Rail strike action to continue as fares rise
RMT union pledges to keep up pressure on SWR, while a doctor warns of dangers of overcrowding
South Western Railway passengers were last night warned of fresh disruption just as the month-long industrial action they have already endured was set to draw to a close. The RMT Union vowed to “put on more [strike] action” next year following its dispute over the future role of train guards. It comes as rail passengers will be hit with average fare rises of 2.7 per cent from Thursday, just under the Government cap linked to the retail prices index of 2.9 per cent.
PASSENGERS face further rail strikes next year, unions announced last night as commuters braced for fresh season ticket price rises.
South Western Railway (SWR) passengers were last night warned of further disruption just as the month-long industrial action they have already endured was set to draw to a close.
The RMT Union vowed to “put on more [strike] action” next year following its dispute with SWR over the future role of train guards. More than 800 services have been cancelled since the beginning of December.
Steve Hedley, senior assistant general secretary at RMT, told the Financial Times: “Just because this round of strikes is over, we will carry on until we win. We’re not giving up.”
Meanwhile, rail passengers will this week be hit with average fare rises of 2.7 per cent from Jan 2, which is just under the government cap linked to the retail price index of 2.9 per cent.
Figures compiled by the watchdog Transport Focus show that the worst hit will be Great Western Railway passengers travelling between London and Swindon who will have seen their season ticket rise by £1,072 since 2015.
Analysis of the most recent government figures by The Daily Telegraph shows that services that have faced double-digit percentage increases in fares are among the most overcrowded.
SWR services to London Waterloo were operating at 6 per cent above capacity, with 28 per cent standing.
The annual cost of Thameslink services from Cambridge to London has increased by £604 in five years with as many as a third of those arriving at Blackfriars standing up. David Sidebottom, director at Transport Focus, said passengers were facing serious overcrowding and chronic delays, despite paying more for tickets. He said: “Passengers should claim compensation every time they are delayed to help offset the cost of the fares rise.”
The Campaign for Better Transport called for the government cap to be linked to the generally lower Consumer Price Index, which would have brought the cap down to 2 per cent.
Its chief executive, Darren Shirley, said: “Rail passengers are tired of rising fares and broken promises. It’s time for a complete overhaul of the fares system and a fairer way to calculate future levels.”
Overcrowding on a train from Scotland to London operated by London North Eastern Railway prompted one doctor to claim that the trains were so “dangerously” overcrowded that there was a risk of fatality.
Dr Anne Henderson said her family was left stranded in Scotland after being unable to board a London-bound service. She said: “If anyone had a heart attack or became seriously ill on those trains today, they would be unreachable and it would probably be fatal. As a doctor, I was extremely concerned about the safety issues.”
A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: “The Government will shortly bring forward reforms from the Williams Review – the first root and branch review of the rail industry in a generation. These reforms will put passengers first, end the complicated franchising model and simplify fares to create a fairer, more effective system.”