Significant delays are expected on Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink services this afternoon.

All XPT services will be affected as part of the 'go-slow' initiative, in which rail workers will slow down the speed of trains, causing longer journeys and delays. The action has been put in place to highlight industry demands for wage increases and standard hour changes.

The Rail, Train and Bus Union (RBTU) want a 32 per cent pay increase over four years and a 35-hour working week. Workers also want annual leave increased to five weeks for non-shift workers and six weeks for shift workers, plus long service leave to be available after seven years. In June 2024 the state government offered workers and 11 per cent pay increase over three years, which was rejected by the union.  

Minister for Transport, Jo Haylen, NSW Secretary Josh Murray and Chief Executive of NSW Trains, Matt Longland, held a doorstop conference at Martin Place yesterday to outline the government's current offer to unions.  

"This offer is 13 per cent across the four years, plus one per cent in Super and one per cent through the mutual gains bargaining process that has been a result of agreement to merge our rail entities, Sydney trains and New South Wales trains over the course of the agreement."  

However, the pay increase could impact staffing numbers.

Murray stressed the offer is limited in terms of time and the NSW government has asked the rail union to give a principle response by tomorrow.

"If uncertainty continues, the traveling public expects certainty, and our workforce also wants to understand how they take this forward in the shortest possible of time. In the shortest possible time, we have asked for the rail unions to come back to us and give us an in principle response by Thursday."