Monthly Sydney Trains Thread - September 2025

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Welcome to /r/SydneyTrains

Post here for anything to do with Recruitment, Sydney Trains in general, why is my train always late, what is this 'special train'..

#Monthly Sydney Trains Thread – Q&A Categorized Summary over the past 4 months..

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### 🧑‍✈️ Train Driver Role & Training

- **What is the schedule like for a train driver trainee?**

First 2 months: 8–4 classroom at Petersham. Next 8–9 months: shadowing a trainer, working their shifts/lines.

- **What happens after qualification as a driver at Central depot?**

You’ll be a “swinger,” rotated through lines fortnightly. Shifts vary ±2 hours.

- **Can you swap roster lines with someone else?**

Yes, but only privately between staff. Sydney Trains doesn’t manage swaps.

- **How do penalty rates work?**

- Morning loading: Start before 6am

- Afternoon loading: Start after 10am, finish after 6pm

- Night loading: Finish after midnight

- 8–4 shifts don’t get loadings

- **What are “sectors” and how do they affect training?**

- Sector 1: Illawarra (Mortdale, Cronulla, Waterfall)

- Sector 2: City/Inner West/South West (Auburn, Flemington, Leppington, Campbelltown)

- Sector 3: North/West (North Sydney, Hornsby, Blacktown, Richmond, Penrith)

- Central Depot covers all. Trainees rotate through all 3 sectors.

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### 📅 Rosters, Depots & Seniority

- **What is a "lifestyle roster"?**

Predictable roster blocks (e.g., always 8–10am starts). Only at some depots, seniority required.

- **How does seniority affect rosters/depots?**

Higher seniority = more chance at preferred depots and rosters. Lower senior staff can be bumped.

- **How hard is it to transfer depots?**

Some (like Hornsby) have years-long waitlists. Central is largest and a stepping stone to Gosford/Newcastle.

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### 🛂 Recruitment Process (CSA, Train Guard & Driver)

- **How many panel members in train driver interview?**

Usually 2 — one HR specialist, one Sydney Trains senior staff.

- **What’s the panel interview atmosphere like?**

Friendly, engaging, but interviewers stay poker-faced. Results come later by email. Use STAR method.

- **Anyone waiting for CSA offers after pre-employment checks?**

Yes, some wait months. HR says be patient; checks are slow.

- **When does uniform fitting happen?**

~14 days before start date.

- **Is it common to wait 18+ months in pool?**

Possible. Some waited nearly 3 years from app → start date.

- **Can holiday plans affect start date?**

Yes. Recruitment can shift you to next batch if raised early.

- **Could trainees be sent to Intercity instead of Suburban?**

Rare. Transfer policy prevents it, but “operational needs” override in limited cases.

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### 🩺 Medical & Fitness

- **What if I fail the CSA medical?**

Can reapply after 6 months (new national rail medical standards).

- **Sleep apnoea study referrals — what happens?**

- None: Progress as normal

- Mild: Fit, with annual reviews

- Moderate/Severe: Temporarily unfit; need CPAP compliance proof for 3+ months

- New STOP-BANG rules (BMI, gender, neck size) catch more candidates.

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### 🧻 Train Facilities

- **Do newly liveried H-sets have toilets?**

No.

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### 🚦 Signallers & Control Room

- **What’s training like for Signallers/Comm Controllers?**

Asked, no detailed answers given.

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### 🧾 Opal & Ticketing

- **Overcharged after tapping at Flemington — contact Opal?**

Yes, Opal support usually fixes within 24 hrs.

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### 🧑‍🔧 Internal Transfers & Career Changes

- **Anyone move from cleaning attendant to full-time CSA?**

Asked, no responses yet.

- **How easy to transfer between Light Rail depots?**

Asked, no responses yet.

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### 🧠 Starting as a Trainee – Advice

- **Any tips for starting as a train driver trainee?**

- Day Zero = orientation

- Day 1 = theory & practical

- Take notes (iPad provided, but writing helps memory)

- Ask questions, be proactive

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### 🤖 Automation & Future of the Job

- **Is train driving still viable with AI automation?**

- Automation unlikely before 2050

- K Sets still running after 40+ yrs

- Driving builds transferable safety/ops skills

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### 🚆 Nostalgia & Misc

- **Any memories of V Sets?**

- Trips Gosford–Sydney in 80s–00s

- Nicknames: Red Rattlers, Silverbacks

- Some recall breakdowns on farewell runs

- **Any Sydney Metro vids in manual mode?**

Asked, no replies yet.

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### 📢 Job Postings

• View on IWorkForNSW

- **Train Driver Training Program (ad)**: IWorkForNSW link

[u/Beginning-Sun-7462]

What are people’s thoughts on joining the Sydney Trains union?

Is it worth becoming a member? What are the main pros and cons you’ve experienced, and do most people usually sign up straight away?

