Government calls on railway stations to keep ticket barriers shut to fight fare evasion November 27, 2022 The UK Government has called on railway stations to keep their ticket barriers shut as it clamps down on fare evasion. “For the barriers to be left open would be bad enough in the days when things were better,” rail minister Huw Merriman said. “To do so when I am fighting so hard with the [...]
Mark Harper: Inflation-matching pay rises ‘unaffordable’ November 27, 2022 Increasing workers’ salaries to match inflation rates is simply unaffordable, according to transport secretary Mark Harper. “We want to try and give all the workers in the public sector who work very hard decent pay rises, but they can’t be inflation busting,” he told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday. Salary increases have been the [...]
Nightcap: Cocktail group urges RMT to move rail strikes in exchange for free drinks November 25, 2022 The owners of UK cocktail group Nightcap have called on the union RMT to switch the rail strike dates in exchange for free drinks. Co-founders Sarah Willingham and Michael Toxvaerd – who own the likes of Cocktail Club, Barrio and the Adventure Bar Group – pleaded with the RMT to move their planned walkout from [...]
Mick Lynch to meet with Mark Harper as new strikes sour festive period November 23, 2022 RMT’s boss Mick Lynch is set to meet with transport secretary Mark Harper tomorrow as the rail strikes announced yesterday are set to disrupt the festive period. The union announced on Tuesday that more than 40,000 of its members working at Network Rail and 14 other train operators will walk out throughout December and January [...]
Hospitality warns of nightmare before and after Christmas as new rail strikes announced November 22, 2022 London’s hospitality venues are headed for a catastrophic Christmas after a fresh slew of railway strike dates were announced today. The RMT declared that its 40,000 members will walk out throughout December and January, falling slap bang in the middle of the sector’s busiest trading period. Strike action will take place at Network Rail and [...]
Fresh rail strikes in December and January to disrupt festive period November 22, 2022 Britons can expect a disrupted festive period as railway union RMT announced today a few 48-hour strikes across December and January following a breakdown in industrial relations. More than 40,000 members working at Network Rail and 14 other train operating companies will walk out on 13, 14, 16, 17 December as well as 3, 4, [...]
Train drivers’ union calls off Overground strike on 26 November November 17, 2022 Train drivers’ union Aslef has called off its planned strike action on 26 November following a breakthrough in negotiations. Union leaders said they received an offer from operator Arriva Rail London and put it to members, who will decided whether to take it. “Members at London Overground will now have the opportunity to consider and [...]
Rail strikes ‘cost £500m to the economy’ as Nightcap boss says action ‘decimating’ bars November 10, 2022 Ongoing railway strikes have cost the UK economy £500m this year, with businesses pleading with unions and bosses to find a solution to the disruption. “If we don’t get the services restored I’m worried people will give up on rail,” newly-appointed rail minister Huw Merriman told the Railway Industry Association’s conference on Thursday. “That would [...]
FirstGroup eyes long-term contract for Avanti following focus on improving timetables November 9, 2022 FirstGroup is working to deliver a long-term government contract for its hailed subsidiary Avanti as the group focuses on ensuring “acceptable” service levels to passengers. “Our complete focus in the second half will be on operational improvements and delivering acceptable passenger service levels,” chief executive Graham Sutherland told analysts this morning. Avanti made the headlines [...]
Disruption continues as trains delayed this AM despite unions calling off strikes November 8, 2022 Disruption continued this morning as trains were delays despite rail strikes being called off last week. Several operators were forced to push first services by around two hours after struggling with having staff and rolling stock ready. South Western Railway urged passengers not to travel before 8am, while Northern and Great Western Railway said they [...]