am Monday, November 21, to 11.59pm Friday, November 25 and commuters will be asked to continue to tap on and off, but will not be charged.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the decision was made because commuters have to come first.
“People need to get to work, go to school and go about their normal day without being disrupted by union strike action, Mr Perrottet said.
“I’ve taken this action to put Sydney commuters ahead of union disruption and make sure businesses across our city don’t take a financial hit.
“On Thursday I had a very constructive meeting with Alex Claassens and the RTBU but it’s now time to remove barriers and take it all before an independent umpire for a resolution.
“Sydney commuters deserve nothing less.”
NSW Government estimates that the RTBU industrial disruption and strike action costs the economy between $10 million to $20 million a day.
On Tuesday, the NSW Government will enter into negotiations with the RTBU seeking to agree terms to start a Fair Work managed arbitration.
Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney David Elliott said commuters have had enough of disruptions to the rail network and just want to be able to go about their daily routines without additional cost or stress.
Free travel on Sydney train network
COMMUTERS will get five days of free travel on the train network across NSW next week to ensure they are not inconvenienced by planned industrial action by the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU).