NO trains in Cornwall for second Saturday running due to rail strikes
Walk-outs are affecting Great Western Railway and CrossCountry services
Last updated 8th Oct 2022
There are NO trains in Cornwall for the SECOND Saturday in a row, because of nationwide rail strikes.
The walk-outs are affecting Great Western Railway (GWR) and CrossCountry - with disruption expected on Sunday 9th October too.
Network Rail says nationwide only around 20% of normal train services will be running today.
More than 40,000 members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union at Network Rail and 15 train operating companies will walk out in a row over jobs, pay and conditions.
Around half of the network will be closed all day and trains will operate only between 7.30am and 6.30pm.
Passengers are being urged to "only travel by train if absolutely necessary on Saturday".
Ahead of the industrial action, RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch wrote to Transport Secretary Anne Marie Trevelyan, urging her to "unshackle" the railway companies and allow them to reach a settlement with the rail unions.
Mr Lynch wrote: "I am writing following your comments at the Conservative Party Conference last weekend in which you said that there is a 'deal to be done' between the rail unions and train companies in relation to the ongoing industrial disputes.
"I am also hopeful that a negotiated settlement between the RMT and the employers can be reached.
"However, for this to be achieved, your government must unshackle the train operators who currently take their mandate directly from yourself".
The Department for Transport issued a statement urging unions to work with employers, "not against them".
"For the third time this week, and second weekend in a row we face disruption and disarray on our railways", a DfT spokesperson said.
"Weekend rail travel has been on the rise since the pandemic as people travel to support their favourite sports teams, meet loved ones or go to events. These plans are all now jeopardised and our economy is damaged as a result.
"Our railway is in desperate need of modernisation but all strikes will do is punish the very people unions claim to stand up for and push passengers further away.
"We urge union bosses to reconsider this divisive action and instead work with employers, not against them, to agree a new way forward".
Passengers are advised to check National Rail Enquiries or their train operator's website for updates.
You can check how the strikes will affect travel on the GWR and CrossCountry websites.