Passengers Face More Cancellations As Rail Embarks on Strike

Lots of passengers who booked the rail system of transport awaiting to board were faced with cancellations amidst strike actions in the sector.

Even though 60% trains are expected run on Wednesday due to staff strike, most passengers are left with little hope. Signalers and control room staff are all on strike, hence not doing overnight shifts. Trains stopped at Edge Hill Sidings in Wavertree Liverpool, because members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport unions had begun a nationwide strike in a bitter dispute with the government over pay increment according to Jobs and Conditions. Millions of people have been faced with this gloomsome phenomenon which had disrupted rail transportations. Hence, passengers are set to be whacked with more cancellations in these bad times.

Discussions between the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, Network Rail and train companies have revealed that, train staffs will resume work but strikes have also been planning for the coming Thursday and Saturday. This communique has caused panic among the passengers. Also, London underground services were halted due to staff walkout. Speaking to Sky News, the spokesperson for Transport for London (TFL) said that, there are going to be many more cancellations and advised passengers not to travel across the capital by Tube before 8am on Wednesday unless their trip was very urgent. The service is expected to run as usual by mid-morning of Thursday he stressed.

The situation was even worsened. As at by Tuesday, only 5 trains were able to ran and half of the lines were closed. About 40,000 members of the RMT at Network Rail and 13 operators walked out in a row over the government’s inability to increase their revenue.

Also, there were outstanding conditions of service that the rail workers wanted the sitting government to address. The phenomenon been Britain’s biggest rail strike for the last 33 years.

The general secretary, Mick Lynch hailed all the staff for their massive turnout in numbers when the picketing and strike was announced. He cautioned the Boris Johnson government that, the picketing would continue if they are reluctant on addressing the challenges of the rail workers. He continued by saying that, they have not asked for anything strange but proper remuneration. He again stressed that, the RMT members are leading the way for other unions to follow suit in pursuit of proper remuneration.

He ended by saying that, this is the best time to stand up and fight for every single railway worker with a firm resolution of success at the end of the strike. He emphasized that, the RMT is seeking a pay rise of at least 7% for all its members meanwhile the government is only willing to grant them just 3%. He further explained that, if the Boris Johnson government insist on the trajectory, they will have no option but to extend the strike beyond return to normality.

On the following day, last trains were much earlier than normal. Trains heading to London Euston and London Kings Cross took off before time leaving most passengers behind. The large part of Britain had no passenger trains for the entire trains for the entire day not excluding Scotland and Wales, the whole of Cornwall and Dorset. Also, Chester, Hull, Lincoln and Worcester all had no trains. Even when train services running, many passengers’ journeys took several hours longer than usual while those who took their own vehicles were engulfed in heavy traffic which reduced productivity throughout the day.

The passengers have pleaded with the Boris Johnson government to address the issue with immediate action. Many people had their weddings, meetings, football games, business trips, religious occasions and festivals cancelled due to the fact that, railway staff had gone on strike. The citizens stressed that, boarding the train released them of the stress they had to go through when they drive their own vehicles.

Mostly, there are heavy traffic in the London metropolis leading to stampede and reduction of productivity. Hence, the rail is the fastest means of transportation for many people in Britain. It assists them in getting to their various workplaces quickly. Hence, increasing productivity and reducing the number of vehicles on the streets of London.

Source: Sky News

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