Major disruption on TransPennine Express trains this Easter weekend
The company says it'll be busy on top of RMT conductor strikes on Saturday AND Sunday
There is going to be major disruption this Easter weekend for TransPennine Express train users.
People are being warned to only travel if they have to and to plan ahead.
The company says it will be extremely busy as there are RMT conductor strikes on both Saturday AND Sunday, with only a very small number of trains in operation.
Customers are being urged not to travel on either of these two days, and instead, travel either side of these.
It will affect the following areas across its North route: Liverpool & Manchester to Leeds, Hull, York, Scarborough, Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Edinburgh via Huddersfield.
RMT has now announced a series of further strikes, with action now planned to take place on Sundays until 5 June and on the following weekends: Saturday 30th April and Sunday 1st May and Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th June.
Any trains that do operate will be far busier than usual and anyone making an essential journey should allow plenty of extra time to travel and plan and check carefully via the TPE website or National Rail Enquiries. Bikes will not be permitted on-board TPE services on any of the strike dates.
Kathryn O’Brien Customer Experience Director for TransPennine Express said: “We are saddened that strike action by RMT is set to cause further disruption to trains over the Easter weekend, at a time when people will be relying on our services to allow them to catch up with friends or family.
“Unfortunately, we are instead urging customers to avoid travelling on both Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday, and instead make their journeys either side of the strike dates.
More information on the strikes can be found online at: tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/strike
The RMT union says the strike action is in a row over pay and Sunday working.
It says the company had refused TPE conductors' request to increase pay for staff coming in on their days off and Sundays.
The union says there is a large discrepancy in pay levels for conductors and other train crews for doing the same thing.
General Secretary Mick Lynch said: "What we are asking for would cost the company less than the loss of revenue from strike action.
"RMT remains open to talks about properly rewarding our conductors for the crucial role they play in keeping the trains moving."
The union says it is demanding enhanced flat payments of £250 for Rest Day Working (RDW) and £275 for working Sunday which were being paid to conductors are fully restored. This would cost the company a lot less than losses sustained due to industrial action.