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Train strike misery for west of England, Wales – and Reading festival Train strike misery for west of England, Wales – and Reading festival
(34 minutes later)
A rail strike will lead to cancellations and disruption to trains for those travelling to Reading festival, the west of England and Wales over the bank holiday weekend.A rail strike will lead to cancellations and disruption to trains for those travelling to Reading festival, the west of England and Wales over the bank holiday weekend.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union at First Great Western will walk out for three days from Saturday in a row over new trains. The action will disrupt the operator’s services, which run from London to south Wales and the south-west out of Paddington station in west London. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at First Great Western will walk out for three days from Saturday in a row over new trains. The action will disrupt the operator’s services, which run to south Wales and the south-west out of Paddington station in central London.
FGW has already announced some cancellations and said on Twitter that those travelling to Reading festival could be among those affected. FGW has already announced some cancellations and said on Twitter that people travelling to Reading festival could be among those affected.
Your journey to Reading Festival may be affected by proposed strike action. Please check your journey before travel: https://t.co/0CnwmNLw0hYour journey to Reading Festival may be affected by proposed strike action. Please check your journey before travel: https://t.co/0CnwmNLw0h
Picket lines will be mounted at stations including Paddington. No services will run between Severn Beach and Bristol Temple Meads, between Looe and Liskeard, Newquay and Par, Falmouth and Truro, and Plymouth and Gunnislake during the strike. Picket lines will be mounted at stations including Paddington. No services will run between Severn Beach and Bristol Temple Meads, Looe and Liskeard, Newquay and Par, Falmouth and Truro, and Plymouth and Gunnislake during the strike.
Reading to Gatwick services will operate hourly and terminate at Redhill. Extra shuttle services will be laid on between Reading and London on Monday because of the festival.Reading to Gatwick services will operate hourly and terminate at Redhill. Extra shuttle services will be laid on between Reading and London on Monday because of the festival.
The union says new high-speed trains will hit jobs and on-board catering. The RMT added that it has not been given assurances over job protection for engineers, is opposed to driver-only operation and disagrees with the proposed removal of buffet/restaurant car facilities. The union said new high-speed trains will hit jobs and on-board catering. The RMT said it has not been given assurances over job protection for engineers, is opposed to driver-only operation and disagrees with the proposed removal of buffet/restaurant car facilities.
The union said it had received assurances from Virgin Trains East Coast that guards would continue to be responsible for door operation on the east coast, where the same new trains operate as will be introduced by FGW. . The RMT said it had received assurances from Virgin Trains East Coast that guards would continue to be responsible for door operation on the east coast route, where the same new trains will operate as those to be introduced by FGW.
Related: Britain braces for rain over bank holiday weekendRelated: Britain braces for rain over bank holiday weekend
The RMT general secretary, Mick Cash, said: “Despite strenuous and continuing efforts by our negotiators, we have not been able to secure the kind of progress we hoped for in the key areas of jobs, services and safety for us to reach an agreement. As a result we have no option but to push ahead with the action planned for this weekend.The RMT general secretary, Mick Cash, said: “Despite strenuous and continuing efforts by our negotiators, we have not been able to secure the kind of progress we hoped for in the key areas of jobs, services and safety for us to reach an agreement. As a result we have no option but to push ahead with the action planned for this weekend.
“The fact remains that if it is good enough for East Coast, using the same trains, to meet the very basic assurances sought by this trade union then it is good enough for First Great Western as well.“The fact remains that if it is good enough for East Coast, using the same trains, to meet the very basic assurances sought by this trade union then it is good enough for First Great Western as well.
“We congratulate our members for their rock-solid support for the strike action last month and last weekend and we know that they remain united and determined as we continue with our campaign on these crucial issues. RMT remains available for talks.”“We congratulate our members for their rock-solid support for the strike action last month and last weekend and we know that they remain united and determined as we continue with our campaign on these crucial issues. RMT remains available for talks.”
An FGW spokesman said: “The RMT says this is about protecting jobs, services and safety. But in truth they’ve had a series of concessions on the table for over a month that won’t see a single member of train staff lose their job, means more services not less, and is based on a method of operating trains that has worked safely across the UK rail network for decades. So if those three issues are dealt with, you’ve got to ask what this is really about.An FGW spokesman said: “The RMT says this is about protecting jobs, services and safety. But in truth they’ve had a series of concessions on the table for over a month that won’t see a single member of train staff lose their job, means more services not less, and is based on a method of operating trains that has worked safely across the UK rail network for decades. So if those three issues are dealt with, you’ve got to ask what this is really about.
“It looks very likely that after this weekend the RMT will have once again unfairly disrupted our passengers, the economies of the communities we serve, and will have asked every one of their members to go without a week’s worth of pay when they’ve already got what they asked for.”“It looks very likely that after this weekend the RMT will have once again unfairly disrupted our passengers, the economies of the communities we serve, and will have asked every one of their members to go without a week’s worth of pay when they’ve already got what they asked for.”