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Rail strikes on Northern, Southern and Merseyrail | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Passengers on three train companies across England are seeing action by striking union members on Monday. | |
Northern rail staff are on the last day of a three-day strike, while Merseyrail staff are on strike for the day and also plan action on 23 July. | |
RMT union members at Southern have walked out on a one-day strike. | |
The union is in dispute with the companies over driver-only-operated trains, which it says would be unsafe and lead to widespread job losses. | |
"The threat to abolish guards and introduce driver-only-operated trains is only part of the wider attack on rail services," said the RMT. | "The threat to abolish guards and introduce driver-only-operated trains is only part of the wider attack on rail services," said the RMT. |
The union said the dispute is not about pay or conditions but strike action is over "concern about passenger safety". | The union said the dispute is not about pay or conditions but strike action is over "concern about passenger safety". |
In April RMT members demonstrated against the proposals and to mark the one-year anniversary of its dispute with Southern rail. | In April RMT members demonstrated against the proposals and to mark the one-year anniversary of its dispute with Southern rail. |
Northern said it expected to run more than 40% of its timetable and it would have additional rail replacement buses. | Northern said it expected to run more than 40% of its timetable and it would have additional rail replacement buses. |
Sharon Keith, regional director at Northern, said: "We are doing everything we can to keep our customers on the move during the three days of industrial action affecting our network." | |
However, all services are expected to be extremely busy and travellers should allow extra time for their journeys, the company added. | |
Most services are timetabled to run between 07:00 and 19:00 BST with many routes winding down from late afternoon. | |
Commuters have been taking to social media to say how their working days are being affected by the strike. | |
Kitty tweeted: "I was all ready to go this morning. Then I realised there is a #NorthernRail strike. So I get a half an hour lie in!" | |
Charlotte posted: "Last train home at 5.32 - don't usually leave the office until 6! #earlyfinish #trainstrike #northernrail" | |
Merseyrail trains are running from 07:00 to 19:00 but some stations will be closed. There are no trains scheduled to run on the Ellesmere Port, Hunts Cross and Kirkby lines. | |
Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde, managing director, said customers were urged to check before travelling. | Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde, managing director, said customers were urged to check before travelling. |
He added: "The team has put together the best possible timetable that we can to provide a limited train service on both strike days." | He added: "The team has put together the best possible timetable that we can to provide a limited train service on both strike days." |
But passenger Thomas George tweeted: "Beautiful day for a rail strike! I'm wet, late and fed up. #RailStrike #MerseyRail" | |
According to Southern, the industrial action on 10 July is "not expected to have any further affect on services". | According to Southern, the industrial action on 10 July is "not expected to have any further affect on services". |
Passenger DoctorY tweeted: "Another day, another packed sardine train journey with #southernrail" | |
An ASLEF union driver overtime ban is in force and a revised timetable axing a quarter of services, was brought in on 28 June. |