Travel journalist Simon Calder has shared his thoughts on the Christmas strike action in an interview with Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary on ITV’s This Morning. The chat came following news that there are set to be 12 days of strike action between Christmas and New Year with millions of journeys being affected.
Addressing the upcoming strike action, which is set to begin on Tuesday, December 13, Simon said: “Get to your destinations by tonight (Monday, December 12) because cancellations ahead of the next round of national rail strikes start at half past 5 with the Sunderland to London train, that’s been cancelled and that will continue through the evening.
“Striking on Tuesday and Wednesday - no services at all in Scotland, almost nothing in Wales, Cornwall cut off by rail. There are some services running between half past 7 in the morning and half past 6 in the evening, make sure you’re going to get to your destination,” he added before explaining that there will be somewhat of a ‘respite’ day this Thursday, December 15. Friday and Saturday will then see things “in disarray” until Sunday, December 18.
Read more: All the travel disruption facing people travelling home for Christmas
Admitting that he “sounds like the voice of travel doom”, Simon then alerted viewers to the UK Border Force Strike, which takes place between December 23 and 31. He added that these strikes are taking place because of “pay, pensions and job security”.
According to Simon, Friday, December 23 is the day when we'll see what happens at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Cardiff airports when troops replace Border Force officers in their roles at passport control.
In regards to whether people should change their flights, Simon advised: “Nothing has happened yet. Don’t change anything, don’t cancel, don’t fret because almost everybody is going to get where they need to be.” He did warn, however, that at this stage, “we just don’t know”. This Morning airs on weekdays at 10am.
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