(Photo: Hollie Adams via Getty Images)
The summer of discontent rumbles on this week as rail workers are set to walk out once again this Wednesday, July 27.
The major strike means passengers have been discouraged from travelling unless “absolutely necessary”, as employees continue to push back against pay, jobs and working conditions.
It comes a month after three days of strikes brought the country to a halt back in June. While the union leading the industrial action has promised to try and reach a deal with Network Rail ahead of Wednesday, it maintains there is a “big gap between the parties at the moment”.
With only 20% of services set to run, the Women’s Euro 2022 semi-final in Milton Keynes and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham likely to be affected, here’s what you need to know.
Which rail services are affected?
The Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers union (RMT) has organised a 24-hour strike on Wednesday.
Around 40,000 employees – half from Network Rail, and half from 14 train operating companies – are expected to walk out.
Most trains will stop running and those which power on will be operating on a reduced timetable, starting later and finishing earlier between 7am and 6.30pm.
With just a fifth of services running, there will be no trains in or out of Blackpool, Portsmouth and Bournemouth to name just a handful of destinations.
The last trains from London to Edinburgh will leave at 2pm, for Birmingham at 3.43pm, and Manchester at 3.40pm.
A different union, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) will also strike with its members from Avanti West Coat operator on Wednesday.
How will London transport be impacted?
Unlike June’s walkout, London Underground and Transport for London (TfL) will not officially be taking