Trade unions say 'get our trains back on track'

”Let’s hope this train isn’t one of those new ones.”

Standing on the platform at North Wollongong railway station that’s what a young woman said to me as we waited on Saturday for the 11.49am to arrive to get us to Sydney.

Amid the response to last week's story – with commuters petitioning for action to prevent what many say is the loss of streamlined rail services with the arrival of new Mariyung trains – there seem to be few travellers who feel what’s coming is an improvement.

Unions step in to support

The trade union movement has responded quickly to complaints there was little or no consultation with the travelling public before the phased-in changes were announced in April.

“Let’s get our trains back on track,” the South Coast Labour Council called out on a weekend Facebook post. The SCLC has combined with Unions Shoalhaven and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union to offer commuters two opportunities to air their concerns at public meetings in Bomaderry and Kiama later this month.

“New trains are good, but for many Illawarra and Shoalhaven commuters recent changes are making the journeys longer and harder, and not moving on long-promised improvements, particularly on journeys to and from Bomaderry and Kiama,” the SCLC social media post said.

'Not the steam age'

“Train travel in this region hasn’t got any quicker in 100 years,” SCLC Secretary Arthur Rorris told the Illawarra Flame.

“There is no doubt the new trains are newer and more comfortable, but we’ve got to get back to first principles. The objective when you board a train is to get from A to B as quickly as possible.

“At the very least, we should maintain the same level of service. It’s important to look at the big picture. We are talking about 2026, not the steam age, and if we’re trying to get access to airports it’s not unreasonable to expect just one change, not two as is being proposed."

Arthur said it was decided to give the people most impacted by the changes the first opportunity to have their say.

“We wanted to start where there’s the highest level of disadvantage. The people boarding at Bomaderry will have to change at Kiama and then twice more on their way to the airport,” Arthur said. “Our community won’t accept a lesser service.”

He is convinced there are better ways to solve the problems connecting South Coast commuters with Sydney destinations.

“At present, they’re effectively penalising Illawarra commuters in their efforts to untangle the Sydney rail system. I don’t see why the Illawarra should bear all the cost for that untanglement.”

Public meetings planned

Arthur said local MPs and the business chambers would be invited to the public meetings to listen to people's concerns, in the hope that experts who attend might suggest some solutions.

The public is invited to attend the meeting at Bomaderry Bowling Club on Monday, 15 June and at Kiama Leagues Club on Tuesday, 16 June. Both meetings will begin at 6pm.

Arthur said the SCLC also planned to hold more public meetings in the north of the Illawarra to ensure everyone was given their say.

Anger over airport changes

To date, the majority of complaints have been about commuters travelling to and from the airport no longer being able to make a single change at Wolli Creek.

As reported in The Illawarra Flame, Opal card activations reveal the number of South Coast train journeys directly affected could be over 100,000 a year.

Woonona train traveller Dawn Peacock has organised a petition calling for a better service than what’s being promised. “It’s not acceptable,” Dawn said. She believes many commuters are still unaware of how the changes will impact their travel once the changeover is finalised towards the end of the year.

There’s concern also about overcrowding and seats that face backwards, according to Facebook posts to The Illawarra Flame since our story broke.

“We had to travel from Thirroul to Sydney on the new train and had to stand all the way. We’re in our seventies” – Cheryl Hermann

“Hate the non turning seats" – Jack Draper

“Who would have thought in 2026 it would come down to this" – Gail Chambers

“Once again, bureaucrats not listening to the people who use the service.” – James Millar

“The politicians don’t travel by train.” – Pamela Clark

Not everyone was concerned about the changes. Levi Garry commented that our interviewees were "retirees paying a heavily subsidised fare", saying: "Whilst the voice of the elderly is important, a balanced article would also consider the impact to the overwhelming majority of those impacted – workers who commute to the city."

Local state MPs Ryan Park and Paul Scully have publicly acknowledged not everyone will be satisfied with the changes in the timetable, but suggested it’s the price commuters look like having to pay to receive more regular 15-minute peak hour services.

Both politicians said they would try to find options to minimise the inconvenience as more of the new services are rolled out.

“While the introduction of the new Mariyung fleet brings much-needed modern amenities, increased capacity, and improved overall reliability to the South Coast line, we know that any adjustment to commuting routines causes understandable frustration,” Mr Park said.