More disruption as strikes target three operators
STRIKE action by the RMT union caused further disruption for rail travellers on April 8, as train operators warned that the dispute would be “a long journey”.
RMT members protesting about Driver Only Operation stopped work for 24 hours on Northern, Merseyrail and Southern Railway. Around 2,000 workers were involved in what was the second day of action for Northern and Merseyrail, but the 32nd day in a year on Southern.
The main focus was on passengers attending the Grand National at Aintree, the biggest sporting event of the year on Merseyside. Up to a third of racegoers normally travel by rail.
Merseyrail prioritised services to Aintree by reducing operations on other routes. At peak times it offered a 7½-minute frequency from Liverpool Lime Street, six miles away in the city centre.
“Our focus was clear - to support the Liverpool city region on our biggest day of the year, despite the RMT’s best efforts to scupper this iconic event and create misery for the tens of thousands of people who look forward to it all year,” said Merseyrail Managing Director Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde.
Merseytravel Chief Executive Frank Rogers said: “Despite the rail strike, 70,000 people attended the event. I am not aware of anyone who wanted to get to the Grand National who was unable to.
“The RMT should be prepared to have constructive talks. There is much to discuss now that the RMT have apparently shifted their position.
“They stated that the dispute was not about who opens and closes doors - the only issue relevant to now, as it would have an impact on the way our new trains are manufactured - but about the second person on the train.
“It brings into question why strike action, usually the last resort, is being taken now when there are three years to discuss on-train staffing before the new trains come into operation in 2020.”
Northern said it ran 860 services, mostly between 0900 and 1700. It also laid on six additional evening trains from Lime Street to get racegoers home. Credit cardsized timetables were handed to passengers during the day, so that they could plan their latest time to leave the races.
Richard Allan, deputy managing director of Northern, said: “If we are to modernise and give our customers the improvements they’ve been asking for, we have to change the way we work - just like any other business or industry. We believe we would keep a second person on many of our services.”
He added that no changes to operating practices are planned during 2017, as Northern does not yet have trains capable of Driver Controlled Operation.
Southern said it ran 95% of services during the strike. It added that 55% of conductors and On Board Supervisors reported for work - the highest number since the strikes began in April 2016.
Later, the two sides agreed to hold fresh talks, with two days set aside on April 24-25 (after this issue of RAIL went to press). RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “The union welcomes the opportunity. We would prefer the process to get under way sooner if that was possible.”
Meanwhile, separate discussions between Southern and drivers’ union ASLEF are continuing. Drivers went against the advice of their own union officials for a second time earlier this month, voting to reject a deal that had been negotiated with the company. The deal included an agreement to run trains without a second member of staff on board in specific limited circumstances ( RAIL 824).