40,000 rail workers to walk out in fresh strike action
More travel chaos for rail passengers across the south
Last updated 22nd Sep 2022
Another rail strike has been announced which will cause disruption for rail passengers across the south.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) announced that 40,000 of its members at Network Rail and 15 train operators including South Western Railway, Southern and Southeastern will walk out on October 8.
Rail strikes are already planned on October 1 and 5, threatening fresh travel chaos for passengers.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said it was encouraging that the new Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan had met the union.
"We welcome this more positive approach from the government to engage with us as a first step to finding a suitable settlement.
"However, as no new offer has been tabled, our members have no choice but to continue this strike action.
"We will continue to negotiate in good faith, but the employers and government need to understand our industrial campaign will continue for as long as it takes," he said.
South Western Railway’s performance and planning director, Steve Tyler, said: "We must urge our customers to only travel if absolutely necessary on Saturday 1 October and Sunday 2 October. Those needing to travel should seek to do so by other means.
"Large parts of our network will be closed on the strike day and there will be a late start up on the morning after.
"Those who must travel are urged to carefully check the times of first and last trains and avoid them if possible as they are likely to be very busy."