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Train strike – live: Weekend travel chaos looms in third walk out of the week

A weekend of travel chaos is looming this weekend as rail workers prepare for their third day of industrial action this week.

Passengers have been warned to “only travel by train if necessary”, with only a fifth of services set to run and half of lines closed as 40,000 members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union walk out over jobs, pay, pensions and conditions.

Meanwhile, services on Friday reeled from a knock-on impact of Thursday’s strike, because of a delay to the start of services as signallers and control room staff declined to turn up for overnight shifts.

This week’s strikes are unlikely to be the end of the disruption, however, with an announcement that another union – the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) – will vote on industrial action throughout the summer.

The union’s general-secretary Manuel Cortes warned on Friday of “a long-running summer of discontent across our rail network” unless ministers either give the green light for operators to “make us a reasonable offer” or “come to the negotiating table and speak to us directly”.

Key Points

  • Disruptions to continue today as only 60% of trains will run

  • More strike action ‘extremely likely’ if deal not reached - Mick Lynch

  • Second day of strikes to close more than half of rail services in Britain

  • More rail workers to be balloted for strike action this month

  • RMT union accuses transport secretary of 'wrecking' negotiations

  • When is the UK train strike? Dates, times and everything you need to know

Mick Lynch says rail workers ‘lauded as heroes’ in pandemic but now treated as ‘out of fashion’

12:58 , Andy Gregory

Union boss Mick Lynch has said the government lauded rail workers as “heroes” during the Covid-19 pandemic, only to treat them as “out of fashion” now restrictions have lifted, my colleague Eleanor Sly reports.

Speaking on BBC One’s Question Time last night, the head of the RMT union said: “We were lauded as heroes by Grant Shapps, they worked all the way through the pandemic, they were not furloughed, and they kept our railway and transport systems going.

“But what they’re being told now as a result of that, is that you’re out of fashion, you’re out of date, somehow the terms and conditions that we’ve negotiated over many years and we think are a fair deal…”

He added: “We think that’s what every worker in Britain, in every business should have. But what we’re faced with now is a clampdown. And it’s a deliberate clampdown by the government… and they’re using the temporary phenomenon of Covid as an excuse to rip out and strip out terms and conditions.”

Mick Lynch says rail workers treated as ‘out of fashion’ after pandemic

Union boss warns of ‘long-running summer of discontent’

10:59 , Andy Gregory

The general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) has warned of “a long-running summer of discontent” across the rail network, as the union moved to ballot its members on whether to strike over pay, conditions and job security.

“Our members at Greater Anglia are seeking basic fair treatment in the teeth of a crippling cost-of-living crisis,” Manuel Cortes said

“Rail workers were hailed as heroes in the pandemic and now they deserve a real terms pay rise which keeps pace with inflation, rather than shouldering the burden of the Tories' economic meltdown.

“Our demands are simple – pay which reflects the times we live in, a deal which delivers job security, and no race to the bottom on terms and conditions.

“It's time the government changed course. Instead of making cuts across our railway the Department for Transport should either give Greater Anglia and other companies the signal to make us a reasonable offer, or ministers should come to the negotiating table and speak to us directly.

“The alternative is a long-running summer of discontent across our rail network. Make no mistake, we are preparing for all options, including coordinated strike action which would bring trains to a halt.”

More rail workers to be balloted for strikes

10:06 , Andy Gregory

More railway workers are to be balloted for strikes, with the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) serving notice to ballot its members at Greater Anglia for strike action and action short of strike – over pay, conditions and job security.

The union is demanding a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies for 2022, no unagreed changes to terms and conditions, and a pay increase which reflects the rising cost of living.

Voting starts on 29 June, with the result due in mid-July, so the earliest date strike action could take place is 27 July.

The TSSA is also balloting its members in Network Rail, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands Trains, Avanti West Coast, Northern, LNER, C2C, Great Western Railway (GWR) and TransPennine Express.

TSSA members are found in a number of roles, including station staff and managers, conductors, driver managers, train crew managers and platform team leaders.

Expected strike impact on Edinburgh Pride ‘really quite sad’, organiser says

08:51 , PA

An organiser of Edinburgh Pride said it is “really quite sad” that thousands are expected to miss the annual event due to Saturday’s planned rail strikes.

Jamie Love, marketing director for Edinburgh Pride, said his team are expecting around 5,000 from in and around Scotland’s capital to attend, compared with more than 12,000 people in 2019.

“It’s quite disappointing,” Mr Love, 27, told the PA news agency. “As Pride organisers, our whole job relies on making pride accessible to those that really want to and maybe don’t have spaces like Pride anywhere near them.

