Queensland commuters are facing a fresh wave of disruption from Tuesday, after the state government confirmed hundreds of Queensland Rail services will be paused or removed from the timetable amid ongoing industrial action.
Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said the temporary timetable would mirror weekend-style operations, with fewer trains running and significant gaps between services across the network.
From Tuesday May 5, additional services will run on some key lines at roughly 15-minute intervals during morning and afternoon peak periods, while off-peak services will run about every 30 minutes.
Queensland Rail confirmed the South East Queensland network will operate on a reduced timetable similar to a Saturday-style roster, with about 300 fewer weekday services operating until further notice.
The changes amount to a roughly 20 per cent reduction in services, with the network still operating about 80 per cent of its normal timetable.
Passengers have been urged to plan ahead and expect congestion, particularly during peak times.
“These temporary changes are going to have a considerable impact on Queenslanders. Queenslanders are rightly frustrated and angry … we’re also frustrated,” Mr Mickelberg said.
“My message to the unions today is to stop this strike action, get back to work and get back to the negotiating table,” Mr Mickelberg said.
Queensland Rail Chief Executive Kat Stapleton said the reduced timetable was necessary due to ongoing union protected industrial action affecting maintenance and train availability.
“We know rail travel is essential to get Queenslanders to school, work, appointments and the footy,“ Ms Stapleton said.
“We know our customers are frustrated, I am frustrated too. We want the unions to come back to the table and seriously consider the fair and reasonable and enhanced offer that we have presented.
She said Queensland Rail “wants to run a full timetable”, but is unable to due to the continued union protected industrial action.
“A reduced timetable is the best way to ensure as many services as possible can operate with the limited number of trains that we have available,” she said.
“However, with members of the Electrical Trades Union and the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union refusing to conduct maintenance on trains, it means we simply do not have enough trains to run our full timetable.
“With more customers delayed and freight services impacted, it’s time for this protected industrial action to stop.”
Ms Stapleton also confirmed there were no longer any track closures affecting the SEQ network, with the Banoon to Boggo Rd section reopening after extended planned works since April 3.
The latest disruptions follow a turbulent month for the network, after Brisbane commuters endured widespread rail chaos on April 1 when hundreds of Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) members walked off the job, shutting down key lines and preventing 180 passenger services from running, impacting about 20,000 travellers.
Queensland Rail said the industrial action has created a maintenance backlog, contributing to the shortage of trains available to operate services.
Under the revised timetable, Gold Coast, Cleveland, Redcliffe Peninsula, Springfield, Ferny Grove, Caboolture and Ipswich lines will generally run every 15 minutes during peak periods.
Shorncliffe, Beenleigh and the Sunshine Coast line between Caboolture and Nambour will operate every 30 minutes, while some shuttle services will also be reduced to half-hourly frequencies.
Outside of peak times, most services will run about every 30 minutes instead of the usual 15-minute weekday frequency.
Queensland Rail corporate affairs executive Nev Conway described the proposal as “new and improved”, but RTBU branch secretary Peter Allen said it did not represent a meaningful change from previous offers.
Industrial action escalated earlier this week after the RTBU rejected Queensland Rail’s latest proposal.
The union has confirmed members will refuse overtime and introduce restrictions on certain administrative duties.
In response, Mr Mickelberg warned maintenance workers who do not attend shifts will not be paid.
“This is not a lockout, we welcome rail maintenance workforce coming back to work and doing their job. But while Queensland commuters are being held to ransom by unions striking, those responsible should not be paid and Queensland Rail will be implementing that from this point forth,” he said.
Queensland Rail is urging customers to check the TransLink website and Journey Planner before travelling, with timetables being updated to reflect the reduced services.
Airtrain services are not affected by the changes.
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