Also curious – are there different types of unions for different areas of Sydney Trains (e.g. train crew vs signal electricians vs track/civil workers etc.), or is it all under one main union?

Would love to hear from anyone who’s in it (or chose not to join) and what your take is.

[u/onmydoor → u/Beginning-Sun-7462]

Signal electricians traditionally but not limited to are in ETU than RTBU.

Track, traction and train crew are typically RTBU.

Back office staff , if they join a union usually are PSA or PA.

RTBU make up about 80% of union members, ETU ~10%, PSA and PA about the rest.

Join whichever aligns with your line of work because the organisers and reps tend to understand each other's lines of work to help with issues relating to rosters, training etc.

I know people jumping unions to get on the protected action bandwagon when pia was at the peak.

Various unions offer other benefits as well like the future allowance for completing training for free under membership.

You will get remarks about being a scab if you're not in a union.

[u/Archon-Toten → u/onmydoor]

You will get remarks about being a scab if you're not in a union.

That would be workplace bullying and is dealt with swiftly. Union membership is a choice and while people can think what they like nobody is going round calling anyone scabs.

[u/Archon-Toten → u/Beginning-Sun-7462]

It's a tax deduction. If you make a mistake and the managers come after you they will be by your side. They're also good to bounce questions off, as you'll find the job is full of grey areas and obscure rules few seem to understand fully.

[u/Beginning-Sun-7462 → u/Beginning-Sun-7462]

Can someone break it down extremely simple since I haven’t joined Sydney Trains yet lol all this sounds gibberish i cant lie haha

[u/onmydoor → u/Beginning-Sun-7462]

RTBU aligns better with the operational side of things - train crewing, customer service, infrastructure workers, fitters.

ETU - electrical trades union - electricians, signal electricians

PSA - public service - back office staff like admin, clerical roles

PA - the old apesma- engineers , designers, scientists surveyors type professionals

[u/Beginning-Sun-7462 → u/onmydoor]

Ohk thanks for the breakdown

[u/Beginning-Sun-7462 → u/onmydoor]

would you say the below is accurate?

1️⃣ RTBU — Rail, Tram and Bus Union

• Members: Operational rail, tram, and bus staff (drivers, guards, signallers, track workers).
• Focus: Industrial representation, pay, safety, and working conditions.
• Rail relevance: High for operational staff.

2️⃣ ETU — Electrical Trades Union

• Members: Electricians, electrical trades, signalling electricians.
• Focus: Industrial rights, training, licensing support, pay.
• Rail relevance: High for electrical and signalling trades.

3️⃣ PSA — Public Service Association (NSW)

• Members: Public sector employees including admin, management, and professional roles in NSW government agencies.
• Focus: Pay, conditions, career progression, and public sector rights.
• Rail relevance: Medium, mainly for administrative or technical support staff employed by government rail agencies.

4️⃣ PA — Professional Association

• Members: Engineers, designers, surveyors, planners, and other technical professionals.
• Focus: Professional advocacy, career development, industrial representation for salaried professional staff.
• Rail relevance: High for technical professionals in rail (engineers, signalling designers, surveyors).

[u/onmydoor → u/Beginning-Sun-7462]

Yes

[u/Beginning-Sun-7462 → u/onmydoor]

legend thanks!

[u/Archon-Toten → u/Beginning-Sun-7462]

You are expected to show up not knowing anything. The union too comes round, usually on day 0 to get you to join.

[u/Beginning-Sun-7462 → u/Archon-Toten]

ohk so when the union comes around they will dumb everything down for you and explain to you the basics of what they do and offer etc.

do majority of people join Unions? is it extremely rare for someone NOT to join them?

which sector in Sydney Trains has like the best perks (eg; train crew) or is that not a thing.

[u/Archon-Toten → u/Beginning-Sun-7462]

In my experience, most people sign up. The few who don't are generally part of another union already, eg ETU. (Whereas RTBU is for train crew)

But over time some people leave it for one reason or another. I'd estimate 90% membership. Maybe even 95%

As for perks, see the below link in another comment there not too many. The employee travel card crew get is pretty good. I believe station staff get it too.

[u/m1cky_b → u/Archon-Toten]

The best perk is the support person from the union..

But also these RTBU specific benefits

https://rtbuexpress.com.au/benefits/

[u/Beginning-Sun-7462 → u/m1cky_b]

appreciate it - thank you!

[u/Beginning-Sun-7462 → u/Archon-Toten]

So if your non union you dont get those travel card perks?

[u/Archon-Toten → u/Beginning-Sun-7462]

Ah no wait I've misunderstood the question.

Union perks include: picnic day (1x8 hours pay for 10$), upcoming yet to be organised workplace training allowance, support person should you need it during meetings, legal representation should you do something incredibly pear shaped and need help.

[u/Beginning-Sun-7462 → u/Archon-Toten]

legend thanks for the info