Commuter rail services across south-east Queensland will continue to run at reduced capacity despite progress in pay talks with unions.
Queensland Rail says it has reached an in-principle deal with unions on Tuesday (June 30) on three enterprise agreements after intensive talks.
A statement says that there are conditions to the agreements that have to be agreed upon and which they are continuing to talk about.
It said these conditions include an 8% wage increase over three years, an extra cost-of-living relief payment (up to 2.5% over three years), an allowance for completing major projects and backpay dating back to June 1, 2026.
The three in-principle agreements cover almost 3500 employees, Qld Rail says, and cover administration, tourism and stations.
It will be subject to approval from its board and the state government.
COMMUTER PAIN TO CONTINUE
The remaining agreements cover train drivers, network, rollingstock and a proposed electrical-only one.
“The reduced South East Queensland (SEQ) rail timetable will continue due to a backlog of rollingstock maintenance and these ongoing negotiations,” the statement reads.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union told ABC News Brisbane that they will continue to talk to Qld Rail; click here for that story.
The weekday commuter timetable across Brisbane and Gold Coast has been pared with three-car services running at capacity, prompted by a backlog in maintenance work due to the strike.
Talks on updating the six agreements started in January but escalated in early April when strikes happened and disrupted major Cross River Rail track work.
The Fair Work Commission ruled that the unions’ action was protected and an attempt by Queensland Rail in May to get the commission to drop the ‘protected action’ status failed.
From Monday, June 1, regional train services also shifted to a reduced timetable.
MORE TRACK WORK
Meanwhile, extended track closures on the Beenleigh and Gold Coast lines will run until July 19 and have been timed with school holidays.
The works involve stabling yard and station upgrades, installing a new digital signal system between Beenleigh and Varsity Lakes; the start of work to duplicate tracks, upgrade stations and remove level crossings under the Logan-Gold Coast Faster Rail project; and platform construction, signalling and track works for the relocation of Loganlea Station.
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