Major disruption to train services in Suffolk as RMT members walk out
Greater Anglia have been running a much reduced service today
Last updated 16th Mar 2023
Commuters in Suffolk are being warned that trains will stop running much earlier than normal tonight because of strikes.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at Greater Anglia have once again walked out in a long-running row over pay, jobs and conditions.
Many services started later than normal, at about 7.30am, and will finish earlier than usual, at around 6.30pm.
Services on branch lines across the county aren't operating.
Across Britain, between 40-50% of normal weekday services were expected to run, but some areas have had no trains all day.
Greater Anglia are offering an hourly service between Norwich and London Liverpool Street.
The last train back to Ipswich from London departs at 21:30 tonight.
Disruption is likely to continue into Friday as many trains will not be at the usual depots overnight.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said the dispute is "stuck in a deadlock" because the latest offer is "underfunded".
He told the PA news agency: "The Government backs up the train operating companies and gives them their mandate.
"They've offered a pay proposal that's 5% for last year and 4% for the coming year, which is way below the rate of inflation.
"But they've said all of those pay increases such as they are - which amount to pay cuts - have got to be funded by changes to our members' working conditions.
"So it's a self-funded pay rise really, and that's very difficult for us because the conditions they're putting on that deal are just not acceptable to our people.
"So we're stuck in a deadlock really where the offer is underfunded, the conditions are not acceptable and we haven't got a way forward."
The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators, claimed the RMT has "blocked the chance to resolve this dispute" by not putting the latest offer to a vote of its members.
A Department for Transport spokesperson urged the RMT to "put the Rail Delivery Group's very fair offer to a democratic vote of their members".
RMT members are also set to walk out on Saturday (March 18).