For the next two Mondays, commuters will be able to ride trains for free as part of ongoing industrial action led by the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) and its members.

As part of the union’s attempts to secure a new enterprise agreement, station staff will keep ticket barriers open on August 12 and 19, when authorised officers will refuse to check Myki tickets and booking-office staff will refuse to sell or upload Myki cards.

Additionally, from August 12 to 18, train drivers will refuse to alter services outside of timetable schedules. This move is to avoid the practices of station skipping, diverting trains around the City Loop, and short shunting (when passengers are forced to disembark before reaching their destination). Metro Trains can face penalties of up to $1.25 million each month if it fails to run 92 per cent of trains on time.