Some 40,000 Network Rail and train operator workers will go on a weekend strike, their union has announced.
RMT set the new date, Saturday, October 8, as part of a long-running dispute over jobs, pay and working conditions. The 24-hour action, which will effectively shut down the railway network, will follow two pre-planned strikes already running on October 1 and 5.
General secretary of the RMT, Mick Lynch, said it was encouraging THAT new Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP had met with the union.
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He continued: "We welcome this more positive approach from the government to engage with us as a first step to finding a suitable settlement. However, as no new offer has been tabled, our members have no choice but to continue this strike action.
"We will continue to negotiate in good faith, but the employers and government need to understand our industrial campaign will continue for as long as it takes."
A Network Rail spokesperson said: "We have received notification of another strike by the RMT on Saturday, October 8, just one week after another walkout it has co-ordinated with train drivers at Aslef.
"This latest strike will again mean very significant disruption for passengers, and we'll be asking people to only travel if absolutely necessary due to the reduced service that will be in place. Full timetables for all upcoming strike days will be published in due course."
Although Merseyrail workers are not part of the dispute, the ECHO understands the operator will be affected by Network Rail staff being on strike. An announcement on timetables is expected once Merseyrail and Network Rail have been able to assess the likely impact of the action.
Strike action will take place at Network Rail and 15 train operating companies listed below:
Chiltern Railways, Cross Country Trains, Greater Anglia, LNER, East Midlands Railway, c2c, Great Western Railway, Hull Trains Northern Trains, South Eastern South Western Railway Transpennine Express, Avanti West Coast, West Midlands Trains and GTR (including Gatwick Express).
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