Brits Set To Face Travel Chaos As Thousands Of Strikes Confirmed Next Week

Network rail has confirmed strike action will go ahead next week, with further strikes planned for next month. 

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union has announced three 24-hour strikes, with the first taking place on Wednesday 27 July, amid a dispute over pay and working conditions. 

The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) has also announced a strike by its members at Avanti West Coast on the same day.

More than 40,000 workers at Network Rail and 14 train operating companies will be taking part in the strikes.

Network Rail has warned there will be major disruption to services on 27 July, with ‘very limited services running’ as well as further knock-on disruption on 28 July. 

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Further strikes are planned for Thursday 18 August and Saturday 20 August.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "Strike action will take place next Wednesday as planned and our members are more determined than ever to secure a decent pay rise, job security and good working conditions.

"Network Rail have not made any improvement on their previous pay offer and the Train Companies have not offered us anything new.

"In fact Network Rail have upped the ante threatening to impose compulsory redundancies and unsafe 50 per cent cuts to maintenance work, if we did not withdraw our planned strike action.

“The train operating companies have put driver only operations on the table along with ransacking our members terms and conditions.

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"RMT will continue to negotiate in good faith but we will not be bullied or cajoled by anyone.

"The government need to stop their interference in this dispute so the rail employers can come to a negotiated settlement with us."

Transport for London (TfL) said while the industrial action does not involve its staff, varying degrees of disruption are expected on the District and Bakerloo Tube lines, London Overground, and the Elizabeth line, which all share some sections of track with Network Rail.

Andy Lord, TfL’s chief operating officer, said: “The upcoming strike action will mean disruption for some of our customers, with the London Overground, Elizabeth line, and London Underground services being affected.

“I encourage customers to check before they travel as the levels of service will vary on different modes of transport and different days. Alternative travel, including buses and other Tube lines, is likely to be much busier than usual.”