Summer of chaos on the trains as unions plan biggest ever rail strike amid pay row

20 April 2022, 15:14 | Updated: 20 April 2022, 15:19

The strike could affect 15 services across the UK
The strike could affect 15 services across the UK. Picture: Alamy

By Patrick Grafton-Green

Holidaymakers could see their plans thrown into chaos this summer as unions threaten the biggest rail strike in modern UK history.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

More than 40,000 railway workers are to be balloted in a dispute over jobs and pay, with strike action possible as early as June.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union ballot opens on April 26 and closes on May 24.

The 15 affected train services include Chiltern Railways, Cross Country Trains, Greater Anglia, LNER, East Midlands Railway, c2c, Great Western Railway, Northern Trains, South Eastern Railway, South Western Railway, Island Line, GTR (including Gatwick Express), Transpennine Express, Avanti West Coast, and West Midlands Trains.

The RMT said Network Rail is planning to cut at least 2,500 "safety-critical" maintenance jobs as part of a £2 billion reduction in spending on the network, while workers at train operators have been subject to pay freezes and changes to their terms and conditions.

READ MORE: Belligerent Boris clashes with Sir Keir at PMQs saying he 'humbly accepts' Partygate fine

READ MORE: Workers who stayed behind at Ukraine zoo to help animals 'shot dead by Russians'

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said removing the jobs would "spell disaster for the public, make accidents more likely and will increase the possibility of trains flying off the tracks".

He added: "Train operating companies have praised our members for being key workers during the pandemic but have refused to keep staff pay in line with inflation and soaring living costs.

"As a result, thousands of railway workers have seen their living standards plummet and have run out of patience."

Tim Shoveller, Network Rail's regional director, said: "Our railway has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, and even as passenger numbers start to recover, we know travel habits and passenger demand have changed and the industry has to change too.

"We cannot keep relying on Government handouts, and so we must work together with train operators and our trades unions to save millions of pounds and deliver a more efficient railway."

A Rail Delivery Group spokesman added: "The pandemic was an unprecedented shock for the railway, with the lowest passenger numbers in over 150 years and record levels of public funding to keep it running.

"Our whole focus now should be securing a thriving future for rail that adapts to new travel patterns and takes no more than its fair share from taxpayers, instead of staging premature industrial action which would disrupt passengers' lives and put the industry's recovery at risk."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

A heart-broken family has cremated the wrong body after a mix-up by the Grange University Hospital in South Wales

Wrong body cremated after shocking South Wales hospital mix-up, as board apologises to the family

Russia Ukraine War

Soviet-era statue of Red Army commander taken down in Kyiv

Stephen Fry has said he feels "self conscious" going out without his walking stick which he has been using since his recovery from a fall in September. Credit: Alamy

Stephen Fry admits feeling 'self-conscious' using cane after recovering from agonising fall off O2 stage

Undated handout photo issued by Metropolitan Police of Lianne Gordon. A 16-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of Lianne, who was shot dead in Hackney, east London, the Metropolitan Police said. Issue date: Friday December 8, 2023.

Boy, 16, charged with murder of Lianne Gordon and two counts of attempted murder in Hackney shooting

Cop28 protests

Opec ‘panicking’ as Cop28 talks focus on possible fossil fuel phase-out

A bizarre fight broke out after a man tore down a Palestinian flag

Man rips down Palestinian flag in London before driver intervenes to stop him and ladder fight breaks out on street

Recep Tayyip Edrogan

Erdogan accuses West of ‘barbarism’ and Islamophobia over war in Gaza

Brits are facing Storms Elin and Fergus

Britain faces two storms as Elin and Fergus bring 70mph gusts and flooding with fresh yellow weather alerts issued

The Queen supported the idea of Harry keeping security after Megxit

Queen wanted Harry to keep security despite prince's claim he was 'forced' to leave UK after it was downgraded

Gatwick Airport has been hit by an ATC fault

Passengers delayed for hours after Gatwick Airport hit by air traffic control fault

Fire at hospital

Deadly fire breaks out at hospital near Rome

Brits are facing Storm Elin

Storm Elin: Brits face 55mph gusts and flooding as fresh yellow weather alerts issued for UK in bleak weekend

Met Police are investigating the violent robbery

Horrific CCTV shows two women unleash 'shocking and terrifying' assault on 20-year-old and rob her bag in North London

A mammoth £201m prize has been won in the EuroMillions

Lucky ticket holder scoops £201m in EuroMillions draw - was it you? Full draw details revealed

Gaza air strike

Israel presses on with Gaza bombardments as war enters third month

Kim Jong Un

Allies urge stronger international push against North Korea’s nuclear programme