Rail strikes could have ripple effect on summer tourism for Dorset
A former South West Trains boss says three days of strikes will knock consumer confidence.
A former rail boss is warning Dorset's summer tourism trade could be knocked off course by three days of strike action on South Western Railway this month.
It's thought the strikes could knock customer confidence for months, causing would-be visitors to think twice before they buy.
South Western Railway announced it's service will be significantly affected between Tuesday 21st and Saturday 25th June 2022.
Stewart Palmer is now vice president of transport campaign group Rail Future.
He said:
"Passenger numbers have really now come back quite strongly with the start of the summer and whilst commuting is still well down, leisure travel seems to be above pre-COVID levels.
"At the very time the beast is getting up off the floor we're now going to give it another kicking.
"Tourism is hugely important to Dorset and with a combination of sky-high petrol prices and the start of a real recovery of rail use. It's not just the actual days of action, it's the sword of Damocles hanging over peoples head's who will say 'Well I'm not going to risk going by train because there might be a strike.
"Yes, for individuals, it's inconvenient but it's also extremely damaging to the wider Dorset economy, or potentially extremely damaging to the whole of Dorset which relies very heavily on tourism."