Queensland Rail reaches deal with train controllers

• Queensland Rail has reached an in-principle agreement with unions representing approximately 270 train controllers after months of negotiations.
• Despite this progress, train services in south-east Queensland will continue to operate on a reduced timetable while negotiations with other unions remain ongoing.
• Full service restoration is currently delayed by a rollingstock maintenance backlog caused by industrial action and overtime bans from the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union.

Queensland Rail has taken a significant step toward resolving ongoing labor disputes by reaching an in-principle agreement with unions representing approximately 270 train controllers. Despite this breakthrough with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) and The Services Union (TSU), commuters in the south-east should expect the current reduced timetable to remain in place for the foreseeable future.

The deal follows months of negotiations overseen by the Fair Work Commission, which began in May after six enterprise agreements between Queensland Rail and seven different unions expired. While progress has been steady—including a deal reached with half of the workforce in June—the network continues to face operational hurdles that prevent a return to full capacity.

The primary obstacle remains ongoing industrial action by the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU), which represents the staff responsible for maintaining the rail fleet. Their current campaign of rolling work stoppages and overtime bans has created a significant maintenance backlog. Queensland Rail confirmed that because of these constraints, the new agreement with train controllers will not yet result in additional services being added to the schedule.

While 135 weekly services were restored this week to provide some relief to the network, the system is still operating well below its peak. Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg expressed the government’s frustration, stating that Queenslanders want a reliable train network rather than prolonged industrial disputes. He noted that while the agreement with the RTBU and TSU is a positive development, the AMWU’s continued action remains the deciding factor in restoring the full timetable.

The state government and Queensland Rail are urging the remaining unions to finalize their agreements quickly. They maintain that the sooner these disputes are resolved and the maintenance backlog is cleared, the sooner the network can return to providing comprehensive rail services across the entire south-east network.

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Original article and photo by "ABC News"