The union has said the “paltry” rise amounts to a real-terms pay cut for workers
(Picture: PA Archive)South Western Railway passengers have been advised to only travel if absolutely necessary on Wednesday, July 27, due to strike action.
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has called its members to take industrial action to protest Network Rail’s pay rise offer.
The union has said the “paltry” rise amounts to a real-terms pay cut for workers, and is also set to hold walkouts on August 18 and August 20.
South Western will run a severely reduced timetable on July 27 between 7.15am and 6.30pm with parts of the network closed. On July 28, the operator for lines to Portsmouth, Exeter and other major cities, said services are likely to begin later in the day.
South Western Railway’s managing director Claire Mann, said: “We urge customers to only travel by rail if absolutely necessary on July 27, and to check before you travel on July 28.
“We are sorry that strikes will again cause such disruption, and we are grateful to our customers for their continued cooperation, patience, and understanding as the rail industry works to end this damaging nationwide strike action.”
The operator will run four trains per hour in each direction between Waterloo and Windsor via Hounslow, two semi-fast trains per hour in each direction between Waterloo and Basingstoke, four trains per hour in each direction between Waterloo and Woking, two fast trains per hour in each direction between Waterloo and Southampton.
Trains will not stop at all stations on these routes and there will be no services across the rest of the network.
Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said: “Despite our best efforts to find a breakthrough, I’m afraid there will be more disruption for passengers next week as the RMT seems hell-bent on continuing their political campaigning, rather than compromising and agreeing a deal for their members.
“I can only apologise for the impact this pointless strike will have on passengers.”
RMT has been contacted for further comment.
