Mick Lynch warns rail strikes could go on 'indefinitely' as rail, Tube and bus walkouts spark chaos

Barely one in five trains were running today as a result of the latest strike by members of the RMT rail union, Consumer Editor Chris Choi reports

RMT union boss Mick Lynch warned rail strikes could continue "indefinitely" as the latest walkout began on Thursday, causing travel chaos for passengers.

The general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union joined a picket line outside Euston station in London as only around one in five trains around the country were running, due to the strikes by members of the RMT and TSSA unions.

Mr Lynch said the union had calculated that, including the previous and forthcoming industrial action, more than £120 million of taxpayers’ money had been used to “bail out” private train companies from being liable for revenue lost because of the strikes.

He has written to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, accusing the government of agreeing to bail out the rail companies on the condition that they "comply with government instructions to hold down pay, cut thousands of safety critical rail jobs, introduce driver only trains and close ticket offices across the network.”

“Using taxpayers’ money to satisfy the anti-union agenda of the Tory party and seek to break the trade unions is shameful and means the dispute will be prolonged indefinitely as the train companies don’t lose a penny as a result of the industrial action and therefore have no incentive to settle the disputes," Mr Lynch said on Thursday.

“Instead of waging an ideological war against rail workers, millions of voters would rather that the government allow for a fair negotiated settlement.”

Rail passengers are set to experience more travel strike chaos today, as tens of thousands of workers walk out in a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.

The fresh round of strikes over pay, jobs and conditions beginning 18 August) are being staged by workers from Network Rail and 14 train companies.

Rail services are drastically reduced, with only around a fifth running, and half of all lines closed.

On Friday, London Underground and bus workers in the capital will also walk out.

The latest round of industrial action is expected to cause transport misery for commuters, holidaymakers and fans going to events, such as a cricket Test match at Lords.

Major disruption is also expected the day after each strike due to the knock-on impact from reduced staffing and services on trains, Tubes, and buses.

Mr Lynch said he would not "tolerate being bullied or hoodwinked into accepting a raw deal for our members," as the latest round of walkouts began.

But a spokesperson for the Department for Transport said strikes were no longer "the powerful tool they once were," adding the walkouts were "hurting those people the union claim to represent, many of whom will again be out of pocket and forced to miss a day’s work."

Thursday's strike is the first of three days of industrial action.

When are the strikes?

• Thursday August 18

On Thursday, RMT members at Network Rail (NR) and 14 train operators, TSSA members at seven companies, and Unite members at NR will strike.

Rail services will be drastically reduced, with only around a fifth running, and half of lines closed.

Trains will only operate between 7.30am and 6.30pm.

• Friday August 19

Thursday's strikes will have a knock-on effect on rail services on Friday morning.

On Friday, members of the RMT and Unite on London Underground will walk out, as well as Unite members on London United bus routes in the capital in a separate dispute over pay.

• Saturday August 20

On Saturday, RMT members at Network Rail and 14 train operators, TSSA members at seven companies, and Unite members at NR will strike again, along with London United bus drivers.

Rail service will be severely reduced, with around a fifth of trains running and half of lines closed.

Trains will only operate between 7.30am and 6.30pm.

Sunday morning train services will be affected by the knock-on effect of Saturday’s action.

Trains will only operate between 7.30am and 6.30pm.

What are union members hoping for?

TSSA members taking action include staff working in ticket offices, stations, control rooms, and engineering jobs, as well as planning, timetabling and other support roles.

The union is seeking guarantees of no compulsory redundancies, a pay rise in line with the cost of living, and promises of no unilateral alterations to job terms and conditions.

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said: “Our members in the rail industry are going into the third or fourth year of a pay freeze. Meanwhile, food and fuel bills are spiralling, and the Tory cost-of-living crisis is making working people poorer. Enough is enough – this cannot go on.

“For lots of our members, this is the first time they have ever taken industrial action – it is a last resort and not something any rail worker takes lightly.”

Mr Cortes accused the government of "hampering negotiations and blocking employers from making a reasonable offer" to rail workers.

He called on Mr Shapps and the Department for Transport to "make a reasonable offer on pay and job security – either by coming to the table themselves or allowing employers to negotiate freely.

"The string-pulling and blocking negotiations must stop," he added.

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A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Yet again, for the sixth time since June, union leaders are opting to inflict misery and disrupt the day-to-day lives of millions instead of working with industry to agree a deal that will bring our railways into the 21st century.

They added A-level students receiving their results on Thursday were "being denied the chance to celebrate their hard work and dedication face to face with peers and teachers," as a result of the industrial action.

“It’s clear strikes are not the powerful tool they once were and union chiefs are no longer able to bring the country to a standstill as, unlike them, the world has changed and people simply work from home.

“All these strikes are doing is hurting those people the unions claim to represent, many of whom will again be out of pocket and forced to miss a day’s work.

The spokesperson urged union bosses to "to do the right thing by their members and let them have their say on Network Rail’s very fair deal."

“It’s time to get off the picket lines and back around the negotiating table – the future of our railway depends on it," they added.