[Unobtainable/Cancelled] Free Travel on Sydney Trains (3pm-7pm each Weekday)

BargainsGrabber on 17/10/2022 - 19:36
Last edited 20/10/2022 - 15:15 by 2 other users

Moved to Forum: Original Link

Opal card readers will be turned off for the afternoon peak later this week as part of the rail union's latest industrial action.

From this Thursday, train workers will switch the machines off between 3pm and 7pm each weekday, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) NSW said.

Gates at train stations across the state will be deactivated during these times indefinitely, the union said.

Mod note: RTBU has announced a postponement pending court case. Deal is moved to forums since the action did not go ahead as planned.

General Discussion

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Rail, Tram, and Bus Union
Rail, Tram, and Bus Union

Comments

  • staden on 17/10/2022 - 19:39
    +7

    Is this a deal?

    It is like saying, there will be nobody checking tickets at the cinemas on Friday, FREE MOVIES!

    Or there will be no security guard/cameras rolling at JB Hifi, free TV's for everyone.

    • noren7 on 17/10/2022 - 21:51
      +10

      I think there’s a difference between not tapping on (that is me committing an offence), vs I am literally unable to tap on (the machine isn’t working). So I don’t think those analogies make sense.
      Free travel for me, that’s worthy of a post tbh

      • odysseus on 17/10/2022 - 23:22

        Except only stations with barriers will be disabled (as reported so far), whereas poles will still be working. Hence, in your analogy it will still be committing an offence in those cases. Plus there are metro stations with barriers which I think will still be operational. So it's not as simple as saying they won't be working.

        Just like last time when some thought some barriers were open meant free travel, then found them still ticket checked or meeting barriers meant it didn't work out that way.

        • noren7 on 17/10/2022 - 23:42

          I did not say to not tap if the machine is still on. So, I think the point still stands! If the machine is on, tap, whereas if not, you can’t tap and cannot be fined

          • Tleyx on 18/10/2022 - 16:30

            @noren7: If you get to end and tap then yiu pay more

  • coast666 on 17/10/2022 - 19:44
    -5

    Opal card is running by 3rd party, so transport people can not turn off

    • vchoy on 17/10/2022 - 19:56
      +4

      The readers are 'operated' by the station staff - yes they can be disabled and turned off for 'safety reasons'.

  • Fat Horny Ghost on 17/10/2022 - 19:44
    -8

    Awesome deal :) Thanks you selfish unions for doing something good for the public for once

    • hippo2s on 17/10/2022 - 19:51
      +8

      I am not so sure this is good for public. Later the bosses go…'not enough profit, price increase!'

      • thatnewtechsmell on 17/10/2022 - 22:37
        +3

        Yeah, luckily bosses aren't just thinking that regardless of whatever happens..

  • Steven Reece Lewis on 17/10/2022 - 19:45
    +14

    If only the people working for the toll operators on NSW roads would go on strike too.

    • Xizor on 17/10/2022 - 21:45
      +3

      Alas, privatized. No need to strike just keep upping the tolls and raking in the billions.

  • markathome on 17/10/2022 - 19:52
    +1

    Wonder if this will apply to the Domestic Airport gates? I guess it has to since you won't be able to tap on.

    • drhip on 17/10/2022 - 20:08
      +3

      My understanding is that airport is private thus you need to pay for that

    • stan86 on 17/10/2022 - 20:19
      +6

      Or you will be forced to tap off and be charged the full fare.

      • noren7 on 17/10/2022 - 21:52
        +2

        If that happens, https://transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/opal/manage-your-opal… respond fast.

        • RockyRaccoon on 18/10/2022 - 10:24

          Just be careful here.

          Are we talking about the Full fare being.

          A: Fare plus airport fee or
          B: Maximum fare - being the default when you dont tap on/off. Plus the airport fee

          Adjustment would apply only for B, to the amount of the difference for the fare less the maximum rate. Not for the airport fee.

  • Geeeeky on 17/10/2022 - 19:57
    +4

    If only the bank employeez would go on strike and enable the atm to spit cash…

  • bibimbap on 17/10/2022 - 19:57
    +3

    What if you tap on before 3pm, can't tap off, get charged maximum fare?

    • bugsucher on 17/10/2022 - 20:07
      +2

      This happens quite often on buses when the Opal card readers only work intermittently. One then has to request for a fare adjustment.
      Not sure what would happen in this particular scenario, though.

      • Azro on 18/10/2022 - 07:38

        You tell them your route and they adjust it accordinly.

  • punk on 17/10/2022 - 19:58
    +13

    A better deal would be for the unions and the govt to get around a table and sort their crap out. The less we see of Claassens and all this politicking the better

  • TanedaR on 17/10/2022 - 19:59
    +10

    Industrial action is not a deal.
    just because you won't get caught, doesn't justify it. it's illegal.

