Railway strike: Millions face disruption as FIVE operators go on walkout
MILLIONS of passengers across the country face disruption tomorrow and Thursday due to walkouts by the RMT rail union at five operators.
Its members are striking in a row over the role of guards and their future.
The RMT is striking for 24 hours on Merseyrail and Northern Rail and for 48 hours on Southern, Greater Anglia and South Western Railway.
Rail firms want guards to become onboard supervisors who check tickets, leaving drivers to be responsible for opening and shutting doors.
But the RMT is still seeking assurances over the future role and responsibilities of guards.
Driver-only operation trains have been running for years on many networks and the Government sees driver-only as essential for future franchises such as the new cross-London Thameslink route.
The rail watchdog has said they are safe for use.
But the RMT says they put passengers at risk and cited a SWR derailment near Wimbledon yesterday as proof.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “Yet again this incident shows the importance of having guards on trains to manage emergency situations and exposes South Western Railway’s dangerous gamble of axing the guard from their services.
“That is the very issue that our members will be fighting over this week.”
Southern, which has faced more than a month’s worth of walkouts over the past 18 months, says it plans almost a full service, as does Greater Anglia.
SWR says it has trained a team of contingency guards, while Northern plans to run 1,300 trains, mainly between 7am and 7pm.
Merseyrail is planning a reduced service with a mid-day break.