However, she said the disruption would be worse for other commuters who rely heavily on trains to get about, especially those who travel long distances.
The Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line, as well as the South Coast line that was also impacted, connects Bondi Junction to Bomaderry, south of Wollongong.
Sydney Trains said a “very limited” number of buses had been arranged to replace trains, and would run about every 30 minutes.
While the workers’ stoppage will end at 4pm, the rail operator has advised commuters to allow plenty of extra time while train services gradually return to normal. The timetable is expected to be fully operational by about 8pm.
Rail workers and the government show few signs of ending their stand-off over union demands for modifications to the state’s intercity train fleet and a new pay deal.
A meeting that was due to be held on Tuesday between Transport Minister David Elliott and rail union leaders was postponed until late on Thursday because the minister was sick.
Unless a deal can be reached, commuters face major disruptions on the T3 Bankstown, T8 Airport and South, and the Southern Highlands lines on August 17 when another six-hour stoppage by workers is due to occur.
Platforms at Bondi Junction station were deserted shortly after 9am on Wednesday.Credit:Rhett Wyman
The following week – on August 23 – stoppages will disrupt the T1 North Shore and Western and the T9 Northern lines, as well as both the Blue Mountains and the Central Coast and Newcastle lines.
It will be followed on August 25 by stoppages on the City Circle line, and culminate in a refusal by rail workers to operate foreign-built trains on August 31. Foreign-built trains make up about three-quarters of the state’s rail fleet.
The resumption of major protected industrial action on Wednesday follows weeks of disruption to the rail network in June and early last month.
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The NSW government suffered an embarrassing defeat early last month in its efforts to stop unions taking industrial action across Sydney’s rail network.
On July 9, the Fair Work Commission dismissed the government’s bid to suspend industrial action for 10 weeks, rejecting “inexplicable” claims that it was harming the state’s economy.
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