RAIL UNION RMT has announced that railway workers will walkout across the country on 1 October 2022 in the ongoing fight over jobs, pay and working conditions.
Over 40,000 RMT members from Network Rail and 15 train operating companies will take to picket lines, effectively shutting down the railway network.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that it was encouraging that the new Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP had met with the union.
Mick Lynch said:
We welcome this more positive approach from the government to engage with us as a first step to finding a suitable settlement.
However, as no new offer has been tabled, our members have no choice but to continue this strike action
We will continue to negotiate in good faith, but the employers and government need to understand our industrial campaign will continue for as long as it takes.
Rail passengers in Yorkshire should only travel if necessary on those days.
- For the first time, RMT and ASLEF will strike on the same day resulting in the lowest service level since strikes began this Saturday (1 Oct)
- A special timetable will operate with very few trains in and out of Leeds station and many routes will be closed altogether.
- Passengers should plan ahead between Saturday 1 and Sunday 9 October, know their last train times and expect disruption
- An extremely limited special timetable will run between 7:30am and 6:30pm.
During the three days of industrial action, less than 5% of normal services will run in and out of Leeds station. It means that Yorkshire’s busiest station will only be open between 7am and 7pm, with the Southern Entrance closed completely.
Across the region services will be severely reduced, and many routes will be shut altogether, including lines between:
- Leeds and Bradford Interchange / Halifax / Hull
- Sheffield and Manchester / Lincoln
- Newcastle and Carlisle / Middlesbrough / Hartlepool
- Scarborough and Hull / York
There will be a knock-on impact on the days after strikes as workers return to their duties, so passengers should continue to check their journey via National Rail throughout the week.
Thousands of specially-trained back-up staff will step up to support the network during the walkout – which has been called by multiple rail trade unions – to keep as many vital freight and passenger services running as possible.
Matt Rice, North and East Route Director for Network Rail, said:
I’d like to apologise to passengers for the limited service and reduced opening hours we’re able to offer as union members strike.
The best advice we have is to plan ahead and only travel by train if it’s necessary. Anyone who chooses to travel should check their journey, know their last train home and unfortunately, expect significant disruption.
For the latest updates, please visit networkrail.co.uk/industrial-action