“That’s the saddest and hardest part because obviously, those are the people who are going to be impacted the most. That will be really quite sad and I know that people will be really upset by that.”

The event, kicking off with a march at midday in the city centre, is partnered with London North Eastern Railway and is also sponsored by Mr Love’s marketing agency Monumental. But LNER’s regular Pride pop-up at Edinburgh Waverley, the city’s central station, will not take place due to the strike action.

'Take TfL out of mayor's hands, Tory MP says

07:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar

A London Tory MP, Nickie Aiken, has suggested that the government should take control of Transport for London [TfL] out of mayor Sadiq Khan’s hands.

She claimed that “Sadiq has proven he is not fit to run TfL. I think it’s time that the Department for Transport looked at taking it off him. We can’t go on like this. Something has got to give.”

On Thursday, the mayor blamed the government for a lack of funding. He said that this lack of funds was the reason behind axing 22 bus routes and reducing frequencies on almost 60 more.

“Every few months Sadiq goes cap in hand, without any proper strategy to turn TfL’s finances around apart from cuts to services. I have run a £3bn organisation. I know what it is like to face government cuts, but you find efficiencies and new ways of working,” Ms Aiken said.

“I have been inundated with concerns from constituents, particularly the over 60s, about the bus plans that Sadiq has got to cut their bus or change it so dramatically that they will have to get two or three buses to get to their destination.”

ICYMI: Starmer stance on rail strikes ‘may end’ Labour party, union chief warns

06:55 , Maroosha Muzaffar

A senior union leader has warned that Sir Keir Starmer’s handling of the railway strikes “may end” the Labour party.

Read the full story by Andrew Woodcock here:

Starmer stance on rail strikes ‘may end’ Labour party, union chief warns

'Talks are a sham', shadow transport secretary says

06:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Louise Haigh, shadow transport secretary accused the transport secretary of “tying the hands of those at the table” and failing to reach a resolution.

She said: “Ministers owe it to all those impacted by this serious disruption to get around the table for last ditch talks, to sort it out and avert this disruption.”

She added that Grant Shapps has tied the hands of those at the table. “He and his department failed to give the train operating companies, a party to these talks, any mandate to negotiate whatsoever… These talks are a sham because ministers have set them up to fail.”

Transport secretary ‘needs to get in the room or get out of the way’, RMT union boss says

06:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

The RMT union chief also said on Thursday that transport secretary Grant Shapps “needs to get in the room or get out of the way so we can negotiate with these companies who we have successfully struck dozens of deals with previously.”

Mick Lynch also praised the members of the RMT union and said that “our members are leading the way in standing up for all working people trying to get a pay rise and some job security.”

He added: “In a modern economy, workers need to be properly rewarded for their work, enjoy good conditions and have the peace of mind that their job will not be taken away from them.”

Mr Lynch has said that the industrial campaign will continue until a resolution is reached.

Transport secretary shifts blame to RMT and asks them to 'stop wasting time'

06:10 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Transport secretary Grant Shapps has shifted blame to the RMT union workers and said that “the only people responsible for the massive public disruption this week is them.”

He said that “I have had absolutely nothing to do with either the issuing of a letter from Network Rail, the employer, to the RMT — or any request to withdraw it.

“I understand that the letter makes no mention of 2,900 redundancies, but I do know it confirmed Network Rail would be introducing desperately needed reforms for the industry after the union chose strike action instead of further talks.”

He accused RMT of deflecting and urged RMT union general secretary Mick Lynch and his members “to stop wasting time making false claims in the media and instead return to the negotiating table so an agreement can be reached.”

ICYMI: RMT chief Mick Lynch reveals his unlikely political hero

06:05 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Mick Lynch revealed his political hero during an interview. “An Irish, socialist republican,” Mr Lynch said of his hero.

Watch the video to find out who it is:

RMT chief Mick Lynch reveals his unlikely political hero

Union boss Mick Lynch isn’t quite the pantomime villain ministers expected

05:50 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Lynch is riding the kind of wave Jeremy Corbyn enjoyed at the height of his unexpected ascent to the Labour leadership in 2015, Cathy Newman writes in this Indy Voices piece:

Union boss Mick Lynch isn’t the pantomime villain ministers expected | Cathy Newman

Disruptions to continue today as only 60% of trains will run

05:35 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Disruptions are set to continue on Friday as only 60 per cent of the trains will run today.

The third rail strike is scheduled for Saturday, and the RMT union boss has said that more strikes will likely happen if talks fail.

