Rail network loses 273 services, commuters warned of slower, crowded trains

South-east Queensland commuters have been warned to expect delayed services, longer travel times and crowded trains from next week as a wage dispute between unions and the state government continues.

From Tuesday, the rail network will run with 273 fewer services – a capacity of about 80 per cent – on a timetable similar to those offered on Saturdays.

This will mean 15-minute services for the Gold Coast, Cleveland, Redcliffe Peninsula, Springfield, Ferny Grove, Caboolture and Ipswich lines, a drop from usual services every six to 10 minutes.

Other lines including Shorncliffe, Beenleigh, the Sunshine Coast between Caboolture and Nambour, Rosewood and Eagle Junction will run every 30 minutes.

Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said efforts were being made to reduce the impact on lines with the greatest patronage, including extra services during morning and afternoon peaks, but he warned commuters to expect disruptions.

“The trains will be more crowded [and] it will be slower as more people are required to move in and out of the trains,” he said.

Outside of peak hours, trains are expected to operate on 30-minute intervals instead of 15 minutes.

Services were being cut because of “a backlog of maintenance, unaddressed service faults and delays to critical component overhaul projects”, which Mickelberg said was a direct consequence of the industrial action.

“My message to the unions today is, stop your strike action. Get back to work and get back to the negotiating table,” he said.

An Electrical Trades Union spokesperson said their members had intended to come to work to perform some of their duties, but had been told they would not be paid by Queensland Rail.

“Instead of allowing our members to come to work and perform some work, they have elected to push our membership out of the workplace and have all maintenance scream to halt,” they said.

“The LNP government and Queensland Rail are using the public and train services as a pawn in their ridiculous political campaign.”

Queensland Rail chief executive Kat Stapleton said she shared the frustration of commuters who had faced disruptions.

“Queensland Rail wants to run a full timetable, but we can’t do that during this continued union-protected industrial action,” Stapleton said.

Seven unions are engaged in wage negotiations with Queensland Rail. All rejected the latest wage offer at a Fair Work Commission meeting on Monday, and vowed to continue “low-level action” causing “minor disruptions” in coming weeks.

Mickelberg said many trains were still offline after union action to date, and some parts of the rail maintenance workforce had been issued with section 471 notices – meaning they would not be paid if works were not completed.

“Those who are striking right now, if you’re not doing your job, we won’t be paying,” Mickelberg said.

“This is not a lockout. We welcome the rail maintenance workforce coming back to work and doing their job, in which case they will be paid.”

Unions are due to meet with Queensland Rail again on May 7.

Queensland Rail said the network’s Journey Planner would be updated overnight.

Mickelberg said extra bus services would fill gaps, but noted constraints given the time of year.

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