Year of train pain

COMMUTERS will be facing delays and disruptions every weekend for the next year or more with Sydney Trains carrying out a massive maintenance program.
NSW Minister for Transport, Jo Haylen, said the works were in response to the Sydney Trains Review, which made 12 recommendations for restoring reliability to the network “after a series of disastrous failures that left thousands of passengers stranded without trains”.
She said the Government had “no choice” but to carry out the works because “it’s the only way to get it fixed and have reliable trains again”.
“Millions of people depend on our trains. In recent times the service has become sub-standard due to system failures caused by the neglect of maintenance,” she said.
“People have lost faith in the system. They’ve been burnt too many times.
“We have to fix our rail network and it’s going to take a massive effort.”
The work will be around the clock from midnight Friday to midnight Sunday.
“I want to be totally honest with everyone – for the next year or so we are going to massively disrupt the network on weekends while our crews get in and fix it,” Ms Haylen said.
“If you use trains on weekends, I’m sorry but you’re going to find yourself on buses – a lot.
“It’s a year or more of pain but it will deliver the huge, world-class train system Sydney needs and deserves.”