The entire Merseyrail network will close down on three days next week as national rail strikes take place.
Merseyrail have today confirmed that no trains will be able to run on the network on Tuesday (21), Thursday (23) and Saturday (25) next week, when rail staff walk out on strike. Whilst Merseyrail staff are not taking part in the industrial action, it will involve Network Rail staff who operate the signalling systems and provide crucial maintenance which allow services to run safely.
The operator says it is unable to provide any train services on days when industrial action is taking place. There will be no rail replacement buses on strike days and passengers are advised to make alternative travel arrangements.
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Merseyrail said that while trains will run on the days between the strikes next week, there will be knock on impacts going into the post-strike days. Replacement buses will be used for the first morning services on Wednesday and Friday, with normal trains running again from 7am.
More than 40,000 RMT union members from Network Rail and 13 train firms plan to walk out next week. The industrial action, which has been described as the "biggest rail strike in modern history", involves union members which include railway staff such as guards and signalling operators.
The union union says Network Rail plans to cut up to 2,500 jobs as part of a £2bn reduction in spending, with proposed job cuts including workers who maintain tracks, signals and overhead lines. RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said that railway workers have been 'treated appallingly' and are facing either losing their jobs or accepting another pay freeze during a cost of living crisis. Network Rail said it is “doing everything we can” to avoid the strike action.
Phil James, North West route director at Network Rail, said: “We continue to meet with the trades unions to discuss their pay concerns and will do all we can to avoid strike action which has the potential to cause misery to hundreds of thousands of Merseyrail passengers throughout the week.
“With a fraction of the usual workforce available, including signallers who safely move trains around the network, unfortunately it means no Merseyrail services can run at all on strike days on 21, 23 and 25 June.”
Andy Heath, Managing Director at Merseyrail said: “It is very disappointing that we will be unable to provide a rail service to the people of the Liverpool City Region on the 21 ,23 and 25 June, because of three days of industrial action by some Network Rail staff. Our network is unable to function without the support of Network Rail signalling and maintenance staff who play a critical role in the safe operation of our train services. We share the frustration of our passengers regarding the disruption and inconvenience this will undoubtedly cause”
All annual and monthly season ticket holders will automatically receive the value of a day’s travel for each date affected. Full details will be available on Merseyrail’s website in due course.
The news will be another blow for Merseyrail commuters who have been dealing with a reduced and at times chaotic service in recent days after a number of faults were found on the trains. The operator announced yesterday that the regular 15-minute timetable will largely return from Monday.
