News / Transport
Bank Holiday rail strike to go ahead
Further rail strikes over job fears on new high-speed trains are set to take place this August Bank Holiday.
The RMT union announced it would be continuing industrial action after no agreement was reached with First Great Western.
First services are likely to be severely disrupted between early on Saturday morning and midnight on Monday.
is needed now More than ever
The RMT entered a dispute with First Great Western in May, requesting assurances over guards, platform staff and buffet cars on the new trains due to serve the newly-electrified line to London from 2017.
Doors of the high-speed Hitachi Class 800 trains will be controlled by the drivers using a live CCTV feed – removing the need for the traditional train guard.
RMT said it had received assurances from operators on the East Coast Main Line that new services would have guards and a buffet car – but had received nothing from First Great Western.
“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,” RMT general secretary Mick Cash said.
He added: “Despite strenuous efforts by our negotiators we have not been able to secure the kind of progress required in the key areas of jobs, services and safety for us to reach an agreement. As a result we have no option but to put further action on.
The new trains will cut journey times to London by as much as 17 minutes.
First Great Western said previously: “The best way to make the most of these new trains, in an efficient and safe way, is by the use of driver operation of the doors.”
The company warned that limited services over the weekend would be “very busy”. Full details on which trains are operating can be found on First’s website.