Drivers from three more train companies are set to go on strike later this month, exacerbating already expected rail disruptions.
Drivers working for Hull Trains, Greater Anglia and Croydon Tramlink have all voted to intervene in separate wage disputes, the Aslef union has announced.
Greater Anglia is the owner and operator of Stansted Express, a direct route between the airport and London Liverpool Street, which means strikes can cause misery for holidaymakers.
It comes as the RMT union said, up to 50,000 of its members across the Network Rail, 13 train operators and the London Underground would go out for three days in June – largest outbreak of trade disputes on the railways since 1989.
The strike, which takes place over three days, threatens to “shut down the system”.
Talks between Network Rail and the union are expected to take place in the next few days, with the former drawing up contingency plans to try to ease the disruption of services.
Fewer than every fifth train is likely to run, and only between 6 p.m. 07:00 and 19:00, probably only on the main lines.
The majority of the strike action will take place over a period of nine days at the end of June.
The first RMT walkout is scheduled to take place on June 21, 23 and 25. These strikes are expected to cause disruption to services for six days.
Meanwhile, members of the Aslef on Hull Trains will strike on June 26, in Greater Anglia on June 23 and on the Croydon Tramlink on June 28 and 29, 28 and 13 and 14 July.
Third union could join ‘Summer of Dissatisfaction’
Members of a third union, TSSA, may also take part in the strikes, further exacerbating the travel chaos.
TSSA has given notice to vote hundreds of employees on the Avanti West Coast in a dispute over pay, terms and job security.
Strike action on the train line can take place as early as July 13, if adopted by the union’s 300 members.
TSSA Secretary General Manuel Cortes said: “We could see a summer of discontent across our railways.
“Make no mistake, we are preparing for all options, including coordinated strike. And if our members strike in Avanti, the trains will stop running.”
Avanti operates passenger train services and stations, including from London Euston to Birmingham, Crewe, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow.
Ticket offices that ‘hardly sell one ticket a week’
Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in Blackpool today
In a speech in Blackpool today, the Prime Minister said “the time has come” to close inefficient train ticket offices across the UK and replace them with automated systems as part of reducing transport costs.
“We are on your side in reducing transportation costs, not just with the amazing investments we are making,” said Boris Johnson.
“It’s time for us to seize the nettle of the reform and move sensibly and responsibly to end some outdated working methods.
“There are fully staffed ticket offices in this country that barely sell one ticket a week.”
Read more:
Which train lines and major events will be affected?
Why RMT has now chosen a battle for pay – Ian King analysis
He described the closure of London’s London Underground ticket sales in favor of automatic ticket sales during his tenure as mayor of London as “initially painful”, but added: “We successfully argued that staff were better and more productive on those platforms. , interacting with the public.
“The time has come to do the same across the transport network.”
Labor shows support for railway workers
Earlier today, Secretary of State Lisa Nandy, who is in shadow level, said she supports railroad workers but stopped giving direct support to the planned strike.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Passengers prepared for railway strikes
“I have stood with our railway workers, just as I stood with younger doctors when they protested against the treatment given to them by the government and our nurses as well,” she told ITV.
“The way you create good public services is not to attack the people who run these services, it’s not to attack the people who work day in, day out to try to keep them going – the way you do that is for to support them. “
