Main line rail strike suspended after progress in talks

A PLANNED 48-hour strike on Virgin Trains East Coast has been suspended following progress in talks.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union had been due to walk out on Friday and Saturday in a dispute over the role of guards and other issues.

Virgin had said it would have run a normal service if the strike had gone ahead.

In a message to RMT members, general secretary Mick Cash said the company had confirmed there will be a train manager on every passenger service, carrying out safety critical duties previously carried out by the guard, and it is not the firm’s intention to change this.

“Management has also reiterated that there will be no compulsory redundancies as a result of these changes,” he said.

David Horne, Virgin Trains’ managing director on the east coast route, said: “We’re pleased that the RMT has agreed to suspend industrial action and continue talks.

“We had put in place detailed contingency plans which would have seen our timetable run as normal, nevertheless this news will be welcomed by our customers and people.

“We’re making exciting changes on the east coast as part of the customer-centric revolution which has seen us embark on a £140m investment programme in our trains and stations.