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RMT and First Great Western in talks to avert rail strike RMT and First Great Western in talks to avert rail strike
(about 2 hours later)
Last-minute talks between the RMT union and First Great Western (FGW) are being held in a final attempt to avert a 48-hour rail strike due to start later.Last-minute talks between the RMT union and First Great Western (FGW) are being held in a final attempt to avert a 48-hour rail strike due to start later.
Long-distance rail services in the West of England and Wales are likely to be severely affected if the strike planned for 18:30 BST goes ahead. Long-distance rail services in the west of England and Wales are likely to be severely affected if the strike planned for 18:30 BST goes ahead.
The union is concerned about safety, job losses and buffet services on the new Hitachi Inter City Express trains. The RMT's Mick Cash will meet the firm over safety and job loss fears.
The RMT's Mick Cash is to meet with FGW bosses in a bid to resolve the dispute. The strike is also likely to affect fans heading to the first Ashes test match in Cardiff.
FGW said if the strike went ahead it would operate a revised timetable, and warned that capacity would be limited. A statement on the First Great Western website said Cardiff services "will be extremely busy so we recommend customers make alternative travel arrangements where possible".
In a ballot held last week 80% of workers supported strike action, with 92% supporting other forms of action. FGW said if the strike went ahead it would operate a revised timetable and warned that capacity would be limited.
First Great Western said the strike would lead to a revised timetable being operated. But the firm added that although the strike would begin late on Wednesday, it would still be running services during the evening.
New trains
The firm's website says Bristol Temple Meads to London services will be reduced to one an hour, and north to Gloucester would be every two hours.
In Wales, London to Cardiff services would be one an hour with services extending to Swansea only during peak travel times.
In the South West, Penzance to Plymouth services would only run every two hours but many local services have been cancelled.
Most services from the Thames Valley into London Paddington are expected to run as normal but passengers travelling west will face disruption.
In a ballot held last week, 80% of workers supported strike action, with 92% supporting other forms of action.
The dispute centres on plans to axe guards and buffet cars on FGW's new Hitachi Inter City Express trains.
The first Hitachi trains will run on the Great Western main line from 2017 and the East Coast main line from 2018.The first Hitachi trains will run on the Great Western main line from 2017 and the East Coast main line from 2018.
The new trains are being introduced under the Intercity Express Programme (IEP) on routes between London Paddington and Oxford, Bristol and South Wales.The new trains are being introduced under the Intercity Express Programme (IEP) on routes between London Paddington and Oxford, Bristol and South Wales.