National Rail strikes

[whole diary]

[Jez]

Just phoned customer services and they were very helpful. Said even tho I bought the ticket on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website because its a Crosscountry service I am travelling on if they dont run the train they will be liable to put alternative arrangements in place or refund the ticket.

Its just typical it clashes with when I booked the ticket.

[readytostart]

Well I'm relieved for one as I was not looking forward to driving to Gatwick and paying through the nose for a couple of week's parking.

I'm a bit puzzled though, as IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) previous strikes by signallers have not resulted in almost complete closure of the network, with the main lines kept open albeit on a reduced service.

I think in the past the disputes have been fairly localised and managers have been shipped in from elsewhere to provide cover, the national nature of this strike will mean managers are needed in their own areas.
I'd imagine that most of the larger area signalling centres will still be able to operate, the smaller boxes will struggle.

[inspector_blakey]

We've been here before, if I remember correctly, in summer 2006 - I think we were within days of a national signallers' strike (certainly one NR^» (Network Rail - home page) signalling manager of my acquaintance had his instructions for carrying out the strike contingency) which was ultimately called off at fairly short notice.

The mandate for strike action was relatively weak, and it sounds like there is still the will in both sides to negotiate a settlement so I would be a bit surprised if this actually goes ahead. It's interesting to me that the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) seems to have deliberately avoided going all-out and striking over the Easter break - maybe lessons learned from the abortive Unite/BA^» (British Airways - about) "twelve days of Christmas" strike last year...?

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Gordon Brown says there is 'no reason' for rail strike

There is "no reason" why the first national railway strike for 16 years should go ahead, Gordon Brown has said.
The RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) and the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA^» (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association - about)) are planning four days of action from 6 April in a row over jobs and working practices.
The prime minister said the government "cannot tolerate large-scale industrial disputes" at a time when the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) was coming out of the recession.
But Tory leader David Cameron said Mr Brown needed to give "more of a lead".
Unions said they were available for talks to try to head off the action.
A spokesman for the RMT said: "We are drawing together a series of proposals which are aimed at resolving the issues at the heart of the dispute.
"That document will be submitted to Acas and once the various parties have had a chance to look at all the issues we will be getting back round the table for face to face talks with Network Rail."
The strike was announced on Thursday after a meeting between Network Rail and the RMT and TSSA failed to reach agreement.
TSSA supervisors and RMT maintenance workers are set to walk out from 6-9 April, while RMT signal staff will strike from 0600-1000 and 1800-2200 on those days.

[James Vertigan]

Those with travel plans over the proposed strike dates are advised to keep an ey out here:http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/2010/dispute.html which is gradually being updated with TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) plans should the strikes go ahead.

[Timmer]

I've just got this feeling these strikes will happen and that's a shame though looking at the NR^» (Network Rail - home page) list of services that are running there will be some reasonable services running particularly long distance.

[johoare]

Those with travel plans over the proposed strike dates are advised to keep an ey out here:http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/2010/dispute.html which is gradually being updated with TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) plans should the strikes go ahead.

Thanks for that link.. I'll wait for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to appear on there to see whether I need to make other plans to get to work that week or not 

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

New talks due over threatened national railway strike

Talks between unions and employers in a bid to avert the threatened national rail strike will begin on Monday, the conciliation service Acas has said.

[paul7575]

Bought an advance ticket for a journey from Cardiff-Birmingham on 8th April - am I entitled to a refund if the service doesnt run and therefore I cant travel??

Yes, and without any admin fee or whatever.  Same rules as the normal 'Advance' terms and conditions really...

Paul

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

East Midlands Trains set to run during strike

East Midlands Trains (EMT^» (East Midlands Trains - about)) is expecting to run a normal daytime service on main routes if a strike by signallers and maintenance workers goes ahead.
The RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) and the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA^» (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association - about)) are planning four days of action from 6 April in a row over jobs and working practices.
EMT said a normal service would operate on trains between Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham, Leicester and London.
However, it said a reduced service would run on many local routes.

[JayMac]

What's the deal if you've already re-arranged travel plans and bought new tickets, as I have, and the planned strikes are called off?

I'm now visiting Mumsy on Easter Sunday and have purchased new Advance tickets. Will I still be refunded, without admin fee, for my tickets purchased for the 7th April, if the trains do run?

[John R]

If you haven't had confirmation from the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) that your train isn't going to run (or an alternative) then I would expect you to lose your money. Of course, the TOCs could take a more generous interpretation, but until they have published their anticipated services on the days in question, they could justifiably argue that they have not defaulted on their part of the contract entered into when they sold you the ticket.

[inspector_blakey]

I think that's true - exactly the same situation that many passengers (including me!) found themselves in during the BA^» (British Airways - about) strikes. In my case before Christmas I had bought a refundable ticket with a different airline as an "insurance" policy to make sure I could get home. Had I bought a non-refundable ticket then I'd have been screwed since my BA flight ultimately operated as scheduled.

[James Vertigan]

The list has had a bit of a major update today with all TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) listed but no information from First Group for any of their routes yet. Information is expected to be made available by Thursday.

[inspector_blakey]

From the Guardian (click for full article)

Network Rail said tonight it was taking legal action against the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) union in a bid to stop a signallers' strike due to begin next Tuesday, but added that "constructive talks" between the two sides were continuing.

The threat to services after Easter comes from two separate disputes, one with signal staff, who plan industrial action in morning and evening rush hours, and the second with maintenance workers, who are threatening a separate four-day stoppage from Tuesday 6 April.