Rail and train staff working around Britain will stage a fresh round of strikes in November.
RMT union members working for Network Rail and 14 train operators, including four that operate trains through Newcastle, Sunderland and other parts of the North East, will walk out in the ongoing row over pay, jobs and conditions.
Network Rail staff will strike on November 3, November 5 and November 7. Staff who work for train companies including LNER, Northern, CrossCountry and Transpennine are set to strike on November 3 and November 5.
Read more: Metro depot engineers set to strike
The strikes impact the entire rail network as Network Rail owns and operates Britain's railway infrastructure, and its staff are responsible for operating signals, level crossings and stations.
Previous strikes led to Northern, LNER, CrossCountry and TransPennine either cancelling all services through Newcastle or advising passengers not to travel.
There may even be an impact on the Tyne Wear Metro. Although its staff are not due to strike, the Metro shares track with Network Rail between Pelaw and South Hylton.
When Network Rail staff went on strike earlier this year, the Metro had to close between those stations, including a shutdown of all stations in the Sunderland area, as the signals could not be operated safely.
Metro operator Nexus has yet to confirm if it will be affected by the strikes which coincide with Bonfire Night celebrations around the North East and a Sunderland AFC home match against Cardiff City on Saturday November 5.
A Nexus spokesperson said: “Metro customers need to be aware that it’s highly likely there will be no services running between Pelaw and South Hylton during the next round of national rail strikes on November 3, 5 and 7.
“Nexus employees are not taking industrial action, but there is an impact on Metro services because the stretch of line down to Sunderland is part of the national rail network, which is owned and managed by Network Rail.
“We cannot provide replacement buses because there are not the buses or the number of drivers to be able to replicate what Metro provides."
The RMT accused Network Rail of attempting to impose “drastic changes” in working practices on its staff and of writing directly to staff “undermining delicate talks”.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "Throughout this whole dispute, the Rail Delivery Group has been completely unreasonable by not offering our members any deal on pay, conditions and job security.
“Some of our members on the train operating companies are some of the lowest paid on the railways.
“This stands in stark contrast to rail operating company bosses making millions of pounds in profit.
“We remain open to meaningful talks, but we are steadfast in our industrial campaign to see a negotiated settlement for all our members in this dispute.”
Tim Shoveller, Network Rail’s chief negotiator, said: “A two-year 8% deal, with discounted travel and a new extended job guarantee to January 2025, is on the table ready to be put to our staff.
“Unfortunately, the leadership of the RMT seem intent on more damaging strikes rather than giving their members a vote on our offer.
“Me and my team remain available for serious talks and continue to negotiate in good faith.
“Our sector has a £2 billion hole in its budget with many fewer passengers using our services.
“That reality is not going to change anytime soon and a fair and affordable and improved deal is on the table, ready to be implemented if our people were only offered the opportunity.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “This is incredibly disappointing. Through no fault of their own, millions of people will once again have their day-to-day lives disrupted and be unable to attend work, school or vital doctor’s appointments.
“Our railway is in desperate need of modernisation but all more strikes will do is take it back to the dark ages and push passengers further away.
“We urge union bosses to reconsider this divisive action and instead work with employers, not against them, to agree a new way forward.”
The 14 train operating companies involved in the fresh strikes are: Chiltern Railways, Cross Country Trains, Greater Anglia, LNER, East Midlands Railway, c2c, Great Western Railway, Northern Trains, South Eastern, South Western Railway, Transpennine Express, Avanti West Coast, West Midlands Trains and GTR (including Gatwick Express).
A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said: “We are frustrated that the RMT leadership has decided to take further strike action. Given their recent call for ‘intense negotiations’ we had hoped they would give our staff and customers a much-needed break from the disruption and lost pay of the last five months.
“Instead of inflicting more unnecessary long-term damage to the industry we all want to see thrive, we ask the RMT to recognise the very real financial challenge the railway faces, and work with us towards a fair deal that both offers a pay rise and includes the long overdue changes we need to make to improve services for our customers.”
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