Secretary’s wrap

Talks between the RTBU and NSW Trains about the New Inter-urban Fleet (NIF) have begun – and it’s clear that the NSW Government prefers to introduce driver-only operation (DOO).

Obviously, we believe the removal of guards would be an enormous safety risk both for rail staff and the community and place unnecessary and unwarranted pressure on Loco Division members. Members should rest assured that talks are in the very early stages and the RTBU has not agreed to any DOO operation.

We also heard the news last week that the NSW Government has awarded the contract to a consortium which would build the new NIF fleet in South Korea. This is a blow to local manufacturing jobs and to regional areas like the Illawarra or the Hunter which could have benefited from them.

To make matters worse, we’ve uncovered publicly available media stories about Hyundai Rotem’s disastrous projects in the US, Korea and the Ukraine which we have included in this edition for you to read.

Stay safe on the tracks

Bob Hayden
Loco Division Secretary