Further rail strikes look likely as the dispute over pay and working conditions continues.
On Friday, the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) rejected a "best and final" offer of a 9% pay rise over two years from train operating companies and Network Rail. It was hoped the proposal could end further rail strike action.
However, the RMT's general secretary, Mick Lynch, said the union had to reject "dreadful offers" on the basis that they do not meet members' expectations on pay, job security or working conditions. And after a consultation of his members he vowed to keep up industrial action for "as long as it takes".
Read more: LNER asked to 'take action' to ensure Newcastle United fans get to Wembley
But with thousands of Newcastle United fans set to travel down to Wembley next week for the Carabao Cup Final against Manchester United, an impending rail strike could cause huge disruption. LNER confirmed last week that train tickets between London and Newcastle on February 25 and 26 had already sold out due to "unprecedented demand".
Many travelling by train could face a last minute rush to secure alternative travel arrangements, should rail unions announce strike action on the day of the big game. So, what is the likelihood that this could happen?
On Saturday Mr Lynch told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the ballot process will begin "soon" and he is ready to meet with rail companies "early next week".
He said: "We will start that ballot process soon so that there's a continuous mandate. We hope we don't have to take any further industrial action. We will be working for a settlement. I am ready to meet the companies early next week and report back on whatever it is they have to propose to us."
But due to legal requirements, unions must give 14 days notice of planned strikes which means there should be no strike action on the weekend many NUFC fans will be travelling down to London.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper described RMT's decision to reject the latest proposals as "a kick in the teeth for passengers". He said it is clear "no realistic offer" will be accepted by the union as hopes faded that the dispute will be resolved any time soon.
Mr Harper said: "The RMT's rejection of these best and final offers is a kick in the teeth for passengers across the country and their own members, who having been ordered to take strike action are now being blocked from having a say on their own future.
"It is now clear that no realistic offer is ever going to be good enough for the RMT leadership."
The RMT said it will now seek further meetings with Network Rail and the Rail Delivery Group to try to achieve a negotiated settlement.
Mr Lynch said: "We have carried out an in-depth consultation of our 40,000 members and the message we have received loud and clear is to reject these dreadful offers. Our members cannot accept the ripping up of their terms and conditions or to have safety standards on the railway put into jeopardy under the guise of so-called modernisation.
"If our union did accept these offers, we would see a severe reduction in scheduled maintenance tasks, making the railways less safe, the closure of all ticket offices and thousands of jobs stripped out of the industry when the railways need more investment, not less.
"Our industrial campaign will continue for as long as it takes to get a negotiated settlement that meets our members’ reasonable expectations on jobs, pay and working conditions."
Tim Shoveller, Network Rail chief negotiator, said: "The RMT's leadership is condemning its members to a further round of fruitless, pointless and costly strikes, for passengers, for employees and for the economy. We have made multiple concessions, compromises and offers, while the RMT has shifted on nothing.
"It's time for a second referendum on our new, revised offer and time to end this and work together to rebuild our railway."
A Rail Delivery Group spokesman said: "Our passengers and many hard-working RMT members will be deeply dismayed that the union leadership has opted to reject our fair proposals without putting out a vote to their full membership in a democratic referendum.
"Having listened to the union's concerns during recent negotiations, we went back to the table with substantial changes to give colleagues a minimum pay increase of at least 9% over two years – rising to over 13% for the lowest paid – which they will now miss out on without even having had an opportunity to have their say. We removed driver-only operation and gave an improved job security offer.
"The railway’s financial crisis is not going away. We remain willing to engage, but the RMT leadership must now accept the urgent need to make the railway fit for the future for both our people, and the communities the railway serves."
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