UK transport is reliable, minister insists, despite flight disruption and rail strikes August 29, 2023 Transport Secretary Mark Harper has insisted the UK has a reliable transport network, despite yesterday's “network-wide” failure of the country's Air Traffic Control (ATC) system and ongoing rail strikes.
RMT rail union boss Mick Lynch sets out ‘road map’ as services hit by fresh strikes August 26, 2023 The biggest rail workers’ union has suggested a “road map” to a negotiated settlement in the deadlocked dispute over jobs, pay and conditions. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) has written to the Rail Delivery Group saying the two sides needed to navigate a way through the row. The move was made as 20,000 [...]
London hotels are so much better when they stop refurbishing August 26, 2023 As a travel writer, my heart sinks when I check into a new London hotel and hear that it’s about to be refurbished. In fact, this goes for hotels all over the world. Sometimes a spruce up is necessary, of course, but most of the time it feels like hotels think the only way to [...]
Notting Hill Carnival and Reading Festival-goers brace for rail strike disruption August 25, 2023 Rail passengers will face fresh travel disruption on Saturday because of another strike in the deadlocked dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Around 20,000 members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at 14 train operators will walk out, crippling services across England. The latest stoppage in the row, now in its second year, [...]
Travelodge reveals record first half as blockbuster London summer drives demand August 24, 2023 Budget hotel chain Travelodge has revealed a record first half, with underlying earnings up 48 per cent, thanks to booming demand for both business and leisure trips and its best ever night in London. Travelodge reported its highest ever revenue night in London in July, as Brits flocked to Blur’s concert at Wembley and Bruce Springsteen [...]
Gatwick bank holiday strikes OFF: Brits breathe sigh of relief as disruption averted August 24, 2023 London Gatwick Airport passengers are no longer facing disruption over the August bank holiday, after workers accepted a last-gasp pay deal. The Unite Union threatened strike action on this weekend, on behalf of members employed by ground handlers Red Handling and Wilson James, who operate passenger assistance contracts. But following the improved offer both have [...]
Fresh train strikes and overtime ban to cause more rail havoc on 1 and 2 September August 18, 2023 Train drivers are to stage a fresh strike in the long-running dispute over pay, threatening more travel chaos for passengers. Members of Aslef will walk out on September 1 and will ban overtime on September 2, the same day as a strike by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT). Aslef said its strike will [...]
Yet more rail strikes have been announced – here’s all you need to know August 15, 2023 Commuters are to face yet more misery from rail strikes this August after the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) announced fresh industrial action last week. 20,000 RMT members from a host of train operators nationwide will walk out, disrupting the UK’s rail network on dates that coincide with the August Bank holiday weekend. The [...]
Commuters face significant rail fare hikes despite ongoing strike disruption August 14, 2023 Commuters are facing a significant rail fare hike, which could add hundreds to the price of their season tickets despite ongoing strike disruption and faltering performance. On Wednesday, the Retail Price Index (RPI) figures used to set next year’s rail fare increase will be announced. Rises in the cost of tickets are typically linked to [...]
No end in sight: Nearly 4m working days lost to strikes in past year as negotiations falter August 14, 2023 Talks between government and unions to resolve ongoing industrial disputes have repeatedly faltered, despite the UK losing nearly 4m working days to strikes over the past year. According to new research from the Resolution Foundation think tank, 3.9m working days have been lost to industrial action, higher than at any point since the 1980s. Highly [...]