Stay informed and safe during the bushfire crisis

Teams across the state are doing us proud in restoring roads and services, putting in an extraordinary effort while working in incredibly tough conditions to support communities in responding to the bushfire crisis.

And the hard work and challenges for our people didn’t stop during the Christmas break.

Sydney Trains response crews have continued to work hard to assess the NSW fires damage on our train network and one of the major challenges they’ve faced is damage to the Blue Mountains Line between Mt Victoria and Lithgow.

This is a huge area taking in roughly 27km of railway line involving thousands of pieces of infrastructure, from overhead wiring and stanchions, to fibre optic cabling and signal relays deep underground.

Due to the bushfires there’s been extensive damage to signalling infrastructure, power poles, signalling relay huts and sadly - the loss of the heritage listed Newnes Junction signal box which had been standing since 1910.

Teams have already begun the mammoth task of repairing this infrastructure so that we can run trains as soon as possible. However, it's important to remember that safety of our staff and customers is our number one priority, and this may take some time. At this stage, there is no forecast for when the line will be able to reopen.

A huge thank you to all of our staff who have been working to keep people moving. From frontline NSW TrainLink customer service staff and train crew, to Sydney Trains infrastructure workers and response crews.

Please visit transportnsw.info for the latest disruption information.

Hi everyone,

As many of you are starting to return from leave following the Christmas closedown period, I would like to acknowledge the bushfire crisis that has continued across the state throughout the holiday season.

Working in partnership with other government agencies, our people have done us proud in restoring roads and services while working in incredibly tough conditions.

Their work has allowed people and goods to move in and out of regions before the next potential fire threat. For some, this effort has been sustained for several months. I am truly grateful and would like to thank every one of you.

Unfortunately this is not yet over and we will continue to work closely with our colleagues across government to keep people and property safe.

The State of Emergency remains in place and we are continuing to work with NSW Police and NSW Rural Fire Service to provide ongoing transport advice and logistical support, as we always do for this type of emergency response. The TfNSW State Emergency Coordination Group is now in operation at the Transport Management Centre to manage the Transport response across the state.

Over the coming days and weeks we will hear stories of great acts of courage, kindness and service from people in our communities. I know included in these will be stories of our people who supporting their communities during this emergency.

I saw this first hand as I travelled through the south coast last week, passing the devastation in places like Mogo and visiting the emergency centre at Moruya. I was incredibly touched by how every Transport person I talked with showed great care and compassion for the communities we are supporting. Everyone also deeply understood how important it is for these communities that our response is timely and joined up across government.

With the unprecedented scale of these bushfires, I already know that many of our people have been personally impacted, or have friends and family who have been affected. During this worrying and stressful time I would like to think that we will care for each other as sensitively as we are caring for the communities we serve.

If you have been impacted and need to make alternative work arrangements, please speak with your manager. If you know of colleagues who have been impacted through the fires, please reach out and support each other in the ways that you can.

And if you have been volunteering your time to support our emergency services, know that we will support you with paid special leave.

Many people have asked how you can provide practical support. The NSW Rural Fire Service has provided guidance for those who would like to contribute.

While our teams across the state put in extraordinary effort to support communities in responding to the bushfire crisis, it’s critical that you all continue to prioritise your personal safety while the emergency situation remains in place.

As you return to work, it’s important to make sure your journey to and from work locations is safe. If you’re working in or travelling around a fire affected area, please keep up to date and follow the latest advice from NSW Police or NSW Rural Fire Service and plan ahead at livetraffic.com .

The bushfires have severely impacted transport infrastructure and it may take us several weeks, or even months, to repair. But right now as the emergency continues, please stay safe and look out for each other.

If you are affected by the bushfires and need to access government services to support recovery, please see the Office of Emergency Management Bushfire Recovery Assistance fact sheet .

Rodd Staples

Secretary

With extreme temperatures expected throughout Summer, we are encouraging all of our employees to stay heat smart and be prepared.

We have plans in place to manage incidents during extreme weather, including advising our customers of conditions and monitoring the transport system for issues. But we also want you to look after yourself during the heat by following these simple tips:

Before and during a heatwave:

• Drink lots of water (always carry a bottle of water with you as by the time you feel thirsty your body is already dehydrating)
• Avoid hot or sugary drinks
• Know how to recognise the early signs of heat stress and take appropriate action: headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, thirst and heavy sweating
• Limit physical activity where possible
• Plan physical work to include extra breaks or job rotation (speak to your manager)
• Use the slip (wear appropriate clothing that covers the body), slop (apply SPF 30+ broad spectrum sun screen), slap (wear an appropriate wide brim hat), seek (work and rest in the shade where possible) and slide (wear appropriate sunglasses) principles at all times
• Plan your work journeys and try to stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day

After a heatwave:

• Continue to stay hydrated, even if you do not feel thirsty
• Continue to check on people who are most at risk

For more information, check out the Bureau of Meteorology's website .

And for the latest information on public transport go to transportnsw.info and for the most up to date road information, visit livetraffic.com or download the Live Traffic app.