How Stamford and Rutland's railways will be massively affected by rail strikes from today
RMT Union members will take part in the biggest rail walkout in 30 years
Stamford and Rutland's rail stations will be massively hit by union strikes from today, with RMT members taking part in the biggest industry walkout in over 30 years.
We spoke to some people at Oakham Station and gathered some of their reactions:
- 'I can't drive, there's going to be an issue there. Taxi's are too expensive with all the inflation.'
- 'The rail industry keeps Britain on its feet so it'll affect many people trying to get to work.'
- 'We only have the one commuter train to London each day, so I guess it's going to affect them the most.'
- 'It's the same with planes isn't it? Planes, trains and what's going to be next?'
- 'I need to get a train on Thursday so it's going to affect me, and on Saturday... so I'm a little bit stressed to be honest.'
- 'People might struggle to get to Peterborough and Leicester, or even Stanstead Airport, so they need to arrange transport in advance really.'
Services on the railways and London Underground will be crippled from Tuesday in a row over pay, jobs and conditions after Monday's talks failed.
Strike action will also take place on Thursday 23rd and Saturday 25th, with disruption possible throughout the week due to few staff working overnight on non-strike days.
Union leaders have accused the Government of "inflaming" tensions over the rail dispute ahead of several days of travel chaos because of train and Tube strikes.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the discussions needed to be had "between the union and employers", and that the Government was doing its utmost to limit disruption.
Which train staff are going on strike?
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at Network Rail (NR) and 13 train operators will strike on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with only around one in five trains running and disruption to services on days following the action.
The RMT and Unite is also holding a 24-hour walkout on London Underground which will cause huge disruption to the Tube.
What train operators will be affected?
Train operators affected include:
Avanti West Coast
C2C
Chiltern Railways
Cross Country Trains
Croydon Tramlink
Greater Anglia
LNER
East Midlands Railway
Elizabeth Line
Great Western Railway
Hull Trains
Northern Trains
South Eastern Railway
South Western Railway
TransPennine Express
West Midlands Trains
Inflaming tensions
The TUC said rail workers in Wales have reached agreements with rail operators on pay and job protections while in Scotland there are "meaningful negotiations" taking place.
The TUC said ministers in Westminster were insisting on imposing cuts and planning to change the law so that employers can draft in agency workers in during industrial action, which it added was reminiscent of the action recently taken by P&O.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "The Government has the power to help end this dispute but rather than working in good faith to find a negotiated settlement, ministers are inflaming tensions and trying to pitch worker against worker.
"Instead of threatening to do a P&O on these workers and rip up their rights, ministers should be getting people around the table to help agree a fair deal."
Ms O'Grady said nobody takes strike action lightly but maintained that rail staff have been left with "no other option".
"False pretences"?
Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: "We are doing everything we can, despite these strikes, to minimise the disruption throughout the entire network."
"The very last thing the railway needs and should be doing right now is alienating passengers and freight customers with a long and damaging strike."
He added: "So my message to the workforce is straightforward: your union bosses have got you striking under false pretences and rather than protecting your jobs they are actually endangering them and the railways' future.
"We have a platform for change... and that means building an agile and flexible workforce, not one that strikes every time someone suggests an improvement to our railway. Strikes should be last resort not the first resort."
"So please let's stop dividing the railway industry and let's start working for a brighter future."