Rail disruption expected amid bank holiday strike

RMT union members will walk out from Saturday to Monday

A train operator has warned people to expect disruption to rail services over the bank holiday weekend due to industrial action.

CrossCountry said a strike by members of the RMT union meant it would be running a reduced timetable, with no trains running on Saturday, risk of cancellations on Sunday and a "very limited" service on Monday.

The RMT said its members had voted "strongly in favour" of action after it claimed CrossCountry had failed to honour agreements on staffing, safety and pay.

Managing director Shiona Rolfe said CrossCountry it was "committed to reaching an agreement" and was available to continue talks with the union.

"It is hugely disappointing to not operate any services on Saturday, knowing the inevitable disruption to many of our passengers' journeys over the bank holiday weekend," she said.

On Monday, planned engineering work in the West Midlands will further impact the "very limited" service planed between 08:00 and 18:00 BST, meaning some journeys will take longer.

National Express said it was boosting its capacity over the weekend in response to the disruption.

9,000 extra seats will be added, serving cities including Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Bolton, Cardiff, Hull, London, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, Swansea and Wolverhampton.

Steven Vivian said it was fair that rail workers expected better pay

Rail users in Sheffield said that, while the strike may cause immediate disruption, they were largely supportive of the action.

Steven Vivian, 44, who frequently travels by rail, said: "They have a right to expect their pay to keep pace with how MPs' pay has gone up over the last decade or so.

"I think it's fair enough."

Another passenger, Kristian White, said he often used trains and had been affected by disruption from strikes previously.

"It bothers me in the short term, 'oh great, I can't get the train now', but at a genuine level, where I'm thinking about the wider perspective, it doesn't bother me as much," the 21-year-old said.

"If they want to strike and fight for their values, why shouldn't they? There are places in the world where we can't do that."

Kristian White said the impact of industrial action only bothered him in the short term

Passengers with tickets booked for CrossCountry travel on Saturday are advised to claim a full refund or travel either side of the bank holiday weekend.

CrossCountry only tickets for 23 August will be valid on its services between 21 and 27 August.

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