Train strike to go ahead this bank holiday weekend

A series of strikes and planned maintenance work will hit travellers riding the UK’s national rail network over the bank holiday weekend, delaying and diverting many.

The firm has been locked in talks with union bosses, with the long-running dispute centred over plans to introduce new Hitachi inter-city trains.

“We are continuing to meet with the RMT and remain hopeful that we can come to an agreement that will avoid the bank holiday strike going ahead”, reads a statement issued by FGW.

AFTER a break down in talks on Friday, First Great Western (FGW) rail workers went ahead with the first in a series of planned strikes over the weekend.

RMT union members working for First Great Western, including guards and attendants, will walk out on Saturday 29 August for 72 hours in a dispute over the introduction of new trains on the network which serves areas such as the West Country, Wales and the Cotswolds.

General secretary Mick Cash said in a new circular to members that urgent talks had been held with the company, but no agreement had been reached.

“Once again, I would like to thank all our members for your strength of feeling, determination and solidarity shown throughout this dispute and I hope this will continue until all our demands are met”.

“Following today’s discussions we have written to the RMT for them to formally consider our current proposals”.

However, First Great Western insist the new trains, which will be faster and more frequent, will mean there are more managers on board and not less.

Many passengers will be forced to make multiple changes, use replacement buses and suffer extended journey times.

“Our plans mean more train managers and customer hosts on board our trains not less, and who on every Intercity Express Train, will maintain the same safety competences as they now require”.