    • pennypincher98 on 17/10/2022 - 20:08
      +5

      Well both yes and no.
      Industrial action is not a deal. That being said, there is no other option. You literally cannot tap on and RBTU said specifically if there are any machines on, tell them and they'll spring to action.

      It's not just leaving the gates open this time.

      • TanedaR on 17/10/2022 - 20:11
        +3

        My point is, this is not a legal deal.
        It's not a bargain, so it shouldn't belong to ozbargain front page.
        Perhaps the forum page or reddit is more suitable.

        • pennypincher98 on 17/10/2022 - 20:15
          +5

          It's more of a PSA yes but it's technically legal.

          Reporting "Other: PSA - Move to forums" would be more correct.

          • [Deactivated] on 17/10/2022 - 20:58

            @pennypincher98: I suppose it’s like all lanes are closed except “bus only”, you don’t have a choice and need to get somewhere

        • Techie4066 on 17/10/2022 - 22:05
          +2

          So what you're saying is that it'll be illegal to jump on a train at all during the industrial action? Interesting take.

    • Koffee on 18/10/2022 - 00:00
      +1

      unprotected industrial action is not a deal

      • sween64 on 18/10/2022 - 18:48

        Surely this is protected by FWA…

  • CyberMurning on 17/10/2022 - 20:01
    -6

    Just like last time thr giv will threatening legal and union backed down lol..

    Lets put all union to jail

    • bradenpd on 17/10/2022 - 20:35
      +4

      Without unions your working conditions would be significantly worse than they are. Unions are a good thing. Like anything though, there are some extremes.

      • paddyo on 17/10/2022 - 21:50

        A good Union supports and works for its members. This Union does no such thing. It was a BS reason for their action, they got what they asked for then changed their requests. This was NEVER about safety, it was about not having single driver trains…you know…like the rest of the world does.

        • Techie4066 on 17/10/2022 - 22:08
          +3

          The NSW Gov isn't committing to the safety change on the new train set in writing. A bit problematic for a union-gov agreement, let alone any agreement. Besides, why don't they just get on with the upgrade while all the drama is happening?? Seems they're looking for trouble…

          I think the pay-rise is fair though. It would be good if real wages weren't going backwards but at least for minimum wage earners, they'll only be stagnating.

          • paddyo on 17/10/2022 - 22:28
            +2

            @Techie4066: I would rather concentrate the government funds on giving a LONG overdue pay rise to the nursing professions.

  • shbshb on 17/10/2022 - 20:06
    +1

    I thought they tried this a few weeks ago but it was deemed illegal by the Industrial Relations court?

    • Leeroy1 on 17/10/2022 - 20:09
      +3

      It was because the union didn't allow their members to vote on whether they supported it. When they put it to vote, they had something like 97% of members vote in support of this action, so they're going ahead with it.

    • pennypincher98 on 17/10/2022 - 20:10

      It was because they were going to shut them off full time indefinitely. Now instead of being off 144 hours a week, they'll be off 20 hours a week.

      Government likely still isn't happy, but they've got 124 hours a week more revenue than they would've if they didn't block the union a few weeks ago.

  • V4lkyrie on 17/10/2022 - 20:08
    +2

    If they turn off the gate, how do we get out from commuter car park if we didnt fully done round trips?? Better pay for train than commuter car park which more expensive.

    • thekensai on 17/10/2022 - 22:35

      just block the exit until the dude over the helpline lift the boomgate for you

    • spamus on 17/10/2022 - 22:59

      You don't need a round trip, if you tap on for your morning commute that would be sufficient.

  • stan86 on 17/10/2022 - 20:16
    +5

    This will end up costing me more as I need to tap off at the metro station and will be charged the full fare because I couldn't tap on at a train station.

    • pennypincher98 on 17/10/2022 - 20:22
      +4

      I'm in the same boat. 9 News is incredibly brief (probably worst article to link out of the 10+). There's also
      - Ban on issuing fines (at least from 3-7pm)
      - All Station Opal Readers in NSW closed (apparently)

      The issues that haven't been thought out:
      - Starting your trip before 3pm and then being unable to tap off
      - Trips before 7pm unable to tap on, but technically travelling illegally after 7pm?
      - Commuter car parks

      • stan86 on 17/10/2022 - 21:50

        Exactly…There's going to be heaps of people being charged the full fare from starting the trip before 3pm and can't tap off / those who can't tap on and finish trip after 7pm.

      • xc on 17/10/2022 - 22:31
        -1

        Came here looking for this exact comment. Unions clearly didn't think this through

    • staden on 17/10/2022 - 21:05
      +4

      Just send your extra bill to the unions to pay, since they are doing it for the workers, I'm sure they would be happy to help you out /sarcasm.

    • bashar20 on 17/10/2022 - 21:32

      Yes this will be problematic between metro Only stations and combined train/metro stations.

