Rail strike planned for bank holiday

RAIL workers on First Great Western are to stage a series of strikes, including over the August Bank Holiday weekend, in a long-running row over new trains.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, including drivers and guards, will walk out for 24 hours on August 23 and for 72 hours from August 29.

Other union members who work on maintenance will strike on August 29 and 31.

The union is in dispute over the introduction of new Hitachi inter-city trains, saying the role of guards will be reduced and buffet cars’ facilities removed.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “Despite strenuous efforts by our negotiators we have not been able to secure the kind of progress required in the key areas of jobs, services and safety for us to reach an agreement.

“As a result we have no option but to put further action on.

“The fact remains that if it is good enough for East Coast, using the same trains, to meet the very basic assurances sought by this trade union, then it is good enough for First Great Western as well.”

Union members staged a 48-hour strike last month which disrupted services at FGW, which runs trains to and from London Paddington, South Wales and the South West of England.

Mr Cash said union members were “united and determined” to continue campaigning.

A FGW spokesman said: “These brand-new trains will deliver more seats, faster journey times and more frequent journeys. Our plans mean more train managers on board our trains, not fewer.

“The key issue remains that we want the driver to close the doors, which is fundamental to our ability to run the faster, more frequent services customers should expect from a 21st century railway. This method has been used safely across the UK rail industry for decades. “We have meetings with the RMTthis week.”