eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk Trains face strike disruption
MAINLINE RAIL SERVICES ON SUNDAYS HIT BY DISPUTES
SUNDAY rail services could be disrupted until October due to strike action over safety concerns.
Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) are set to take industrial action every Sunday because East Midlands Railway has reduced the number of train managers to one on the 360 Class trains.
The union said one train manager on large services is unsafe.
The union has instructed train managers not to work any shifts on a Sunday service and to refuse to work alone on any trains with a large number of cars.
Class 360 trains run on the Connect service between Corby and London and the Intercity service between Sheffield and London St Pancras, which stops at Leicester.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “East Midlands Railway has introduced new working arrangements for Class 360 trains without any formal agreement with RMT.
“RMT believes the Class 360 method of working the company has imposed is not safe and a second safety critical person, preferably a train manager, should be in each portion of the multi-unit trains.
“This company should get out of the bunker and end its assault on the safety and working conditions of train crew.”
The strike action will run every Sunday until September 26.
Meanwhile, senior conductors are also set to strike as part of pay and contract disputes, which will also affect Sunday services from August 22 to October 10.
Mr Lynch said: “Our members have been left with no choice but to call further strike action.
“These strike dates are about defending senior conductor members’ terms and conditions and sending a clear message to East Midlands Railway that we will not allow them to treat us with contempt.”
An East Midlands Railway (EMR) spokesman said: “The safety of our customers and our staff will never be comprised.
“This strike action by the RMT is completely unwarranted and unjustified.
“EMR consulted with the RMT for six months before these trains were brought into service and the RMT signed the resulting risk assessment.
“Every EMR Connect service includes a safety-critical train manager on board – which is an enhancement to the previous 17 years where they have operated in other parts of the county with only a driver.
“Furthermore, these trains have been in customer service since May and there has not been a single operational or safety incident due to their method of operation.
“As a result of this unnecessary action, EMR will be introducing a reduced Sunday timetable for EMR Connect and EMR Intercity services.
On the senior conductor strike, the spokesman said: “We are extremely disappointed the RMT has taken the decision to extend strikes throughout the summer.
“At a time when the railway continues to benefit from taxpayer support and no one has been furloughed or lost their job, this action damages our ability to support the East Midlands’ recovery.
“We have robust contingency measures in place and will continue to run the vast majority of our advertised timetable on Sundays, but we would encourage customers to check their journey before setting off.”