    • Techie4066 on 17/10/2022 - 22:02

      I can only suggest voting for someone that doesn't think public-private partnerships belong in our transport networks. Might be inconvenient, but yes it's politicians deciding whether public transport is used for profiteering.

      • odysseus on 17/10/2022 - 23:27

        Even if they didn't, they can't just tear up an agreement in place.

        Any government demanded early termination will wind up costing taxpayers even more.

        • Techie4066 on 17/10/2022 - 23:34
          +1

          What I'm saying is we need a government majority that will prevent these agreements that subject commuters to decades of (or indefinite) profiteering from being proposed in the first place.

          They should've learnt from Green Square and Mascot Stations where the taxpayer is now footing the bill for Airport Link's share of revenue, since no one was using the station after opening when they could charge whatever they want (just like the price gouging on the exact same line at the airport terminals which forces people into taxis or the 420 bus - gives tourists a great taste of our "global city"). It repulses me.

  • machpety on 17/10/2022 - 21:04
    +4

    This might be more appropriately titled 'No Charge' rather than free. The lost revenue will end up costing the NSW taxpayer. The wages of the staff and cost to run the public transport isn't going anywhere while the Opal card readers are switched off

    • Techie4066 on 17/10/2022 - 21:57
      +4

      The lost revenue will end up costing the NSW taxpayer.

      Just as parks, and libraries, and a lot of infrastructure does. You might not use parks, libraries or specific infrastructure, but it's for the common good since all of society can utilise them, wouldn't you say? The role of government in providing public goods can't be taken for granted.

      Public transport users, through their taxes, have to partially subsidise automobile infrastructure and services despite not using them - I could go on and explain how that's terribly unproductive but I'll see myself out.

  • xoom on 17/10/2022 - 21:29

    Bargain. I will take 10.

  • CyberMurning on 17/10/2022 - 21:33
    +4

    imagine if the coles union do this, like closing all coles in australia. people will get angry and cursing them saying hey you have a job just do it why always ask for me, look down dont always look up.

    they are getting minimum wages.

    but here, $100k people asking for more $ and we support them ? come on…..

  • shortgum on 17/10/2022 - 21:54

    trains network only? is bus and metro included

    not bother asking, ferry not included

  • Techie4066 on 17/10/2022 - 21:54

    Hell yes, I was so disappointed when the last action was cancelled. Shame it isn't 24/7 but better than nothing.

    This is how public transport should be - permanently!

  • brongz on 18/10/2022 - 04:59

    Is this strike about pay rise (again)?

    How much do they make, the lowest paid staff? Compared to minimum wage earner??

    Seriously with free public transport perk they still better off than others.

  • pegaxs on 18/10/2022 - 07:02
    +1

    Abusing a loophole in industrial action is not a deal. And the title is misleading AF. It’s not “free travel.”

    • pennypincher98 on 19/10/2022 - 10:06
      +1

      Tbf this is free travel as there is no way to tap on.

      • pegaxs on 19/10/2022 - 13:58

        So, on that logic, if all the check out operators walked off their job at Coles, Woolies/etc and turned all the self serv checkouts off on their way out, does that make all the items in the store free?

        It's not "free" as it is not sanctioned by the government/owners. Inability to pay for something does not by virtue of this fact, make it "free".

        • pennypincher98 on 19/10/2022 - 16:32
          +1

          The security alarms would go off, the CCTV cameras are watching etc. Not the same at all.

          It is fare-free travel by its very nature. If you want to pay for fares, go on buses. The government is not endorsing it, but it is not blocking it which means the government is accepting it.

        • Techie4066 on 22/10/2022 - 01:17

          No because the store wouldn't be operating. Going by that analogy the train network would stop operating when readers are off but that's not the case.

  • shortgum on 19/10/2022 - 14:39

    not object the union. but I think it would be good at least to open one or two machines on. at a corner machine or whatever. then we don't need waste effort call up opal care to fix incorrect fare on travel prior or after 3-7pm for the normal tap on off.

  • pennypincher98 on 19/10/2022 - 19:31
    +1

    Lol another 11th hour government intervention. For people wondering

    If this gets rejected and union sent back to drawing board, they might try free travel again or they'll probably just start striking again as that's allowed.
    This government is all about buying as much time as they can get until the next election.

    • Windows7forever on 20/10/2022 - 07:13

      I wonder how many commuters will get caught out this time?
      This announcement was all over the news a few days ago, now they suspend it.
      There will be much confusion over this. If I received a fine I would likely be disputing it.

      • pennypincher98 on 20/10/2022 - 08:35
        +2

        I swear they do this on purpose to try and catch out people who were expecting it to be fare free travel.

  • Fat Horny Ghost on 22/10/2022 - 20:37
    +1

    On another note I am impressed someone returned my wallet I left on a seat :D

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