Britain’s rail network will remain shut during next week’s strike, commuters have been warned.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will stage a walkout from 14 train companies on March 16 and 18, as well as March 30 and April 1.
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train operators, said it expected 40-50% of services to run on those days, but there would be “wide variation” with some areas running no trains.
The affected operators will run services only from 7.30 am to 6.30 pm.
There will also be disruption of services during the nights and mornings preceding each strike.
The RDG is disappointed that the RMT has refused to put its latest proposal, aimed at resolving a long-running dispute over jobs, pay and conditions, to a vote of its members.
The RMT called off the strike in a separate dispute at planned Network Rail on 16 March after receiving a new offer.
The union has been engaged in national rail strikes since June last year, often disrupting services.
Steve Montgomery, who is chairman of RDG, said: “This latest round of strikes will be a further inconvenience to our customers, who have already experienced months of disruption, and cost our people even more money at the time. have to spend when they can least afford it.
“They will also ask why the RMT leadership blocked an opportunity to resolve this dispute by refusing to give its members, many of whom would have benefited from the 13% increase, a say over their own deal.
“Unfortunately, while we will remove all stops to run as many trains as possible, services will be reduced to many parts of the rail network on all four days of the strike, so we advise you to check before you travel. “
Credit: www.standard.co.uk /