RTBU: Danger of easing 12 hour Shifts for Drivers

Lives will be put at risk if train drivers are forced to work shifts of more than 12 hours, the railway workers union says.

The Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) has called on the National Transport Commission to dump a recommendation that fatigue standards for train drivers in New South Wales be relaxed - currently there is a 12-hour cap on work - to improve flexibility and reduce regulation.

The current NSW cap is unique, but RTBU national secretary Bob Nanva said it should be extended nationwide as part of the move to have a single national rail regulator.

''Our concern is that uniform legislation across Australia should raise standards across Australia rather than reducing them to the lowest common denominator,'' he said.

In December 2009, federal and state governments agreed to implement a national rail regulator, which included fatigue risk management.

Ministers will discuss recommendations from the commission on May 18.

The RTBU has cited a Monash and Sydney university analysis that found removing shift limits was ''potentially dangerous''.