NR keeps Welsh Highland trains running during strikes
PROACTIVE ACTION by Network Rail and Rail, Maritime and Transport union members ensured the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways were able to continue to operate while the union’s members went on strike last month.
The Welsh Highland Railway crosses the Cambrian Coast Line at Cae Pawb via a flat crossing, which is controlled via ETCS from a control centre at Machynlleth. During the two days of strike action, the centre was unmanned, which would have ordinarily stopped the narrow gauge line from running services.
However, F&WHR general manager Paul Lewin said “NR offered us a release at the end of the last shift before strike action and then we returned the route back to them before the restarting of any trains after the strike. This meant we were able to continue running. We are
Ex-North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways Hunslet 2-6-2T Russell returned to the WHR on July 9 ahead of its appearance at the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways’ centenary celebrations on July 30/31. CHRIS PARRY grateful for the support of Network Rail and the RMT for their assistance,” he added.
Mr Lewin added that he is hopeful a similar arrangement can be found if further industrial action takes place on the ‘big railway’ this summer.
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway, however, was unable to run trains to Whitby owing to NR signal boxes between Grosmont and the seaside town not being manned.
“We had to look at alternative arrangements to take passengers in and out of Whitby and we had to curtail bookings when we knew when the strike days were,” said general manager Chris Price.