Commuters face morning rush hour chaos due to reduced train service

Commuters face Monday morning rush hour chaos as train companies run a reduced service due to lack of drivers – despite strikes being called off on Friday

• Many operators running reduced timetable as the change came at short notice
• Passengers have therefore been urged to check before they travel this week
• Many frustrated travellers took to social media over the lack of services today

Commuters are facing rush hour chaos this morning, as a lack of drivers forces train companies to run a reduced service – despite strikes being called off at the eleventh hour.

Passengers have been warned to check with train operators before they travel with some still running a reduced timetable due to the change coming at such short notice.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) and Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) were set to stage walkouts in the coming few days in a long running dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.

Some rail staff spent the weekend ‘doing nothing on full pay’ 

The disruption to passengers this morning comes amid claims that some staff have ‘spent the weekend doing nothing on full pay’.

While there is a shortage of drivers, the Independent reports that much of the railway will still be fully staffed this week.

This includes at signal boxes, even though no trains are scheduled, while guards are being paid to sit in mess rooms due to the lack of services, and staff are remaining at desks in ticket offices at deserted stations, the website says.

But RMT suspended the strikes on Friday, saying it had secured ‘unconditional’ talks with Network Rail (NR) and the promise of a pay offer from the train operating companies.

This morning, NR told travellers there would be ‘a heavily reduced timetable’, with disruption running into Tuesday.

Many took to social media to react, with one claiming: ‘There might as well be a strike – no trains from where I live into London today and reduced options tomorrow.’

Another said: ‘Am not a happy lady this morning…our local train line despite strike being called off NO TRAINS till tomorrow. Sunday was due to rail works BUT not Saturday or today. Lots of workers/school children having problems travelling.’

A third added: ‘The strike was called off yet there are still no trains running. So, rail workers get a day off on full pay. Well played, comrades.’

However, some were more pleased with the outcome, with one writing: ‘The rail strikes being cancelled means my scheduled limited service is no longer running I’m screaming. A bonus wfh day before two days leave? Cheers comrades.’

It comes amid claims that some staff have ‘spent the weekend doing nothing on full pay’.

While there is a shortage of drivers, the Independent reports that much of the railway will still be fully staffed this week.

This includes at signal boxes, even though no trains are scheduled, while guards are being paid to sit in mess rooms due to the lack of services, and staff are remaining at desks in ticket offices at deserted stations, the website says. 

A sign advertising the now-cancelled rail strikes warns passengers to only travel if absolutely necessary

Passengers have been warned to check with train operators before they travel with some still running a reduced timetable due to the change coming at such short notice

The RMT insists the dispute remains ‘very much live’ and it is continuing its re-ballot of members to secure a fresh mandate for action with the result due on 15 November.

Talks will now be held over the next few weeks to try to resolve the dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group said advice remains to check before travelling.

‘Unfortunately, the late notice of the suspension of strike action means that while train companies are working hard to reinstate services, some services will remain severely disrupted for our passengers into the early part of next week and our advice remains to please check before you travel,’ a spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Network Rail said there will be a ‘quite a mixed picture’ of delays and cancellations on Monday depending on the train operator.

But they added that widespread disruption is not expected on Tuesday and that services should also be running as normal on Wednesday, which had been another planned strike day, since operators will have had time to reorganise the usual timetables again.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘The threat of strike action and our strongly supported industrial campaign has made the rail employers see sense.

‘We have always wanted to secure a negotiated settlement and that is what we will continue to push for in this next phase of intensive talks.

‘Our priority is our members, and we are working towards securing a deal on job security, a decent pay rise and good working conditions.

‘Our re-ballot remains live and if we have to take strike action during the next six months to secure a deal, we will.’

Special strike timetables will remain largely in place for Monday, but some operators plan to run more services than on Saturday and hope they will be back to normal by midweek.

The RMT said NR had originally declared discussions and consultations closed and was intent on imposing changes to maintenance without agreement with the union.

‘They have now rowed back and will continue discussions on the basis that ‘nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.’

‘This takes away the reason for the current phase of action and means talks can continue without pre-conditions unilaterally set down by the company,’ said the RMT.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the suspension of the strikes was a ‘positive development’, adding: ‘We encourage unions and employers to continue their negotiations and calling off these strikes has given those talks a better chance of success.

‘It is vital, for passengers and workers alike, that all parties continue to work together and deliver a modern railway we can all be proud of.’

The TSSA announced it was calling off its planned rail strikes on November 5, 7, 8 and 9 after receiving an invitation to ‘intensive talks’ from the Rail Delivery Group.

TSSA members were due to take strike action in five different rail companies on different days over the period.

Interim general secretary Frank Ward said: ‘We have always said that strikes are a last resort, and we are glad to finally be invited to the first set of formal talks with train operators in months.’

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