This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8438584.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Virgin Trains staff begin strike Virgin Trains staff begin strike
(1 day later)
Virgin Trains ticket office staff working on one of the UK's busiest rail lines have gone on strike.Virgin Trains ticket office staff working on one of the UK's busiest rail lines have gone on strike.
About 200 members of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) are taking part in the 24-hour strike in protest at planned cutbacks.About 200 members of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) are taking part in the 24-hour strike in protest at planned cutbacks.
The walkout will affect 12 stations on the West Coast Main Line, which links England and Scotland. Members at 12 West Coast Main Line stations are involved and the TSSA said ticket services had been disrupted at many, including Euston and Lancaster.
A Virgin Trains spokesman said no-one would miss their train as a result of the strike. Virgin said people could get on trains without tickets where queues built up.
The West Coast Mail Line is a key route linking London with cities like Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. The West Coast Main Line is a key route linking London with cities like Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.
It is expected to be particularly busy on Monday with people returning to work after the Christmas break. Virgin have got managers doing our members' work, but they won't be able to do that for 24 hours TSSA spokesman
The union delayed the strike to avoid disrupting passengers during the holiday. A spokesman for Virgin Trains said senior managers had been put in place to give the go-ahead to passengers to board trains without tickets if necessary.
'Vital service' He said the number of offices affected - and the level of disruption - could change through the day as shifts changed.
The strike started at midnight, and Euston, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Crewe, Preston and Glasgow are among the stations expected to be the hardest hit. Virgin confirmed ticket counters were completely closed at two stations on Monday morning - Oxenholme, in the Lake District, and Lancaster.
'Bare bones'
But the TSSA said all its members were out at the line's major stations of Euston, Coventry, Glasgow, Preston and Crewe plus seven other smaller stations.
Some ticket offices were running a "bare bones" service having being staffed by members of another union - the RMT, which is not involved in this dispute - and managers, said the TSSA.
"Virgin have got managers doing our members' work, but they won't be able to do that for 24 hours," said a spokesman.
If queues start to build we will give customers permission to get on trains and buy tickets on board Virgin TrainsIf queues start to build we will give customers permission to get on trains and buy tickets on board Virgin Trains
He said stations such as Euston normally had 16 ticket windows available, but only four had been staffed on Monday morning.
Smaller stations such as Wolverhampton, Warrington, Runcorn, Stockport and Wigan were currently being kept going by non-TSSA members, he added.
The union delayed the strike - which started at midnight - to avoid disrupting passengers during the holiday.
TSSA leader Gerry Doherty said his members were striking to defend their jobs and the booking windows service offered to passengers.TSSA leader Gerry Doherty said his members were striking to defend their jobs and the booking windows service offered to passengers.
He accused Virgin Trains of closing windows to force passengers to use station ticket machines.He accused Virgin Trains of closing windows to force passengers to use station ticket machines.
"This is all about defending a vital service to rail passengers who are already being ripped off with the most expensive fares in Europe," he said."This is all about defending a vital service to rail passengers who are already being ripped off with the most expensive fares in Europe," he said.
"After raising anytime fares by 6% at the weekend, Sir Richard (Branson) is now charging £262 return for a second-class fare between Euston and Manchester."After raising anytime fares by 6% at the weekend, Sir Richard (Branson) is now charging £262 return for a second-class fare between Euston and Manchester.
"Now he wants to stop customers buying cheaper off-peak tickets by cutting back on off-peak travel times and closing more booking office windows.""Now he wants to stop customers buying cheaper off-peak tickets by cutting back on off-peak travel times and closing more booking office windows."
A spokesman for Virgin Trains said staff would be "on hand" to help people with the ticketing machines. A spokesman for Virgin Trains said: "There will be no passengers who miss their trains as a result of the strike," he said.
"There will be no passengers who miss their trains as a result of the strike," he said.
"If queues start to build we will give customers permission to get on trains and buy tickets on board.""If queues start to build we will give customers permission to get on trains and buy tickets on board."
Warrington, Stockport, Stafford, Birmingham New Street, Wigan and Lancaster stations will also be affected.
Do you use this service? Do you work for Virgin Trains? Please send us your experiences and comments using the form below.
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions