11th Mar 10

Rail commuters face Easter travel crisis

by Adam Richards

Millions of rail passengers are facing travel chaos with the threat of the first national rail strike in 16 years over job cuts,m pay and changes to long-standing working practices.

Unions say cuts would compromise safety; however National Rail says that changes must be made to a system that is nearly 60 years to the steam age.

Strike ballot results are expected to lead to walkouts by up to 20,000 key workers including signal staff, maintenance workers and supervisors.

It will be the first national rail strike since 1994.

The first ballot result by 15,000 maintenance workers would come tomorrow, with the second, by 5000 signallers on March 19.

Negotiations with the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association are continuing despite the ballots, however National Rail said it was determined to press ahead with proposed changes.

Director of operations for National Rail, Robin Gisby said that he was not prepared to see the country held to ransom.  He added that the company could keep trains running if maintenance workers took industrial action, with managers and supervisors being drafted in to cover for strikers, although speed restrictions could be put in place in the event of a week long stoppage.

However, he admitted that if the majority of signallers support the strike call, NR would not be able to operate train services to and from London.  He said that operations could continue at local level but not to and from the big conurbations.

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