Rail workers are set to strike on the day of the Eurovision Song Contest Final in Liverpool, prompting concerns for those hoping to travel to the city for the showpiece event.
Yesterday, the Rail and Maritime Transport Workers union announced a fresh strike in its long-running dispute over pay and conditions. A strike will be held on Saturday, May 13, which could cause chaos for those hoping to head to Liverpool for the Eurovision final.
The RMT strike was announced on the same day that the ASLEF union, which represents train drivers, announced its own new wave of action, with walk-outs on May 12 and 31, and on the day of the FA Cup Final between Manchester United and Manchester City at Wembley on June 3.
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In terms of the RMT, its leader Mick Lynch said the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators, had reneged on its original pay offer and 'torpedoed' ongoing negotiations.
He said that accepting the current offer would mean no further strike action could take place further down the line. The union is currently balloting its members for another mandate for strike action lasting a further six months.
Which train companies will be affected by Eurovision strike?
In Liverpool, all eyes are now on the Eurovision Song Contest in May and when it comes to the latest train strikes, it is the action on Saturday, May 13 - the day of the contest's final - that will be a big concern.
The RMT's action ,as it has throughout this current dispute, will involve staff on 14 rail operators.
They include Chiltern Railways, Cross Country Trains, Greater Anglia, LNER, East Midlands Railway, c2c, Great Western Railway, Northern Trains, South Eastern, South Eastern Railway, Transpennine Express, West Midlands Trains, GTR and Avanti West Coast.
That last one - Avanti - will be a big concern for organisers of Eurovision as it provides a direct link from London to Liverpool and will be the line used by many people either coming from the capital or those from abroad who have flown into London and plan to travel up north.
The impact on Northern Trains will also be a concern for those attempting to come into Liverpool from other cities and towns around the north of the country, some of whom maybe staying in hotels or air bnb properties a little further afield.
Merseyrail not affected
Merseyrail are keen to stress that the region's local network will be in no way affected by the strike action on May 13.
Merseyrail staff represented by the RMT came to their own pay agreement last summer, however the network was still affected by strikes involving Network Rail signalling and maintenance staff - but they also reached an agreement in March.
This means the Merseyrail network will be fully staffed and operational throughout Eurovision.
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