The Minns Labor Government has once again failed to deliver a reliable transport network, with Sydney Trains recording a dismal 81.6% on-time performance for February—falling far short of the 93% target for services arriving within five minutes of the scheduled time.
This latest failure comes despite a break from disruptive union strikes, proving that Labor's mismanagement runs deeper than industrial action. Meanwhile, Sydney Metro commuters faced reduced services on Monday with no warning, and bus reliability in the North Shore and St George areas continues to deteriorate.
Since Labor took office, Sydney Trains has only met its on-time target twice, with the last successful month being January 2024. Transport for NSW's own data shows that under the previous Government, commuters were consistently provided a more reliable service before Unions NSW boss Mark Morey declared 2022 the "year of the strike."
While Labor blames union action for the chaos, the reality is that Sydney Trains and Transport for NSW are failing under their leadership. Commuters across Sydney can see it for themselves.
Instead of taking responsibility, the Government desperately tried blaming a 2017 timetable change—a feeble excuse that does nothing to address the real issue: a lack of a plan and leadership.
In 2023, the Government was warned that its hand-picked Transport Secretary was an "operational risk", with the Secretary himself admitting he had no experience running a transport network.
Shadow Transport Minister Natalie Ward said:
"Has there ever been a time when Sydney's transport network was this unreliable?
"The Government has spent a fortune on endless reviews, yet commuters are only getting more delays and worse services. What is the plan?
"Labor is about to pay a ransom to the unions, yet there is no talk about improvements in reliability or productivity—the two things that matter most to commuters and taxpayers."
Member for Oatley Mark Coure said:
"Locals in St George and the South have had enough of unreliable transport services. Whether it's train delays, reduced bus services, or Metro disruptions, this Government has no plan to fix the mess they've created.
"The Minns Government has spent a fortune on reviews and excuses, but commuters don't need more spin—they need real improvements. When will Labor take responsibility and start delivering results?"
