NSW premier backs train fare refund as Sydney disruptions drag on

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NSW Premier Chris Minns believes hundreds of thousands of commuters should have their train fares refunded after major disruptions on Sydney’s rail network due to ongoing industrial action.

The premier said “they should” when asked if commuters ought to be refunded for the “chaos” on the network over the last two days.

“We’re going to be looking at that very closely,” Mr Minns said.

“But my main objective at the moment is to get an end to ongoing industrial disputes that [are] wrecking the NSW economy.”

Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray said a total of 1,900 train services were cancelled over the course of Wednesday, which he said equated to around 50 per cent of all services.

Mr Murray said the department expected a total of 1,000 services to be cancelled on Thursday.

He said the cancellations were due to a combination of the rail union’s various industrial bans, which were reinstated yesterday and because of the storm that swept through Sydney overnight.

The opposition said commuters deserved their money back immediately and called for train fares to be scrapped until timetables could return to normal.

“Refund the fares, make travel free until this chaos is fixed, and stop the blame game,” Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said.

Passengers have been left frustrated with the delays on Sydney trains this week. (ABC News: Mark Davies)

Commuters back refund for train disruptions

Most Sydney commuters who spoke to the ABC welcomed the idea of having their fares reimbursed.

Arriving at Central Station for work, Muhammad Rahmn said his usual 30-minute trip became a three-hour trip and believed people should be repaid for their wasted time.

“Because we are wasting too much time on the way [to work] only and the way home as well so, yes, I think they should [provide refunds],” he said.

A middle-aged man wearing a suit smiles at the camera.

Muhammad Rahmn’s commute has been severely impacted by the industrial action. (ABC News: Warwick Ford)

At Lidcombe Station, 16-year-old’s Ramen Atah and Roberto Porrello both agreed that it didn’t make sense for commuters to have to pay for services that didn’t get them to where they needed to go.

“Seriously, I paid to get the train and then what? I’m going to sit on the train for an hour-and-a-half and not even get to where I’m trying to go — and I’m going to pay for that?” Mr Porrello said.

But some commuters, like John McClean, believed the cost of refunding everybody would not be worth the effort.

“Well, I’m no economist but I think that would cost the government a hell of a lot of money,” Mr McClean said.

An old man wearing glasses and a blue jumper with a satchel bag.

John McClean believes the economic consequence for the NSW government to pay back commuters isn’t worth the hassle. (ABC News: Warwick Ford)

Alison Williams was hoping to get from Lidcombe to Coffs Harbour but had to spend another night with a family friend after learning her connecting train had been cancelled.

Ms Williams said fares should have been scrapped yesterday.

“I’m quite surprised they didn’t just turn it off yesterday because it was really, really bad — I was quite surprised actually,” she said.

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