AUSTRALIA: Queensland Rail has reached an in-principle agreement covering more than 270 train controllers, but a rollingstock maintenance backlog means South East Queensland passengers will remain on a reduced timetable.

Queensland Rail NGR train operating on the South East Queensland rail network
A Queensland Rail New Generation Rollingstock train on the South East Queensland network. Illustrative photo. Photo: Queensland Rail.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) and The Services Union (TSU) reached the agreement with Queensland Rail, according to ABC News. It is the fourth of six existing enterprise agreements to reach in-principle status, following three agreements reached at the end of June covering roughly half of QR’s workforce. Negotiations continue with the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union, which represents rollingstock employees and remains engaged in protected industrial action including rolling work stoppages and an overtime ban.

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Why the timetable remains reduced

Services have been running on a reduced schedule since May. From Aug. 17, Queensland Rail restored 135 weekly train services to the existing reduced timetable. But QR said directly that it does not expect the train controller agreement to allow the return of additional services at this time, because ongoing AMWU industrial action has left a backlog of rollingstock maintenance that prevents full-service running. The train controller deal itself includes an 8.5% wage increase over three years and a “strategic delivery allowance” described as an incentive to deliver major projects; TSU deputy secretary Rebecca Girard said the agreement also secures new safety-assessment requirements for introducing new technology. The final offer is still subject to approval from the Queensland Rail board and the state government.

What to watch

Watch for progress on the AMWU’s rollingstock agreement specifically, since both Queensland Rail and Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg have identified that dispute — not the number of unions still bargaining in general — as the direct cause of the continued reduced timetable. Also worth tracking is whether the 135 newly restored weekly services remain in place or are expanded before that agreement is reached.

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