Sydney train turmoil set to worsen as residents warned of lengthy delays

State considers legal action as RTBU accuses politicians of trying to sway public opinion' against them

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The chaos across Sydney's train network caused by industrial action on Wednesday is expected to worsen on Thursday, as a standoff over a new pay deal between rail unions and the New South Wales government drags on.

Trains on some lines were delayed by up to five hours on Wednesday, with rail authorities warning more than 1,000 train services could be cancelled amid a shortage of staff to operate trains, as they observed a range of work bans and industrial action that the state transport minister, Jo Haylen, described as strangling" the network.

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