New Year train strike misery

RAIL workers have announced another string of 24-hour strikes to pile further misery on passengers in the New Year.

Staff at six operating companies will walk out in the long-running dispute on the role of guards.

The strikes will hit passengers as many return to work after the festive period. They are also being clobbered by rail fare rises averaging more than 3 per cent – the biggest in five years.

RMT union members at South Western Railway, Greater Anglia, Merseyrail, Arriva Rail North and the Isle of Wight’s Island Line will walk out on January 8, 10 and 12, while those at Southern will strike on January 8.

Other RMT members at Virgin West Coast, CrossCountry, South Western Railway, Greater Anglia and London’s Docklands Light Railway are also set to strike in the coming days over staffing, pay and working conditions.

Train operators last night accused the union of refusing to negotiate before calling strike action.