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| First Great Western rail strike to go ahead as talks fail | First Great Western rail strike to go ahead as talks fail |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A strike by workers at First Great Western (FGW) is set to go ahead this weekend after talks failed to resolve a row over new trains. | A strike by workers at First Great Western (FGW) is set to go ahead this weekend after talks failed to resolve a row over new trains. |
| Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will walk out for 24 hours on Sunday, from 00:01 BST, causing disruption to services. | Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will walk out for 24 hours on Sunday, from 00:01 BST, causing disruption to services. |
| The strike is being held over threats to jobs, services and the introduction of the new Hitachi Inter City trains. | The strike is being held over threats to jobs, services and the introduction of the new Hitachi Inter City trains. |
| The union said it had not reached agreement on "fundamental issues". | The union said it had not reached agreement on "fundamental issues". |
| A spokesman said: "Despite strenuous efforts, we have failed to reach agreement with First Great Western on the fundamental issues at the heart of the dispute over the introduction of the new Hitachi trains. | |
| "As a result the action this Sunday goes ahead. The union remains available for talks." | "As a result the action this Sunday goes ahead. The union remains available for talks." |
| The first Hitachi trains will run on the Great Western main line from 2017 and the East Coast main line from 2018. | The first Hitachi trains will run on the Great Western main line from 2017 and the East Coast main line from 2018. |
| FGW rail workers held a 48-hour strike last month over the same dispute, causing disruption to tens of thousands of commuters. | FGW rail workers held a 48-hour strike last month over the same dispute, causing disruption to tens of thousands of commuters. |
| The operator runs train services between London Paddington, south Wales, the Cotswolds, the Thames Valley region and the West of England. | The operator runs train services between London Paddington, south Wales, the Cotswolds, the Thames Valley region and the West of England. |
| An FGW spokesman said on Thursday: "We have held a positive meeting with the RMT today and while, disappointingly, no agreement has been reached, we plan to meet again on Monday. This means that the strike action planned by the RMT on Sunday is likely to go ahead. | An FGW spokesman said on Thursday: "We have held a positive meeting with the RMT today and while, disappointingly, no agreement has been reached, we plan to meet again on Monday. This means that the strike action planned by the RMT on Sunday is likely to go ahead. |
| "Trains will run to an amended timetable, with around 70% of our regular Sunday service running. Customers should check before they travel. | "Trains will run to an amended timetable, with around 70% of our regular Sunday service running. Customers should check before they travel. |
| "The brand new Super Express trains will deliver more seats, faster journey times and more frequent journeys for our passengers. Our plans mean more train managers and customer hosts on board our trains, not less." | "The brand new Super Express trains will deliver more seats, faster journey times and more frequent journeys for our passengers. Our plans mean more train managers and customer hosts on board our trains, not less." |
| Union members are also due to strike over the Bank Holiday weekend. | Union members are also due to strike over the Bank Holiday weekend. |