Wide UK travel disruption as rail strikes hit people returning to work

Rail passengers are being warned to expect 'significant disruption'

Paddington train station on December 24 in London. Getty

Rail strikes by tens of thousands of workers in disputes over pay, jobs and conditions will affect passengers returning to work after the festive break.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union at Network Rail and 14 train operators will stage two 48-hour walkouts from Tuesday and Friday, while drivers in the Aslef union will go on strike on Thursday.

Travellers returning to work after the festive break are being warned to expect “significant disruption” as only a limited number of trains will run.

The advice is to only travel if absolutely necessary, allow extra time and check when first and last trains will depart.

There may also be disruption to services on January 8 as the striking workers return to their duties.

On RMT strike days, about half of the network will shut down with only about 20 per cent of normal services running.

Trains that do run will start later and finish much earlier than usual, with services typically running between 7.30am and 6.30pm on the day of the strike.

The train drivers' strike on January 5 will affect 15 operators and will result in even fewer services running, with some companies operating “very significantly reduced” timetables.

Winter strikes in Britain - in pictures

Protesters march through Trafalgar Square, towards Downing Street, London, during a nurses' strike. PA

A rally in support of striking Amazon workers outside the retailer's warehouse in Coventry. Reuters

Members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy on the picket line outside London's St Thomas' Hospital as they strike for the first time. PA

Teachers gather at The Mound in central Edinburgh to highlight the need for a fair pay deal for Scotland's teachers as they continue to take strike action. PA

Paramedic Gabriel McComish, on the picket line outside the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, as thousands of health and social care workers in Northern Ireland take part in strike action. PA

Ambulance workers on the picket line outside London Ambulance Service NHS Trust control room in Waterloo, London. PA

Ambulance workers gather at a picket line in Waterloo, London. AFP

Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland teaching union join a rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. PA

Striking ambulance workers outside the NHS London Ambulance Service HQ in London. Reuters

Passengers at a busy King's Cross station in London after a strike by RMT union members. PA

Driving examiners on a PCS picket line outside Goodmayes Driving Test Centre in London. EPA

Nurses and supporters march towards Downing Street after a day of strike action in London. Getty Images

Travellers waiting for Euston station to open in London. Getty Images

A warning sign at Heathrow Airport in London. Bloomberg

A packed concourse at London Euston station on Christmas Eve. Getty Images

Striking Border Force workers picket at Gatwick Airport. EPA

Armed forces personnel drive an ambulance as paramedics, ambulance technicians and call handlers strike in England and Wales. PA

A notice about strike action outside Mount Pleasant Mail Centre in Farringdon, as Royal Mail workers stage strikes. PA

Ambulance workers and supporters gather outside Brent Ambulance Station in London. Getty Images

Members of the Fire and Rescue Service join demonstrators on a picket line at Manchester Ambulance Station. Getty Images

Ambulances outside the West Midlands Ambulance Service headquarters in Coventry during a strike. PA

The RMT also has an overtime ban in place at 14 train operating companies until Monday, which will continue to affect the level of cancellations and the punctuality of some services.

“No-one wants to see these strikes go ahead and we can only apologise to passengers and to the many businesses who will be hit by this unnecessary and damaging disruption," said Daniel Mann, director of industry operations at the Rail Delivery Group.

“Passengers with tickets for between January 3 and 7 can use their ticket the day before the ticket date, or up to and including Tuesday, January 10.

“This dispute will only be resolved by agreeing the long overdue reforms to working arrangements needed to put the industry on a sustainable footing, rather than unions condemning their members to losing more pay in the new year.”

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said that the union was “in it for the long haul”.

“We don’t want to go on strike but the companies have pushed us into this place," Mr Whelan said.

“They have not offered our members a penny and these are people who have not had an increase since April 2019.

“That means they expect train drivers at these companies to take a real-terms pay cut, to work just as hard for considerably less, when inflation is running at north of 14 per cent.

“The train companies say their hands have been tied by the government, while the government, which does not employ us, says it’s up to the companies to negotiate with us.

“We are always happy to negotiate — we never refuse to sit down at the table and talk — but these companies have offered us nothing, and that is unacceptable.”

UK strikes – in pictures

Passengers view departure boards at Kings Cross station in London on Wednesday, during a strike by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union. PA

Members of the Communication Workers Union on the picket line in Whitechapel, East London, as Royal Mail workers strike over jobs, pay and conditions. PA

Royal Mail delivery lorries parked idle in the Whitechapel delivery depot. PA

Mick Lynch, centre, general secretary of the RMT union, joins members on the picket line outside Euston station in London. PA

CWU members on the picket line in Whitechapel. PA

Empty platforms at Paddington station in London. PA

The RMT picket line at Euston station. PA

Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT, has accused the government of blocking a deal to end the long-running dispute.

Mr Lynch says he is willing to negotiate, but is calling for an offer on pay, jobs and conditions on which his members can vote.

The RMT is campaigning against plans to close ticket offices, cut jobs and move the industry to widespread driver-only operations.

UK rail strikes cause disruption for millions amid cold snap - in pictures

Closed platforms at Waterloo Station in London. A strike by the RMT union is causing major disruption. EPA

Commuters wait for trains at Waterloo. EPA

An empty Paddington Station in London. PA

Southeastern trains are parked in sidings near Ashford Station in Kent. PA

Crowds of commuters arrive at Waterloo Station. EPA

RMT members on the picket line outside Victoria Station in London. PA

Passengers wait at the concourse of Euston in London. Reuters

Platforms are shut down at Waterloo. EPA

A blank departure display board at Euston. Reuters

RMT boss Mick Lynch on a picket line outside Euston. Reuters

An empty Waterloo during rush hour. EPA

“Passengers have rightly had enough of rail strikes and want the disruption to end," said a Department for Transport representative.

“The government has demonstrated it is being reasonable and stands ready to facilitate a resolution to rail disputes. It’s time the unions came to the table and played their part as well.

“Inflation-matching pay increases for all public sector workers would cost everyone more in the long-term, worsening debt, fuelling inflation and costing every household an extra £1,000 ($1,210).

“Unions should step back from this strike action so we can start 2023 by ending this damaging dispute.”

Mr Whelan said: “We keep coming to the table but the table is bare.

"Six months after we asked for a pay rise for train drivers who have not had one for nearly four years, we have still not had an offer from the train companies which employ us.

“The ball is in their court. The companies, or this Tory government which stands behind them, could end this dispute now by making a serious and sensible pay offer. It is up to them.”