Sydney fireworks organisers urge visitors to make transport plans

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Trains in Sydney will run continuously for 46 over New Year’s Eve to service the massive crowds expected in the city. The planned operation is going ahead after ongoing industrial action was withdrawn by rail unions at the 11th hour.

Transcript

00:00Well, Ruby, New Year's Eve is undoubtedly the biggest night of the year in Sydney.

00:07Over a million people are expected to descend upon Sydney Harbour to watch the fireworks

00:12and Transport for NSW says preparations for the big night have been underway for many

00:18months.

00:19Now, it says that there will be continuous services operating for 46 hours from 4am on

00:24the 31st of December to 2am on the 2nd of January.

00:28That includes 1,000 extra trains, 29,000 buses and 600 Metro services, which is new

00:36from last year.

00:37The Metro only opened in Sydney earlier this year.

00:39There will also be extra staff in place as well.

00:42And it's not just Sydney, there will be more services in parts of regional NSW, including

00:48the Central Coast, Newcastle and also Wollongong as well.

00:51Now, the big fireworks in Sydney are the 9pm fireworks and also the 12am, the midnight

00:57fireworks.

00:58And in previous years, there have been issues with people trying to get home by public transport

01:04that tends to be a bit of a bottleneck at the train station when people are trying to

01:08depart from the harbour quite soon after those midnight fireworks.

01:12And Transport for NSW is urging people to plan ahead, to get to their destination early

01:18and to also plan how they're going to get home.

01:21And they're encouraging people to use the Metro and to use the buses rather than the

01:25trains.

01:26All of this nearly wasn't possible due to planned industrial action by the combined

01:32rail unions.

01:33Earlier this week, they withdrew some of their bans over New Year's Eve.

01:37And Transport for NSW says that there have been some negotiations taking place over pay

01:42conditions with rail unions, and they're not expecting any cancellations or delays over

01:48New Year's Eve.

01:49But they are expecting some strike action to take place from the 3rd of January.

01:54So a brief reprieve.

01:56As Transport for NSW had to say earlier.

01:59Our advice for passengers is to travel early.

02:02The event precincts, particularly Circular Quay and the lower North Shore, will be very

02:07busy.

02:08We're pleased that the major industrial action has been withdrawn by unions.

02:12That's really important to deliver an event like the New Year's Eve timetable over 46

02:17hours that we are working together, doing everything we do to ensure Sydney's sighters

02:22get home safely.

02:23So we're confident for New Year's Eve.

02:25There is still some residual industrial action that's occurring, even over this weekend.

02:30We're not seeing any major delays or cancellations as a result of that industrial action.

02:35It's a major event.

02:36That's why we have the top team in place.

02:42Now if you do plan to drive into the CBD or you actually live around the area and you

02:47own a car, Transport for NSW is reminding you that there are some clear ways in place

02:53and also road diversions.

02:55Last year, 220 cars were actually towed from Clearway.

03:00So it is a reminder for anyone who happens to be driving into the area.

03:03The Sydney Harbour Bridge will also be closed in the lead up to those fireworks on the big

03:08night.

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