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Train passengers have been warned to expect disruption on rail networks as a strike hits services on some of Britain’s busiest routes today.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union working for Avanti West Coast are staging a 24-hour walk-out in a dispute over rosters.
Commuters have been warned to expect a “significantly reduced” timetable on Saturday during limited operating hours.
Avanti West Coast will run one train an hour from London Euston to Manchester, Glasgow and Liverpool respectively, with the last service due to leave the station mid-afternoon.
Services will travel to Liverpool via the West Midlands, including Coventry, Birmingham International, Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton, due to scheduled works by Network Rail between Rugby and Stafford.
The planned upgrading will also see some trains diverted, meaning journey times could be longer than expected.
There will be no Avanti West Coast services in North Wales, Shrewsbury, Chester, Blackpool and Edinburgh as a result of the reduced timetable.
The RMT said staff were suffering from “dreadfully low morale” and were feeling “completely neglected” as the company increases its services in response to criticism for reducing its timetable over the summer.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said the strike is the end-result of “months of neglect” and the “only way train managers feel they can voice their concerns”.
Avanti West Coast managers formed a picket line at Manchester Piccadilly station on Saturday morning as RMT members called for a “fair work/life balance”.
“Avanti continue to be totally unreasonable in negotiations and seem incapable of taking responsibility for the mess they have caused,” Mr Lynch said.
“They show little concern for the health and safety of our members as some of their rostering…
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Source : skynews
