Tens of thousands of people are set to descend on Manchester over the coming days for a weekend of music, football and fun.
A series of huge concerts are being held across the city while Saturday also sees Manchester City and Manchester United go head-to-head in the FA Cup final at Wembley. But despite the anticipated influx of visitors, the city's main railway station will be much quieter than usual.
That is because a series of train strikes are being held amid a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Rail passengers suffered another day of travel disruption yesterday (Wednesday) after members of the drivers’ union Aslef walked out, affecting train services throughout the country.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) has also called a strike on Friday, while another Aslef walk out will take place on Saturday, the same day that Elton John, Arctic Monkeys and Coldplay all play in Manchester.
The industrial action will also affect City and United fans travelling to London for the cup final. Fans wishing to travel to the game by train from Manchester are being advised not to attempt to do so on the day.
At Manchester Piccadilly yesterday afternoon, boards inside the station showed just a handful of services running. Husband and wife Carol Blake and Derek Jones were among the lucky ones, having caught a train from Warrington to watch Ricky Gervais at the O2 Apollo.
“We were a bit concerned about trains but there were plenty,” Ms Blake said. “It was delayed 20 minutes and there were no seats, but we were amazed there was one.”
Ms Blake said she had previously sympathised with the strikes but said she now found them 'annoying’.
“They are going on a bit long,” she explained. “We have had Covid and everyone is trying to get back to normal.
"It’s hitting other working people. There are lots of people who can’t get to work.
“My son-in-law has had to change jobs because he doesn’t know when the trains are going to run. They are hitting the wrong people now and turning people against them.”
Christine Rist had also travelled from Liverpool to attend the comedy gig but was forced to catch a coach instead.
“It’s not a big deal but it would’ve been quicker to get the train," she said, "My daughter works in Manchester but she had to stay at a friend’s last night so she could get to work.”
Ms Rist said she sympathises with the striking rail workers, but called on the unions and the government to ‘come to some kind of agreement’.
“I understand why they are striking," she said. "Sometimes you need to but it needs to be resolved sooner rather than later.
“I don’t think the rail people will get what they want but they need to come to some kind of happy medium. It seems like every time we go to do something there’s a train strike.
“It’s not like the train services are that good in the first place. Ultimately, it’s commuters that suffer."
Speaking before boarding his train home to Crewe, Graham Wright said he was fully behind the strike action, which he described as ‘necessary’.
“People’s pay and conditions have been eroded over the years,” he said. “It’s hardly surprising that people are feeling outraged, especially with the way the economy is.
“Without direction action, the government is just going to ride roughshod over everybody.”
Anna Katrín Ólafsdóttir has tickets to watch both Elton John and the Arctic Monkeys over the next few days. She travelled to Manchester from Iceland and had hoped to catch a train to York on Friday.
“I didn’t realise there was a strike until I started looking for tickets," she said. "I support the strikers even though it’s affecting our vacation.
“It’s about increasing the wages of the people with the least income. You would have to be an asshole to oppose that.”
Peter and Pat Gray have travelled to Manchester from Newcastle to watch Coldplay at the Etihad Stadium. They had planned to catch the train but had to change their travel plans in light of the strike action.
“We had train tickets booked so hopefully we can get a refund,” explained Mr Gray. “We booked the hotel because it’s right next to the train station.
“I think they've done it this weekend on purpose.”
Ms Gray added: “I was sympathetic at first but it’s waning. Everybody deserves their wages but they have been given an offer and refused it."
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have warned that Saturday is set to be the 'busiest day this year so far' on the Greater Manchester transport network, with congestion on trains, trams, buses and roads expected. Passengers travelling to and from the city being advised to plan ahead and check the times of first and last trains.
TfGM said they 'strongly advise' that between May 31 and June 4 people do not drive into the city centre and instead catch a bus via park and ride or using the Metrolink system. Roads in and around the city centre are also expected to be gridlocked, particularly towards the AO Arena and Old Trafford ground, and on the Inner Ring Road near to the Etihad stadium.
An RDG spokesperson said: “The upcoming rail strikes called by the Aslef and RMT leadership will not only affect our passengers’ daily commute, but will also impact those travelling to and from the FA Cup final and other events across the country, causing disappointment and frustration for tens of thousands of people.
“It will also inconvenience families who have been looking forward and have planned their half-term holidays. It will also further burden our people who have already lost thousands of pounds at a time of financial strain.
“We understand the impact of these strikes on individuals and businesses alike, and we can only apologise for this unnecessary and damaging disruption.
“While we are doing all we can to keep trains running, unfortunately there will be reduced train services between Wednesday May 31 and Saturday June 3, so our advice is to check before you travel.
“Passengers with advance tickets can be refunded fee-free if the train that the ticket is booked for is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled.”
The unions say they have not been given a pay offer it can recommend to their members. Officials say support for industrial action remains strong among workers as well as the public.
Aslef says train drivers have not had a pay rise for four years. Both unions claim the Government is preventing the train companies making an acceptable offer, which ministers deny.
A DfT spokesperson said: “These strikes have been co-ordinated by union leaders to disrupt passengers in a week which will see major events such as the first ever all Manchester FA Cup final, the Epsom Derby and a number of concerts and festivals across the UK.
“Not content with impacting the hundreds of thousands of people who have looked forward to these events all year round, unions are also targeting their own members’ pockets by forcing them to miss out on pay every time they strike.
“The Government has facilitated a fair and reasonable pay offer, now union leaders must do the right thing and put this to their members.”
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