How to get to uni during this week's industrial action

Transport for NSW have advised to allow for extra travel time and use of alternative modes of transport as strikes will impact light rail service daily from Monday 22nd to Friday 26th of July from 7:30am to 10:30am and from 3:30pm to 6:30pm.

Light rail frequency will be reduced for the L1 (between Central Grand Concourse and Lilyfield) and L2 (between Central Chalmers Street and Randwick). The L3 line (between Circular Quay and Juniors Kingsford) will not run at all. The L1 will not run from Lilyfield to Dulwich Hill in addition to the L2 not running from Central Chalmers to Circular Quay. Replacement buses will be provided on the L2 and L3 lines as well as between Lilyfield and Dulwich Hill.

In addition to these delays, previously scheduled maintenance work will take place on the L2 and L3 lines from 9:00pm to 1:00am on Monday to Wednesday.

Unlike most public transport networks globally, Sydney’s light rail is privately operated by the French conglomerate Transdev, with drivers and maintenance teams being employees of the company rather than the government. The Rail, Tram, and Bus Union, which represents the staff of most major public transport infrastructure in Australia, has been demanding a 23% pay rise for light rail staff over the last 4 years, citing frequent exhaustion and the rising cost of living in Sydney. Transdev, in turn, has offered an 18% pay rise, despite an revenue increase of 21% (to 9.33 billion euro) from 2022. Transdev was also involved in the strikes earlier this year, in response to reports that staff on the L4 Parramatta line would receive $5/hour less than their colleagues on the city light rail lines.

“Workers from all areas of Sydney are doing it tough and failing to recognise the financial pressures its workforce is not going to help solve the current impasse.”
- RTBU Tram and Bus Division Secretary David Babineua

How can I get to uni?

The L2 will be running at a reduced frequency between Central and Randwick.

Central Chalmers Street (Stand G) has a replacement bus to Alison Rd before Cowper St, which is approximately 10 minutes walk from the UNSW High Street light rail station. Alternatively, the substitute for Randwick (Belmore Rd at Avoca St) is a downhill walk to UNSW. These replacement services will run every 10-15 minutes.

For lower campus/L3, Central Chalmers Street (Stand G) has a replacement bus to the NIDA bus stand (also stopping at Moore Park bus stand). These will also run every 10-15 minutes.

Other public transport options include:

• The 392 from Redfern
• The 396 from Town Hall
• The 390X from Bondi Junction
• The 370 from Green Square