Rail strike: Travellers face ‘misery’ in biggest walkout in 30 yearson June 20, 2022 at 10:37 am

Millions of people will face travel “misery” as the biggest rail strike in 30 years causes disruption to services in England, Scotland and Wales, a Treasury minister has warned.

Last-minute talks between unions and rail bosses are continuing, but Conservative MP Simon Clarke said industrial action was likely.

Strikes are planned on most major lines on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Rail staff are unhappy about stagnating pay and proposed job losses.

Disruption is expected on non-strike days because less staff will be working and Network Rail has urged passengers to only travel by train if necessary.

A strike will also take place across the London Underground on Tuesday, with Transport for London advising passengers to walk or cycle instead.

A special train timetable for 20 to 26 June was published on Friday.

While two sets of talks are expected on Monday morning, the Rail Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union has said it will “intensify” its strike campaign if members don’t get an agreeable deal.

The union’s general secretary, Mick Lynch, said they would “run this campaign for as long as it takes to get a settlement”, potentially for six months or more.

He called on the government to “loosen the shackles” of employers to allow a deal to be struck, but Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said negotiations should be between unions and employers.

Treasury minister Mr Clarke told BBC Breakfast there was “no point giving false hope” the strikes could be avoided, adding it is “important to be realistic” about the difficulty of the negotiations.

“We absolutely don’t want them to go ahead, I recognise this is going to cause misery for millions of people and I am profoundly sorry about that,” he added.

Mr Clarke also ruled out the direct involvement of government ministers in the talks and said the railway would have to “financially sustain itself”.

Labour said the absence of the government from the negotiating table was “hobbling” talks.

Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Without them there, it’s impossible for them to find a way forward and therefore, it is inevitable that industrial action will happen.”

Network Rail says the last trains between many major cities are expected to depart over the course of the afternoon, before more than 40,000 rail workers walk out over job cuts, pay and conditions. The strike begins at 00:01 BST on Tuesday.

The reduced timetable will be in place until Sunday, with just 20% of usual services running on strike days.

Trains that do run will start later and finish much earlier than usual – between 07:30 and 18:30.

Read more here.

Knock-on disruption is expected on the roads, with motorists being warned to expected a surge in traffic.

Motoring group the AA says drivers in Scotland and Wales should expect to face long queues as most railway lines will be closed.

The M74, M8 and A9 in Scotland and the M4, A55, A5, and A483 in Wales could see severe traffic, it says.

The RAC says major city routes and those serving the home counties are likely to see some of the biggest increases in traffic volumes.

The strikes will affect a number of events including school exams and the first Glastonbury Festival for three years.

Can I get a refund? Yes, if you cannot get your train due to strike action. Season-ticket holders can apply for a refund for the days affected. Find more info here.

Do I have to go to work or school? This is up to your individual employer or school, check with them.

How can I plan my train journey? Use the National Rail journey planner.

Read more here.

The RMT is unhappy about stagnating pay and proposed job losses, and so far talks between the union and Network Rail – which maintains tracks and runs bigger stations – have failed to find a resolution.

Mr Shapps has dismissed a call from the RMT for ministerial intervention as a “stunt” – and claimed union bosses were “gunning for” industrial action.

Leaders at 13 trade unions and the Trade Unions Congress (TUC) have jointly written to Mr Shapps urging him to “help deliver a fair resolution”. The Labour Party has also called on the government to step in.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said nobody took strike action lightly but argued rail staff had been left with “no other option”.

“Many rail staff who will be hit hardest – such as caterers and cleaners – are on low and average earnings. It’s insulting to ask them to take yet another real-terms pay cut when rail companies took £500 million in profits during the pandemic,” she said.

However, Rail Delivery Group chair Steve Montgomery said rail bosses were trying to work with unions “on how to carry out modernisation and reform of the industry” amid falling passenger numbers.

“Ultimately we do want to give our people a pay increase… but we have to get on with reform, and that helps us deliver the next phase of giving people a pay rise.”

How are the rail strikes affecting you? Are you having to make alternative travel arrangements? Will you miss an important event? Get in touch by emailing: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: