Rail workers prepare to go on strike at weekend

A spokesman for First Great Western said that there would be slightly fewer trains running on Sunday, which would be operating to an amended schedule.

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport workers (RMT) is a trade union for UK transport industry staff.

There will also be limited food and drink services on board, and the last trains of the day will leave significantly earlier than usual, according to the train company.

Talks are to resume again on Monday, although there is further industrial action planned for the duration of the bank holiday weekend if no resolution is found.

But Mr Buckland said strike action was not the way to resolve the issue.

The union has been in talks with FGW this week amid fears that the role of the guard will be reduced and buffet cars will no longer feature on the region’s trains.

“The tube strike will go ahead”, said RMT assistant general secretary Mick Lynch.

The strike by First Great Western staff, which is said to be over the introduction of Hitachi Inter City trains and threats to jobs, begins at midnight on Saturday.

“The new InterCity trains are going to be part of the new improved Great Western service which will benefit us all”.

Just 70% of the regular service will operate this Sunday, and FGW have eased some ticket restrictions and offered customers a full refund or the chance to change their booking.

At least half of the intercity services will be cancelled with one train an hour between Paddington and Bristol, south Wales and the south west of England.

“The brand new Super Express Trains will deliver more seats, faster journey times and more frequent journeys for our passengers”.

They also held a 48-hour strike in July over the same issue.