NSW: Trains between Sydney and Canberra to resume on Monday

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NSW: Trains between Sydney and Canberra to resume on Monday

SYDNEY, Aug 28 AAP - Trains between Sydney and Canberra will resume on Monday afterbuses replaced the services when staff numbers were crippled by illness and fatigue.

CountryLink Xplorer was forced to replace three daily return services with buses earlierthis month while it boosted onboard crew numbers decimated by staff shortages, sicknessand overwork.

But StateRail chief executive Vince Graham said seven new onboard staff would completetheir training in the week commencing September 1, with another four staff scheduled tofinish by the end of the month.

"With more staff, we are now in a position to resume two of the three train services,"

Mr Graham said in a statement.

"Two rail services in each direction between Sydney and Canberra will resume from Monday."

The NSW opposition blamed the service cancellation on mismanagement, but Mr Grahamhad said the temporary cancellation of the services were due to seasonal sickness andfatigue.

The resumed services would depart Sydney at 7.05am and 11.44am and Canberra at 12.15pmand 5.15pm (AEST).

However the services which had left Sydney at 6.15pm and Canberra at 6.45am would notresume on Monday due to the staff problems.

These would be reviewed at the end of October, Mr Graham said.

"Any decision will be subject to both staff availability and patronage demand on thecorridor," he said.

AAP ld/nf/cjh/jlw

KEYWORD: XPLORER