South Western Railway reveals new £895m carriages amid pending strike action
Rail passengers face travel chaos in the run-up to Christmas, as union bosses confirm they will go ahead with 27 days of strikes on South Western Railway.
It comes as SWR reveals the first of 750 brand new carriages that are being built, worth £895 million, which are the focus of the long-running dispute.
The industrial action begins on the 2nd of December.
The strike dates are as follows:
00:01 on Monday 2nd December 2019 until 23:59 on Wednesday 11th December
00:01 on Friday 13th December until 23:59 on Tuesday 24th December 2019
00:01 on Friday 27th December 2019 until 23:59 on the 1st January 2020
Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary
The Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) says no more talks are in the pipeline.
South Western Railway says it is committed to finding a solution to the dispute and it will do everything it can to keep customers moving during the strike.
The trains, which are designed to cut overcrowding, are a year behind schedule, but it is hoped they will be released by next summer.
Ninety new Class 701 trains will come into service operating on the Windsor, Reading and West London suburban routes.