Region’s rail users hit by more strikes

YORKSHIRE RAIL users will again be hit by strikes on October 3 and 5 in a dispute over the role of guards, the RMT union has announced.

Workers on Southern, Merseyrail, Arriva Rail North and Greater Anglia will take action as part of the long-standing row which centres on the role of guards and driver-only trains.

The strikes will coincide with the Conservative Party’s annual conference in Manchester.

Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, accused Arriva Rail North, who operate services in the region, of “intransigence”, adding: “The responsibility for the inevitable disruption lies wholly with the company.

“We are angry that Arriva continue to fail to face up to the facts and ignore a perfectly reasonable union proposal to invite the DfT to join us in round-table talks aimed at finding a solution.

“The public, who support RMT’s campaign for a guarantee of a guard on their trains, will be appalled that Arriva Rail North have failed yet again to offer any kind of progress whatsoever in the talks and have instead opted to try and bulldoze through their plans regardless.”

Richard Allan, Arriva Rail North’s deputy managing director, said: “Northern is modernising local rail with new and refurbished trains, better stations and faster journeys, and while strike action is disruptive, we remain firmly focused on delivering a better service for our customers. RMT continues to reject our offers to talk and we are disappointed that the union has called further strike action. We are still prepared to guarantee jobs and current pay for all our conductors for the next eight years.”

The Merseyrail strike will coincide with the first phase of work to transform Liverpool Lime Street mainline station.