The Northern Agenda: Rail passengers advised 'not to travel' next week

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By ROB PARSONS - June 16 2022

With the temperature rising in the North and nationwide, are we heading for a summer of discontent? On top of the existing cost-of-living crisis there's a growing culture war over plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda and now the prospects of strikes crippling the rail network.

Half of Britain’s rail lines will be closed during strikes on June 21, 23 and 25 by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), with the North's main operators yesterday revealing the extent of the impact on their services.

Seemingly worst-affected is the region's biggest rail operator Northern, which urges passengers “not to travel” between June 21 and 26 as services will be suspended “on most routes” during strike days, and there will be a “significant impact” on non-strike days.

London North Eastern Railway - which runs trains from Yorkshire and the North East to the capital - said around 38% of usual service levels are planned. For Avanti West Coast it will be just a quarter. And Hull Trains said that on strike days, trains will only run between Doncaster and London King’s Cross.

Another operator, TransPennine Express, said there will be a “significant reduction in available services” on strike days and several stations will be closed, such as Middlesbrough, Scarborough and Selby.

The disputes have flared over pay, jobs and conditions, with the Transport Salaried Staffs Association announcing more strike ballots at rail companies yesterday, increasing the threat