The majority of railway services in Wales will remain suspended on Saturday, November 5, when Wales face New Zealand in Cardiff despite planned rail worker strike action being called off.
People are being urged not to travel by train and to plan their journey carefully. Tens of thousands of rugby fans are set to descend on the Welsh capital for the visit of the All Blacks on Saturday afternoon (3.15pm kick-off).
A series of strikes by railway workers had been planned for November 5, 7 and 9 in a long-running dispute over jobs, pay and conditions, involving staff at Network Rail, which employs signalling workers across Wales, England and Scotland. While strike action has been suspended, Transport for Wales said on Friday that it will not be possible for most services to be reinstated by Saturday given how much notice they had. Most services across the Wales and Borders network will remain suspended, the operator says.
Read more: All the alternative travel options for Wales v New Zealand
A Transport for Wales spokesperson said: "Those attending the autumn international match at the Principality Stadium on Saturday 5 November should not travel in or out of Cardiff by train, despite the cancellation of strike action. The RMT and TSSA unions have announced strike action that was due to take place between 4 and 9 November has been called off. However, due to the short notice given for the cancellation of the strikes, it’s not possible for services to be reinstated on Saturday 5 November. Most trains across the Wales and Borders network will remain suspended, with only the potential to run severely reduced services running east of Cardiff and to the Valleys lines."
Principality Stadium manager Mark Williams said: "Whilst the rail strike has been called off, the late notice means it is unlikely to impact the limited train services available. Our message to supporters attending the match remains the same; please plan your journey carefully, plan ahead, and aim to get into Cardiff as early as possible. We look forward to a full house for our opening of the Autumn Nations Series, Wales v New Zealand."
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) had been due to stage 24-hour walkouts on Saturday and next Monday and Wednesday.
The RMT said it has secured "unconditional" talks on Network Rail and the promise of a pay offer from the train operating companies. The union said the dispute remains "very much live" and it is continuing its re-ballot of members to secure a fresh mandate for action with the result due on November 15.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "The threat of strike action and our strongly supported industrial campaign has made the rail employers see sense. We have always wanted to secure a negotiated settlement and that is what we will continue to push for in this next phase of intensive talks. Our priority is our members, and we are working towards securing a deal on job security, a decent pay rise and good working conditions. Our re-ballot remains live and if we have to take strike action during the next six months to secure a deal, we will."
