Tag: network rail

ScotRail warns passengers not to travel during ‘frustrating’ Network Rail train strikes

Posted on by Amanda G. Dean

ScotRail’s delivery director has described the impact of Network Rail strikes as “frustrating”.

For the past two months, passengers have been dealing with a severely reduced timetable due to a dispute with train drivers over pay.

Despite ScotRail striking a deal with the drivers’ union Aslef and services returning to normal, further disruption is on the way due to UK-wide action.

Only a fraction of ScotRail trains will run on Wednesday, as staff, including signallers, walk out during the first of three planned strike days.

The strike action by the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers union (RMT) will “severely limit” the number of services operating for passengers and freight across Scotland.

“It is very unfortunate to see such widespread disruption across the whole of the Great Britain rail network and we know this will be frustrating for ScotRail customers,” David Simpson, ScotRail’s service delivery director said.

“Customers should expect significant disruption to services on strike days, as well as the following day.”

Just five routes in the central belt will continue to operate between 7.30am and 6.30pm, Scotland’s national train operator has said, while workers are set to picket stations.

Strike action will also see disruption the evening before on Tuesday and the morning after on Thursday, due to the closing and reopening of signal boxes at different times across the country.

Network Rail Scotland signallers and maintenance staff, who are in safety-critical roles, will take industrial action on July 27, and August 18 and 20.

The only routes that will run on Wednesday are:

  • Edinburgh – Glasgow via Falkirk High: two trains per hour
  • Edinburgh – Bathgate: two trains per hour
  • Glasgow – Hamilton/Larkhall: two trains per hour
  • Glasgow – Lanark: two trains per hour
  • Edinburgh – Glasgow via Shotts: one train per hour

“Unfortunately, Network Rail will

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How will passengers be affected as rail strikes return?

How will passengers be affected as rail strikes return?

Posted on by Amanda G. Dean

Another rail strike is due to take place on Wednesday, causing disruption for passengers across the UK.

– Who is going on strike?

More than 40,000 workers at Network Rail and 14 train operating companies are set to strike in England in a dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will walk out on Wednesday, potentially crippling rail services across the country.

The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) has also announced a strike by its members at Avanti West Coast on the same day.

Network Rail pointed out that all train operators may be affected by the strike, whether they have an individual dispute with the RMT or not, as signallers control train movements across the entire country.

The companies affected by the RMT strikes are: Network Rail, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry Trains, Greater Anglia, LNER, East Midlands Railway, c2c, Great Western Railway, Northern Trains, South Eastern, South Western Railway, TransPennine Express, Avanti West Coast, West Midlands Trains, Heathrow Express, Lumo, Hull Trains, Grand Central, Transport for Wales, ScotRail, Merseyrail, Thameslink, London Northwestern Railway, Caledonian Sleeper, Stansted Express, and GTR (including Gatwick Express).

There will be no Gatwick Express services and passengers should also expect significant disruption to Heathrow Express and Stansted Express services.

The RMT has announced its picket line location details, with stations including Wembley between 5am and 5pm, Bristol Parkway between 7am and 1pm, and Penzance between 6am and 6pm.

– Will there be strikes on the London Underground?

Transport for London (TfL) said while the industrial action does not involve its staff, varying degrees of disruption are expected on the District and Bakerloo Tube lines, London Overground, and the Elizabeth line, which all share some sections of track with Network Rail.

The strike action will cause significant disruption to

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Why You Need To Plan Ahead On Travel This Week

Why You Need To Plan Ahead On Travel This Week

Posted on by Amanda G. Dean
(Photo: Hollie Adams via Getty Images)

(Photo: Hollie Adams via Getty Images)

(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

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