Deal to halt rail strikes 'within touching distance' but unions told 'no bottomless pit of cash' ahead of more walkouts

3 January 2023, 20:37 | Updated: 4 January 2023, 07:13

Network Rail says it is 'on the right path' to a deal
Network Rail says it is 'on the right path' to a deal. Picture: Alamy

By Emma Soteriou

Network Rail has claimed that a deal is "within touching distance" to halt the remaining rail strikes this week as commuters prepare for more travel chaos.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Chief negotiator for Network Rail Tim Shoveller urged the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union to "sit down with us" and revisit a deal made before Christmas so it could "make clarifications" where elements of the deal had been "misunderstood".

Strikes are continuing over disputes over pay and working conditions, with RMT general secretary Mick Lynch apologising for the action "dragging on".

He said the government was "doing nothing", warning that more walkouts would be on the cards if there was no deal.

But the Government has still dug itself in, with transport secretary Mark Harper telling striking workers there is "not a bottomless pit of money".

RMT members at Network Rail and 14 train operators are staging two 48-hour walkouts this week, one of which started on Tuesday and another due on Friday.

Rail services across Britain are affected while bus drivers in London are on strike, mostly affecting routes in south and west London.

Some traffic officers at National Highways who handle the effects of accidents are walking out, and some driving examiners are on strike in southern England and Wales.

Picket lines were again mounted outside railway stations across the country as 40,000 workers made a stand on Tuesday.

Read more: Union boss Mick Lynch says rail workers are being pushed towards gig economy as latest strikes begin

Read more: Back to work hit by strikes: Commuters face days of travel chaos with fresh walkouts

RMT boss Mick Lynch joins James O'Brien from 10am to answer your strike questions
RMT boss Mick Lynch joins James O'Brien from 10am to answer your strike questions - Watch Live on Global Player. Picture: LBC

Around half of Britain's railway lines were closed and just one in five services were running as a result.

Passengers have been advised only to travel if it is absolutely necessary due to the industrial action also impacting the London Overground, the Elizabeth line and parts of the Tube.

Strike action taking place this week
Strike action taking place this week. Picture: Alamy

Mr Lynch told Sky: "What has happened is we had a meeting with the railway secretary on 15 December, and we'd already given notice of action, and they've done nothing since that time, over Christmas, enjoying the holidays.

"We were available to meet and they didn't want to meet us.

"So they've waited until the strikes come to make these noises, but if they'd wanted to get a settlement and get the strikes off, they could have taken a bit more action and got things moving."

The picket line on Tuesday
The picket line on Tuesday. Picture: Alamy
Chief negotiator for Network Rail Tim Shoveller
Chief negotiator for Network Rail Tim Shoveller. Picture: Alamy

Train drivers in the Aslef are set to strike in between on Thursday too, meaning disruption is expected every day for the rest of the week.

Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, said: “We don’t want to go on strike but the companies have pushed us into this place.

“They have not offered our members at these companies a penny – and these are people who have not had an increase since April 2019.”

He continued: “The companies need to come to the table with a proper proposal to help our members, their drivers, buy this year what they could buy last year. That is the way to prevent another strike and all the disruption that causes."

Aslef represents 96 per cent of train drivers in England, Scotland and Wales.

The move will see workers from 15 companies, including Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway and Great Western Railway, walk out.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Germany's

NATO at risk of Russia attack in next four years, warns German defence chief

FBI says it is investigating 'targeted terror attack' in Colorado, US, after reports people injured

FBI investigating 'targeted terror attack' on pro-Israel gathering in Colorado as multiple people injured

One young user of single-use vapes told me the ban doesn't "change anything".

'It doesn't change anything', say vape users as disposable vape ban comes into force to deter use among young people

A man has died and a child is injured after a shooting incident in Carlow, Ireland

Gunman opens fire at shopping centre in Ireland as man dies from 'self-inflicted' injuries and child injured

London, England. 24th May 2025. Pixie Lott wears a tshirt gifted by a fan as she presents new single 'Somebody's daughter' to the Foodie Festival audience. Cristina Massei/Alamy Live News

Pixie Lott reveals she's pregnant with second child on stage at festival

The Ukrainian leader celebrated the attack in Russia.

'Brilliant result': Zelenskyy celebrates Ukraine's attack on 40 'enemy bombers' in Russia that caused '$7bn' damage

The Royal Terrace Pier Gravesend Kent UK

Man describes rescuing 'screaming' boy from Thames after body recovered in search for missing girl

Yates on the podium, wearing the pink jersey of the race overall leader, celebrates after winning the 21th stage of the Giro d'Italia 2025. Sport - cycling. (Photo by Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse) Credit: LaPresse/Alamy Live News

Britain's Simon Yates wins first Giro d'Italia title in Rome

IDF Spokesperson BG Effie Defrin features in a video posted to X, captioned: "I visited the area of one of the GHF humanitarian aid distribution centers to set the record straight."

IDF denies responsibility after reports of 31 dead in Israeli attack near aid site

Climate activist Greta Thunberg with other activists from a human rights organization meets with journalists in Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025, ahead of their departure for the Mideast.

'We have to keep trying': Greta Thunberg sets sail on journey to bring aid relief to Gaza as activist is joined by 11 others

Wiltshire Police confirmed nine people had sustained injuries and were taken to hospital.

Boat on River Thames 'explodes' with nine people injured 'including baby' and transferred to hospital after blaze

British surgeon Dr. Victoria Rose describes the catastrophic scene at Nasser Medical Complex

'Absolute carnage': British doctor describes horror in Gaza hospital after Israel 'opens fire' on aid centre

Sam was driving on the A34 near Manchester on Monday when his car suddenly left the road.

Race Across the World contestant Sam Gardiner, 24, dies in car crash as family pay tribute to his 'joy and energy'

Russia's Ministry of Defence acknowledged the strikes on airfields across five regions earlier today.

Ukraine targets more than 40 'enemy bombers' deep inside Russia with drones 'hidden' in special containers, source says

Firefighters with breathing apparatus and a ladder truck work at the Marienkrankenhaus hospital in Hamburg's Hohenfelde district of Hamburg.

Three dead, more than thirty-five injured in fire in geriatric ward of German hospital

An investigation has found trending mental health TikTok videos are spreading misinformation about mental health

'Feeling anxious? Eat an orange in the shower': Over half of top 100 Tik Tok mental health advice videos contain misinformation