NSW rail dispute: legal threats over union plan to turn off Opal card readers at train stations

State transport department seeking legal advice over plans by the Rail, Tram and Bus Union to switch off electronic gates

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The toxic industrial dispute between the New South Wales government and the state's rail union has again descended into legal threats, this time over plans to shut off the Opal card readers at Sydney's train stations.

As the two feuding parties met in the Fair Work Commission for a full day's hearing on Wednesday, the state transport department said it was seeking legal advice over plans by the Rail, Tram and Bus Union to switch off the electronic gates.

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