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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Kris Gourlay

Edinburgh passengers warned as TransPennine services cancelled due to conductor strike

Edinburgh rail passengers are being warned ahead of a planned TransPennine Express' strike on Jubilee weekend, with no services running from the capital going south to England.

Members of the RMT Union are striking on one of the busiest weekends of the year over a row regarding pay and Sunday working requirements.

Conductors for the major rail service provider are striking on Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5, as the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations continue.

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TransPennine have issued a warning on their website to rail passengers, as some of the country's main routes will either be out of action or running on a limited timetable.

They said: "TransPennine Express (TPE) is asking customers to plan carefully ahead of planned RMT strike action taking place this weekend on Saturday 04 and Sunday 05 June.

"An amended timetable will be in place on this date, which will see a significant reduction in available services. We’re advising customers not to travel, but to plan carefully if journeys are necessary.

"There will be no TPE trains in operation on the West Coast Mainline on Saturday or Sunday and anyone that needs to make an essential journey between Liverpool/Manchester and Glasgow/Edinburgh via Preston and Carlisle should seek alternative transport or travel on Friday or Monday instead."

The RMT Union also issued an update on the planned strike, saying that if TransPennine's improved pay offer was given to conductors, as well as drivers, the strike would be suspended.

The commented: "TPE conductors on major railway lines will take 48 hours of strike action from Saturday in row over pay and Sunday working. The company continues to refuse TPE conductors' request to increase pay for staff coming in on their days off and Sundays.

"However, this week it emerged, that TPE bosses have offered drivers an increase of 15% for working on their days off. RMT has made it clear if the same offer was made to conductors, then this latest strike action would be suspended."

General Secretary Mick Lynch said: "The divide and rule tactics of TPE bosses are disgraceful and they need to understand that our members will not give in until they have a just settlement.

"Conductors, like drivers should be well rewarded for their work on TPE and if management behave reasonably, we can suspend the action this weekend.

"What our members are demanding would cost TPE less money than the loss of revenue resulting from strike action.

"We urge TPE bosses to think again and meaningfully engage with RMT."

TransPennine are offering ticket acceptance for a number of other rail operators, with Edinburgh passengers urged to check their website for more details on the status of their potential journey.

Edinburgh passengers, looking to travel down south, can find more information here.

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