Rail misery looms with strike planned for next week

Train outside Clapham Junction Credit: Cathal McNaughton/PA

One million rail passengers in the region are facing a double dose of misery with a national rail strike called for Monday week, an overtime ban and changes to the times of 200 trains from Monday. Some will be cut altogether.

The strike starts on Monday week at 5pm and will last 24 hours and involves around 16,000 workers at Network Rail.

Staff have voted by a big majority to walk out in a row over pay. They include signal and track workers.

If the strike is solid many lines could be forced to shut causing misery.

The strike will start at 5pm on Monday week and last for 24 hours. That will mean disruption from early afternoon until well into the evening of the following day.

The overtime ban lasts 48 hours and is expected to have less impact.

The dispute is over pay. Network Rail want a pay freeze this year with inflation rises for the next three years. It has also offered a £500 payment for this year. The union RMT says it is not acceptable.

Network Rail say it is fair and affordable.

The company is run as a private concern but is regulated and owned by the Government so in effect this will be the first run in with the unions since the election and Ministers will keep a close eye on how it develops.

The current pay package proposals which RMT has put into dispute are summarised as follows.

  • 2015 – A £500 non-consolidated lump sum payment.

  • 2016, 2017, 2018 - An RPI level of inflation increase in pay would be applied for each year.

  • The “No Compulsory Redundancy” commitment would be extended until 31st December 2016.

Meanwhile 200 Southern services face changes to times and stopping patterns from Monday in a fresh attempt to solve the problems at London Bridge.

There has been chaos for weeks after a new track layout as part of the station redevelopment. Rail bosses say allowing more time for trains should help. But critics say it is no more than fixing the figures.

Southern trains will be hit and some on the Brighton line will be cut.

The so-called "train of shame" will also have an extra three minutes to get from Brighton to London a have a stop cut. The 0729 hit the headlines after it was revealed it never arrived on time in a year.