Great Western Coffee Shop

Not just GWR infrastructure related chaos.....grim scenes at Euston (people not even being allowed into the station) & Kings X too.........as well as all Eurostar services cancelled due to a strike......not a good day for the railway.

https://www.itv.com/news/london/2023-12-21/london-euston-hit-by-travel-chaos-days-before-christmas-due-to-fault-on-line

https://news.sky.com/video/christmas-travellers-delayed-at-kings-cross-station-as-storm-pia-causes-disruption-to-trains-13035845

https://www.euronews.com/travel/2023/12/21/eurostar-youve-ruined-my-christmas-last-minute-eurostar-strike-hits-london-trains

Eurostar is due to French staff going on strike, they do not need to give notice of strike action in France.

Five days notice of a strike is required in the case of government services, and also private companies providing public services. So that does apply to railway operators. However, these are tunnel staff ensuring safety, and I presume they fall outside that definition - or at least the think they do. It's all very complicated and legal.

The unions have just announced a return to work, having extracted an acceptable offer of an increased bonus. They also said the tunnel would reopen this evening, though to what extent is not really up to them.

Been a quiet day on the GWML when you compare it to the chaos on the East and West coast mainlines and Eurostar. Thousands of rail travellers have experienced an awful day trying to get their destinations for Christmas.