5 days to halt hols rail misery

RAIL unions and bosses have until Monday to make a deal to avert chaos over Christmas, a document reveals.

A leaked briefing from track operator Network Rail said to run a full service over Christmas period and carry out vital engineering works, “industrial action must be called off by 5 December”. Over 40,000 RMT members across Network Rail and 14 rail firms will walk out for eight separate days over the period. That is on top of an overtime ban lasting from December 18 until January 2.