TasRail workers are set to commence protected industrial action from Friday 12 December 2025, throwing the future of Tasmania’s rail freight network into doubt just as a new tourist service is due to open.
The Communication Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) and the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) confirmed strong support for strike action after prolonged negotiations with TasRail failed to deliver fair outcomes.
“After eight months of good faith bargaining, our members have had enough,” said Amanda Coleman, CEPU State Organiser. Coleman noted that TasRail workers face “unreasonable conditions and inadequate recognition” for their essential work, warning that the state-owned company may not be operational in the future if attraction and retention issues are not addressed.
RTBU State Secretary Mark Dunsby said members were left with no choice but to act, emphasising that they deserved an agreement built on respect and fairness after keeping Tasmania moving through different times.
The industrial action commences one day before the Tasmanian Transport Museum (TTM) officially launches the second stage of its Greater Hobart Heritage Rail Project. The launch, scheduled for Saturday 13 December, celebrates the reintroduction of passenger trains to Hobart’s northern suburbs for the first time in over 50 years.
Josh Willie MHA, Labor Leader and Alderman Sue Hickey, the Mayor of Glenorchy, are scheduled to launch the service. The inaugural journey will travel from Glenorchy Station to Berridale Platform, hauled by Steam Locomotive M5 and Diesel Locomotive Y4. Public rides are expected to start from Sunday 28 December 2025.
The TTM’s spokesperson had previously acknowledged the “assistance of… rail regulators” in getting the project operational—a detail that underscores the heritage line’s reliance on the broader network infrastructure and operational framework currently managed by the industrial-action-plagued TasRail.
Media release – Tasmanian Transport Museum, 9 December 2025
Back on the Rails – Tasmanian Transport Museum to Officially Open New Heritage Rail Tourist Service
TODAY (Glenorchy, Tuesday, 9 December 2025) the Tasmanian Transport Museum Society announced that on the morning of Saturday, 13 December 2025 at its museum site in Glenorchy, the museum will be officially launching a major extension to its current heritage tourist rail service.
A spokesperson for the Transport Museum said:
“After years of hard work by the museum’s small but highly dedicated volunteers and with the assistance of local government, contractors and rail regulators, the time has finally come to launch the long anticipated and significant extension to its highly popular heritage rail service.”
The launch will take place before an invited audience of volunteers, community members, contractors, members of the Tasmanian Parliament, special guests, and supporters, all of whom have made the project possible.
The service will be officially launched by The Honourable Josh Willie MHA, Leader of the Opposition, together with Alderman Sue Hickey, the Mayor of Glenorchy.
The launch will include a special service train from Glenorchy Station to Berridale Platform using two of the museum’s locomotive fleet – Steam Locomotive M5 and Diesel Locomotive Y4 hauling heritage carriages, AAL10 and SP4, both of which are nearly 100 years old.
The spokesperson also added: “The service will see passenger trains reintroduced to Hobart’s northern suburbs for the first time in over 50 years and, even more significantly, it completes the second stage of the Museum’s Greater Hobart Heritage Rail Project, which will eventually see tourist trains running all the way from Glenorchy to Granton.”
Subject to final sign-off by the museum, rides for the general public are expected to be available from Sunday, 28 December 2025, with bookings through the museum’s website.
Media release – Communication, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU), 8 December 2025
TasRail workers to commence Protected Industrial Action
TasRail workers have reached a breaking point after prolonged negotiations have failed to deliver fair outcomes on critical workplace issues. The Communication, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) and The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) have confirmed strong resounding support for both unions’ protected action ballots and protected industrial action set to commence from Friday, 12 December 2025.
“After eight months of good faith bargaining, our members have had enough,” said Amanda Coleman, CEPU State Organiser. “TasRail workers are the backbone of Tasmania’s freight network, yet they continue to face unreasonable conditions and inadequate recognition for their essential work.”
There is a clear attraction and retention issue at Tasmanian State Owned TasRail, if the CEO and the Board don’t address this, TasRail may not be operational in the future.
RTBU State Secretary Mark Dunsby said that members have been left with no other choice but to take action after repeated attempts to improve conditions and wages had failed.
“Our members signed off on their last agreement during very different times, soon after COVID hit our shores. Our members were critical to keeping Tassie moving and deserve an agreement that reflects the critical work they do – built on respect and fairness.”
“We don’t take this decision lightly, especially leading into the peak Christmas time,” Dunsby added. “However, it is necessary to ensure that we can get this agreement back on track and deliver a fair deal for TasRail workers.”
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