Rail strike will clog city’s roads, warns transport agency

Commuters can expect delays tomorrow when city train drivers go on strike.

Members of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union are taking strike action to protest against a decision to introduce driver-only operations on Auckland’s passenger trains.

The strike will start at 2am tomorrow and last for 24 hours. Auckland Transport's Chief Transport Services Officer, Mark Lambert, said Auckland Transport would not be able to put on extra buses in place of train services.

The agency was seeking limited additional buses to support some bus routes and ferry and bus services would operate as normal.

“We are sorry but with no trains operating, the roads will be busy and there will be delays,” Lambert said.

Union advocate John Kerr said the workers’ employer, Transdev, was refusing to back down on its proposal, despite mediated negotiations.

“This plan puts passengers and drivers at risk, and the only reason we can see for it is cutting costs and increasing profit.”

The proposal would mean train drivers had the responsibility for monitoring door operation as well as passengers, Kerr said.

Kerr said he regretted the inconvenience the strike would cause, but workers were determined they would not compromise on safety.

Michel Ladrak, managing director of Transdev Auckland, which employs the drivers, called the strike action “disappointing” and said it was unfortunate negotiations hadn't achieved anything.

“When it comes to ‘ driver-door operations' this strike on Friday won't change anything,” he said. “It doesn't give them more evidence about why it wouldn't be safe, it doesn't address the issue. So in that sense it's just very, very disappointing."

Rail workers in Wellington took strike action last month over Transdev’s attempts to change their working conditions and penalty rates for working weekends.

The strike was the biggest to hit the rail system since 1994. Commuters were told to consider staying home, and traffic chaos ensued.