Hangover from latest train strike causes further disruption in Cornwall
Union leaders have apologised for the action, which saw no services in the Duchy
Last updated 2nd Oct 2022
Cornwall's main rail operator has warned passengers of further disruption through Sunday 2nd October, in the wake of nationwide strikes.
No main-line trains were running in the Duchy on Saturday 1st October, as thousands of rail workers walked out in the row over pay.
While Sunday's services started later and a revised timetable is in operation, GWR says the Night Riviera sleeper service IS running.
However more strike action is expected next week - on Wednesday 5th October and Saturday 8th October.
The Rail Delivery Group has urged all parties involved to continue talks to avoid more strikes.
GWR spokesperson Paul Gentleman said: "We're running a reduced timetable today following on from the industrial action yesterday. All the journey planners are up to date so if you are planning on travelling today, please do check before your travel.
"We do, however, anticipate train services will be extremely busy. If you have got a ticket valid for today, you can defer your travel up to and including Tuesday 4th October. If you choose not to travel, you can obtain a full refund".
Full details on how the strike action is affecting Cornwall's train services can be found on the GWR website.
He continued: "We're really sorry for the disruption that is being caused due to this industrial action and we thank you for your patience and your understanding while this goes on".
You can watch Paul's full Sunday service update at the link below...
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch, speaking from a picket line at Euston on Saturday about the London Marathon, was pressed on how the union would "justify" causing disruption to a "major charity event".
He told BBC Breakfast that union members did not want to cause the public difficulties and said it was the Tory party conference that was being targeted, rather than the marathon.
Asked whether he would apologise, he said: "Absolutely. We don’t want to inconvenience the public and we're really sorry that that's happening.
"But the Government has brought this dispute on. They (put) the challenges down to us, to cut our jobs, to cut our pensions and to cut our wages against inflation.
"Whenever we put strikes on it's going to inconvenience people; we don't want to do that. We'd much rather have a settlement, we'd much rather get out of this dispute so our members can (provide) the service".
Network Rail's Chief Negotiator Tim Shoveller described the strikes as a "huge own goal" that would result in "less money to spend improving the railway".