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Rail strike leads to warning over significant disruption to busy routes Rail strike leads to warning over significant disruption to busy routes
(about 9 hours later)
Train services on some of the country’s busiest routes will be significantly hit from Wednesday night because of a strike by rail workers.Train services on some of the country’s busiest routes will be significantly hit from Wednesday night because of a strike by rail workers.
Thousands of members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at First Great Western (FGW) will walk out for 48 hours from 6.30pm.Thousands of members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at First Great Western (FGW) will walk out for 48 hours from 6.30pm.
The action, over jobs and maintenance of new Hitachi trains, will affect services between London and Wales and the West Country, hitting commuters and cricket fans going to Cardiff for the first Ashes Test.The action, over jobs and maintenance of new Hitachi trains, will affect services between London and Wales and the West Country, hitting commuters and cricket fans going to Cardiff for the first Ashes Test.
Related: London faces travel mayhem as tube workers strike for 24 hours
A revised timetable will be operating, but FGW warned that capacity would be limited and trains that did run would be very busy.A revised timetable will be operating, but FGW warned that capacity would be limited and trains that did run would be very busy.
The changes include trains between south Wales and London running every hour instead of half-hour and services to Devon and Cornwall being reduced from hourly to every two hours. Seat reservations are unlikely to be honoured during the strike.The changes include trains between south Wales and London running every hour instead of half-hour and services to Devon and Cornwall being reduced from hourly to every two hours. Seat reservations are unlikely to be honoured during the strike.
An overtime ban on Saturday could also lead to late changes or cancellations, the company warned.An overtime ban on Saturday could also lead to late changes or cancellations, the company warned.
The union accused FGW of “playing for time” during talks and “going through the motions rather than addressing the issues.The union accused FGW of “playing for time” during talks and “going through the motions rather than addressing the issues.
The RMT said it was campaigning to avoid job losses, keep a safety-competent guard on every train, maintain buffet car facilities and ensure that the maintenance of new rolling stock remained in-house.The RMT said it was campaigning to avoid job losses, keep a safety-competent guard on every train, maintain buffet car facilities and ensure that the maintenance of new rolling stock remained in-house.
General secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT has made every effort to secure a series of very basic assurances from FGW over jobs, services and safety as a result of the introduction of the new Hitachi fleet and they have shown no intention of addressing those issues in the talks today.General secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT has made every effort to secure a series of very basic assurances from FGW over jobs, services and safety as a result of the introduction of the new Hitachi fleet and they have shown no intention of addressing those issues in the talks today.
“RMT is angry and disappointed that the company have ignored the massive vote for action by their staff and have instead opted to plough ahead with a series of actions that will decimate jobs, services and safety.“RMT is angry and disappointed that the company have ignored the massive vote for action by their staff and have instead opted to plough ahead with a series of actions that will decimate jobs, services and safety.
“It is frankly ludicrous that East Coast, who are introducing the same trains, have given us the assurances we are seeking, but FGW have ignored us and are crashing on with the ripping out of buffet cars and the threat to safety-critical station and train staff, purely to maximise the profits from new trains bought for them by the British taxpayer.”“It is frankly ludicrous that East Coast, who are introducing the same trains, have given us the assurances we are seeking, but FGW have ignored us and are crashing on with the ripping out of buffet cars and the threat to safety-critical station and train staff, purely to maximise the profits from new trains bought for them by the British taxpayer.”
A FGW spokesman said: “All we want is to make sure our services give the best possible deal for our passengers. These brand new trains have been designed to deliver more seats, and faster, more frequent journeys for passengers, but we can’t deliver those if they are operated in the same way as the 40-year-old trains that run today.A FGW spokesman said: “All we want is to make sure our services give the best possible deal for our passengers. These brand new trains have been designed to deliver more seats, and faster, more frequent journeys for passengers, but we can’t deliver those if they are operated in the same way as the 40-year-old trains that run today.
“We have already made assurances about job security and commitments to increase the number of staff on board Super Express Trains.“We have already made assurances about job security and commitments to increase the number of staff on board Super Express Trains.
“We have made a number of additional commitments that we believe meet the concerns of the RMT, while still allowing us to deliver the improvements our customers want to see.“We have made a number of additional commitments that we believe meet the concerns of the RMT, while still allowing us to deliver the improvements our customers want to see.
“While it is disappointing that the RMT were not able to take this proposal away today, we believe a negotiated solution to these proposals is possible, and are keen to continue discussions as soon as possible.”“While it is disappointing that the RMT were not able to take this proposal away today, we believe a negotiated solution to these proposals is possible, and are keen to continue discussions as soon as possible.”