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RMT and First Great Western in talks to avert rail strike First Great Western rail strike 'on' as talks fail, RMT says
(about 7 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 to avert a 48-hour rail strike on First Great Western (FGW) services have failed, the RMT union has said.
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. Services between London, the west of England and Wales will be hit by the walk-out starting at 18:30 BST.
The RMT's Mick Cash will meet the firm over safety and job loss fears. The industrial action is also likely to affect fans heading to the first Ashes test match in Cardiff.
The strike is also likely to affect fans heading to the first Ashes test match in Cardiff. The dispute centres on plans to axe guards and buffet cars on FGW's new Hitachi Inter City Express trains.
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". Revised timetable
FGW said if the strike went ahead it would operate a revised timetable and warned that capacity would be limited. Speaking after the talks on Wednesday, Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said the 48-hour strike "remains on".
But the firm added that although the strike would begin late on Wednesday, it would still be running services during the evening. "The company still feel that the configuration of the new super express trains is out of their control and that it would be in their best interests to have 'driver-only' operations and to remove the buffet cars.
New trains "That position is totally unacceptable and the union is clear that the design of the new fleet of trains is a matter for First Group and that there is still time to modify the rolling stock," he said.
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. A FGW spokesman said: "Progress has been made, sadly not enough progress for the RMT to be able to cancel their strike at short notice."
The company will operate a revised timetable but has warned that space would be limited. It intends to run services during Wednesday evening.
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 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.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.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. In a ballot held last week, 80% of workers supported strike 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.