Sydney's rail workers have voted in favour of a 24-hour strike on Monday, after union members rejected the terms of a new three-year agreement with Sydney Trains.
But chaos is expected to descend on the train network well before then, with a ban on overtime in place from Thursday causing Sydney Trains to reduce services "significantly".
So what should you expect for your Thursday commute?
A Transport for NSW spokesman told Fairfax Media trains will essentially be running to a weekend timetable, with all services reduced on Thursday.
That means trains will run every 15 minutes during peak hour, instead of every eight.
Due to planned industrial action, train services will be significantly reduced from Thursday 25th January and through the Australia Day long weekend.
More details here: https://t.co/XGKI5D4IXn pic.twitter.com/W4QHmuPnQ0??? Trains Info (@TrainsInfo) January 23, 2018
Sydney Trains is urging employers to talk to staff about making alternative arrangements to avoid their regular commute - such as working from home, taking annual leave, or changing their start and finish times to avoid the peak-hour crush.
People who are unable to make special arrangements should leave plenty of extra time to get to their work or other appointments.
For people with longer trips planned for the long weekend, intercity services will run to a Saturday timetable, and a number of NSW TrainLink Regional services will be replaced by coach.
It's not just train users who will be affected from Thursday. The disruption is expected to spill over onto roads and other public transport.
Roads, ferries and buses are all expected to be packed with people who would otherwise take the trains - so users of these are also asked to consider alternatives, like walking or working from home.
People travelling to the airport especially are warned to leave plenty of extra time, with traffic expected to be particularly heavy due to the long weekend and reduced airport trains.
The disruptions will continue into the long weekend, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to head to the city for Australia Day celebrations on Friday.
Commuters can use the TripView app to plan ahead, with timetable changes set to be updated ahead of Thursday. Additional information, including advice for Australia Day, the weekend and Monday, is available via the Transport NSW website.
Advice for commuters:
- Trains will run to a significantly reduced timetable;
- T5 Cumberland Line services are cancelled from Friday. A shuttle train service will run between Blacktown and Richmond.
- T6 Carlingford Line services are cancelled from Friday. Buses replacing trains between Clyde and Carlingford.
- Some additional services will be available to supplement Australia Day services and major events at Sydney Olympic Park after 4pm.
- You can use the Trip Planner to plan your trip for Thursday and Friday.
