A new warning has been issued to rail passengers this weekend with fears growing that many are reluctant to cancel trips that are planned for Saturday, despite another strike taking place. Just a fifth of services are set to run and half of the lines will be closed as 40,000 members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) at Network Rail and 13 train operators walk out once again.
Train operators are warning passengers that they should "only travel if necessary" and to check their journey in advance. The option to work from home meant many commuters avoided the rail strikes on Tuesday and Thursday.
However, people with plans to travel by train on Saturday for day trips, holidays and events may be looking to carry on with their plans despite the strike action. One rail industry source told the PA news agency that stations were "relatively quiet" during the first two days of the strike action there is a "nervousness" about what they will be like tomorrow.
READ MORE: BMW sparks online row after driver stays in middle lane of empty motorway
Seaside resorts like Bournemouth, Blackpool, Margate, Llandudno, and Skegness will have no train services on Saturday. The services that will run are restricted to main lines and will only operate between 7:30am and 6:30pm.
That means that the first train will leave later and the last train will be much earlier than what it normally would. The disruption is expected to last into Sunday for passengers.
Just 60% of trains were expected to run throughout the day on Friday because of a delay to the start of services and signallers and control room staff due to work on the overnight shifts joined in on the strike.
Phil Whittingham is the managing director of Avanti West Coast, and they are running around a third of its normal timetable on Saturday. He said: “Weekends have seen very strong growth in passenger numbers over recent months and we’re concerned that many who travel at weekends will be less frequent rail users and may not realise the huge impact industrial action will have.
“We’ll be running a significantly reduced timetable on Saturday as a result of the strike. There will be fully-trained staff on board and at stations across our network, but our trains may be very busy, and destinations will be served less frequently, if at all.”
There has been no resolution to the ongoing dispute over working conditions, pay and job security despite the strikes this week. Steve Montgomery, chairs the Rail Delivery Group, which represents operators. He said: “We are very disappointed that the RMT leadership has decided to continue with tomorrow’s strike, and the union leadership has chosen to take action which will severely inconvenience the millions of people who had plans over the weekend. While we are doing our best to minimise disruption to passengers, our advice is to only travel if it is necessary, and if you are going to travel, please plan ahead.”
The passengers that have tickets booked for Saturday are able to use them to travel on Friday, Sunday or Monday. However if they are not able to do that they can claim a refund. Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines said: “Unfortunately, the RMT’s decision to carry out another day of needless and premature strike action means our passengers will suffer again on Saturday.
“A fraction of trains will run compared to a usual Saturday service, with trains starting later in the morning and finishing much earlier in the evening. I am really sorry to our passengers for the inevitable disruption to their journeys and their weekend.”
He added: “We remain at the table and ready for talks, day or night, and will do everything we can to avoid further disruption for our passengers." The strikes this week are estimated to have cost the rail industry up to £150 million in lost revenue.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch has said that its members are “standing up for all working people trying to get a pay rise and some job security”. He added: “In a modern economy, workers need to be properly rewarded for their work, enjoy good conditions and have the peace of mind that their job will not be taken away from them.
“(Transport Secretary) Grant Shapps needs to get in the room or get out of the way so we can negotiate with these companies who we have successfully struck dozens of deals with previously. What we cannot accept is thousands of railway workers being thrown on the scrapheap after being praised as heroes during Covid.
“RMT will continue its industrial campaign until a negotiated settlement is reached.”
READ MORE
- County Durham couple 'can't sleep' after British Gas 'breaks into wrong house' to remove meter
- Newcastle United transfer news LIVE as two Hugo Ekitike alternatives 'identified'
- Woman becomes first person to win Covid vaccine compensation after fiancé’s death
- North East news LIVE: No trains between Newcastle and Edinburgh after lorry crashes onto railway tracks
- The crazy quote for one-time Newcastle target James Ward-Prowse that sums up summer window