New anti-strike legislation may cause fewer trains to run in some parts of the country, a consultation document has said.
Service levels during industrial action may be reduced in some locations to enable more stations to be opened elsewhere, according to a Department for Transport (DfT) document.
The Government is attempting to introduce legislation setting out minimum service levels during strikes across six sectors, including transport following the industrial action which has crippled the rail network over the last year.
A DfT consultation document published this week revealed that one option would “focus on having as much of the rail network open as possible with a minimum level of service”.
It went on: “This may result in a lower level of service for some areas than currently seen on certain strike days, but improved levels of service for others and overall.
“Equally, it should be noted that, even where we are prioritising geographical scope, we are likely to still see no service in some areas.”
A second option would be to “identify priority routes, and deliver services on those routes for as long a period as reasonably possible”.
It adds: “The minimum levels of service would be set for those priority routes only and may mean some areas of the country have limited levels of service, or no service at all.”
Around half of lines have been closed during national strikes by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), meaning much of Cornwall, Dorset, northern England, Scotland and Wales have repeatedly been cut off from the network.
The rail industry has prioritised routes used by trains carrying the most passengers and critical freight, such as to and from the Drax power plant near Selby, North Yorkshire.
Rail services currently operate only between around 7am and 7pm on national strike days.
The DfT warned that increasing the level of geographical coverage through minimum service levels may mean the hours of service may not be extended even with minimum service levels.
Unions and opposition parties are vehemently opposed to the planned legislation, which would see some staff having to comply with orders to work on strike days or face losing protections against being sued or dismissed.
Rail minister Huw Merriman said the Government “recognises the importance of workers’ ability to take strike action”, insisting that “this will be protected”.
But he stated that over the last year industrial action has “stopped key workers getting to work, children going to school, and restricted people’s access to essential services such as hospital care”.
He added: “The Government recognises the importance of workers’ ability to take strike action, and this will be protected. Recent industrial action, though, has demonstrated how strikes disproportionately impact people from accessing the services they require.
“The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill, which is currently before Parliament, will set a legislative framework to balance workers’ ability to strike with the public’s ability to get to work and access vital services.”
Nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of respondents to a survey of train passengers by research company Savanta commissioned by the DfT agreed with the statement that they will no longer travel by train if the strikes continue for an extended period of time.
A total of 17,383 questionnaires distributed to passengers in the weeks following strikes between June and October 2022 were completed.
The DfT consultation runs until May 15.
This comes as UK rail workers are set to walk out in a fresh series of strikes in March and April in a long-running dispute over pay, jobs, and conditions.
Members of the RMT union from 14 train operators will strike on March 16, 18, and 30 and April 1, the start of Easter school holidays for many. Members at Network Rail, responsible for tracks and bridges, will strike on March 16 and then ban overtime.
The RMT has been approached for comment.
