Rail strikes are to go ahead after last-ditch talks failed to resolve a bitter dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Thousands of members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union at Network Rail and 13 train operators will walk out on Tuesday (June 21), Thursday (June 23) and Saturday (June 25) in the biggest outbreak of industrial action on the railways for a generation.
Services across the UK will start to be affected from this evening, with just one in five trains running on strike days, primarily on main lines and only for around 11 hours. Talks were held as late as this afternoon but the sides remain deadlocked over a deal.
Andrew Haines, Network Rail’s chief executive, said: “No strike is inevitable until the moment it begins, but sadly disruption tomorrow is guaranteed so we’re asking passengers to plan ahead and only travel by train if necessary. We continue to talk to the RMT and urge them to work with us to find a solution that works for rail workers and taxpayers, and avoids causing further disruption for our passengers.”
