48-hour strikes to hit Caledonian Sleeper

● Walkouts announced by RMT union in dispute over rest areas for staff breaks

Passengers using overnight trains between Scotland and London face four days of disruption after the R ail Mari - time and Transport union (RMT) announced two walkouts over rest areas on trains.

The union has instructed members to strike for 48 hours from both Sunday 4 October and Sunday 11 October.

The action from 5:30 pm each day could affect trains on 4, 5, 11 and 12 October.

A ban on overtime or working on days off will also be imposed from 6-11 October and indefinitely from 13 October.

Sleeper hosts and team leaders, who look after passengers, are due to take part.

The move comes after staff voted last week to strike after a request to operator Serco was refused for more spare cabins on the trains to be made available for rest breaks during extended shifts.

The trains operate Sunday to Friday between London and Edinburgh, with a sec - ond service running between London, Fort William and Inverness via Glasgow Queen Street.

Their normal routes and the service to Aberdeen have been suspended during the Covid-19 crisis.

The union stated in a letter to members: “I am writing further to the overwhelming ballot result where you and your colleagues showed a clear desire to take industrial action ballot against S erco’s lack of concern for members’ safety, well being and the company’s refusal to negotiate with your union.

“S er co Ca led on ian Sleeper has continued to provide insufficient berths for rest periods and the company’ s inability to address the fatigue felt by you and your colleagues is unacceptable.

“Safety on the railway is paramount and the company is showing a clear lack of regard for the welfare of its staff.

“There is no question that you and your colleagues are essential for the safe running of the railway and it is vital that staff are able to carry out their duties responsively and quickly.

“This can only happen when staff are free from the issues of fatigue.”

The R MT said its national executive committee was

“appalled at S er co’ slack of concern for the safety of our members”.

It said: “Serco is continuing to ignore the 2019 dispute resolution agreed with the union that train hosts should be allocated additional berths for their rest periods.”

S er co won a 15- year franchise to operate the service in 2015.

It has received emergency support payments from the Scottish Government since April because of a significant reduction in passenger numbers.

Ryan Flaherty, Serco’s managing director for Caledonian Sleeper, described the strike action as“especially disap - pointing”, saying it had been agreed“despite less than a third of our workforce voting in favour of this in their ballot”.

“We are currently reviewing plans for services on the dates in question and will update guests should there be any changes that affect them,” he said.