This Saturday, only 20% of Britain’s trains will operate owing to a strike, and passengers are advised to only travel if essential.
On the eighth day of action over wages and conditions, RMT members at 15 train companies and Network Rail will strike.
Trains will depart late and arrive early, and it is anticipated that disruptions will last through Sunday morning.
The rail industry asserts that reforms are necessary to fund wage increases, while unions have urged the government to take action.
Mick Lynch, the general secretary of the RMT union, urged the incoming Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan over the weekend to “take urgent steps to facilitate a negotiated solution that satisfies our members’ objectives over jobs, compensation, and working conditions.”
Ms. Trevelyan told that she wants unions and train operators to “find a solution that we can all live with.”
She stated, “Nothing is ever perfect, negotiations are compromises, but our consumers, our passengers, must be at the center of every choice.”
Since beginning her position a month ago, the Transportation Secretary has visited with the RMT and Aslef union officials. She also informed me that she would be meeting with train firms in the coming weeks.
As a result of the Saturday timetable changes, the latest direct train from Newcastle to London will depart at 13:53 and the last train from London to Nottingham will depart at 16:32.
No direct trains will operate between London and Edinburgh; travelers must travel via Glasgow. In addition, there will not be any direct service between London and Norwich.
Now that reduced schedules have been released, travel planners such as National Rail Enquiries have been revised.
It will be the third day in just over a week of widespread rail disruptions. Multiple unions coordinated a walkout on Saturday, resulting in the operation of barely 11% of normal train services. Then, on Wednesday, some train operators ran no trains at all, when Aslef union members went on strike.
Network Rail’s signaling personnel in England, Scotland, and Wales are participating in the RMT strikes, thus even if train operators are not directly involved in the conflict, only a quarter of normal services can operate.
Tim Shoveller, the head negotiator for Network Train, stated: “Despite our best efforts to reach a solution and make progress in negotiations, the rail unions remain committed to continuing and coordinating their strike action.
“As a result, railway employees will unnecessarily forego even more of their income, passengers’ lives will be interrupted once more, and the railway’s recovery from the pandemic will be further hampered.”
Daniel Mann, head of industry operations for the Rail Delivery Group, which represents railroads, stated: “These strikes continue to impede leisure travelers, shift workers, and the numerous businesses that are grappling with rising expenses and decreased foot traffic. Additional actions by the RMT and TSSA leadership will hinder the railroad’s recovery from the Covid-19 epidemic.
He continued, “We want to give our employees a raise, but we need the leadership of trade unions to commit to reform to improve services and provide a fair deal for our employees, passengers, and taxpayers.”
The TSSA union holds smaller-scale strikes on Thursday and Friday.
On Saturday, services will be more constrained in some regions than on previous RMT strike days; for example, South Western Railway will not operate any trains south of Basingstoke due to engineering maintenance.
ScotRail RMT members are likely to participate in a strike on Monday. However, the union will gather on Thursday to discuss a new salary proposal.
