The UK is set for the biggest rail strike in modern history next week after pay talks broke down, a union has confirmed
This morning's statement from the the Rail, Transport and Maritime Union (RMT) revealed that, despite the "best efforts" of negotiators, "no viable settlements to the disputes have been created". Rail and tube strikes will now go ahead as 40,000 union members are expected to walk out in the biggest rail strike for 30 years
The strikes come in response to the government's decision to cut £4bn of funding from national transport systems - £2bn from national rail and £2bn from Transport for London. Discussions have been ongoing for the past few weeks at senior levels with Network Rail, train operators and London Underground, but the lack of a resolution means that members of RMT at Network Rail and 13 train operators will strike on June 21, 23 and 25.
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Network Rail previously warned that about half of its lines will close during the industrial action, with the Merseyrail network set to close down for three days as staff who operate the signalling systems and provide crucial maintenance which allow services to run safely walk out. The news will be another blow for Merseyrail commuters who have been dealing with a reduced and at times chaotic service in recent days after a number of faults were found on the trains.
Many parts of the country will have no services running at all, including lines going north from Glasgow and Edinburgh, and to Penzance in Cornwall. Bournemouth in Dorset, Swansea in south Wales, Holyhead in north Wales, Chester in Cheshire and Blackpool in Lancashire will also not be served on the strike days. In London, tube workers will also strike on June 21, threatening widespread travel chaos.
General secretary of the RMT, Mick Lynch, said: "As a result of this transport austerity imposed by the Government, the employing companies have taken decisions to savage the Railway Pension Scheme and the Transport for London scheme, cutting benefits, making staff work longer, and poorer in retirement, while paying increased contributions.
“In the face of this massive attack on our people the RMT cannot be passive."
He added: “We want a transport system that operates for the benefit of the people, for the needs of society and our environment – not for private profit. We call on the entire labour movement and the working people to rally to the support of the RMT and our members in this struggle."
Network Rail boss Andrew Haines said: "Make no mistake, the level of service we will be able to offer will be significantly compromised and passengers need to take that into account and to plan ahead and only travel if it's really necessary to do so."
Those who need to get across the country on a strike day with no alternative means of transport should book ahead. The last train from Manchester to London will leave at 2.47pm and the last from Norwich to London at 4pm.
The number of services running is expected to be around 4,500 compared with 20,000 normally, Network Rail said.