On Thursday, talks between Network Rail and the RMT union took place but no resolution was achieved. Around 40,000 RMT members at Network Rail and 13 train operators walked out again yesterday.

Network Rail chief says collapse of talks 'hugely frustrating'

05:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Tim Shoveller, the chief negotiator for Network Rail has said that the collapse of talks between them and the unions is “hugely frustrating.”

He said that he had hoped to stop Wednesday’s strike — the second day of the rail strikes — and that it was frustrating as the strike was causing massive disruptions.

Network Rail has, however, blamed RMT — and not the government — for stalling negotiations.

Mr Shoveller said that they thought that they had struck a deal on Wednesday until the RMT leadership left the room to consult their board.

Around 40,000 RMT members at Network Rail and 13 train operators walked out again on Thursday.

The RMT is seeking a pay rise of at least 7 per cent for its members, while employers have offered a maximum of 3 per cent.

More strikes likes to happen, union head says

04:50 , Maroosha Muzaffar

The RMT union chief Mick Lynch has said that more rail strikes are “extremely likely” if talks between rail bosses and unions continue to fail.

Another walkout is scheduled for tomorrow.

Mr Lynch has accused the government of blocking a deal but the government has refused this claim.

Downing Street has demanded that the unions call off the strikes “as quickly as possible” but Mr Lynch was earlier quoted as saying by the BBC that Saturday’s industrial action might not be the last.

He said talks would continue and fresh strikes might happen “if and when there needs to be a new phase of industrial action. But if we don’t get a settlement, it’s extremely likely there will be.”

01:30 , Katy Clifton

Mr Lynch added: “We think that’s what every worker in Britain, in every business should have. But what we’re faced with now is a clampdown. And it’s a deliberate clampdown by the government… and they’re using the temporary phenomenon of Covid as an excuse to rip out and strip out terms and conditions.”

Read more below:

Mike Lynch says rail workers treated as ‘out of fashion’ after pandemic

Rail workers treated as ‘out of fashion'

Friday 24 June 2022 00:38 , Katy Clifton

Union boss Mike Lynch has said the government lorded rail workers as “heroes” during the pandemic, only to treat them as “out of fashion” now restrictions have lifted.

Speaking on BBC One’s Question Time, the head of the RMT union said: “We were lorded as heroes by Grant Shapps, they worked all the way through the pandemic, they were not furloughed, and they kept our railway and transport systems going.

“But what they’re being told now as a result of that, is that you’re out of fashion, you’re out of date, somehow the terms and conditions that we’ve negotiated over many years and we think are a fair deal…”

Emily Eavis thanks Glastonbury festivalgoers for their commitment and support

Thursday 23 June 2022 21:55 , Eleanor Sly

Emily Eavis has thanked Glastonbury festivalgoers for their commitment in attending the event, saying she thinks “the best people in the world come here”.

The 42-year-old co-organiser of the event was speaking the day after the festival opened its gates for the first time in three years after it was cancelled twice amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The music offering this year features headliners Billie Eilish, Sir Paul McCartney and Kendrick Lamar, with Diana Ross filling the Sunday Teatime Legends slot.

Read more:

Emily Eavis thanks Glastonbury festivalgoers for their commitment and support

What train services will run on Friday after the latest strike?

Thursday 23 June 2022 20:30 , Eleanor Sly

Train services will continue to be disrupted on Friday due to the knock-on effects of the second day of this week’s rail strikes.

Read more from PA here:

What train services will run on Friday after the latest strike?

Passenger numbers below 20 per cent as train services disrupted by second day of strikes

Thursday 23 June 2022 19:50 , Eleanor Sly

Passenger numbers at major railway stations were below a fifth of usual levels as services were hit on the second day of rail strikes.

Network Rail said the amount of people using its stations on Tuesday, the first day of this week’s strikes, was 12-18 per cent of normal, and there was a similar situation on Thursday.

Edinburgh Waverley, London Euston, London Paddington and Liverpool Lime Street were among the stations with far fewer passengers than a typical weekday.

Read more here:

Passenger numbers below 20% as train services disrupted by second day of strikes

Sadiq Khan: Government has ‘zero engagement’ over TfL funding crisis

Thursday 23 June 2022 19:10 , Eleanor Sly

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has accused the government of “zero engagement” over Transport for London’s (TfL) funding crisis, as the settlement currently in place reaches expiration.

Sadiq Khan said that this could lead to cuts which have “never been seen in London before” just a day before the fourth funding settlement of the pandemic, which took government support to £5 billion, reaches an end on Friday.

The mayor said that without a long-term funding plan Londoners would see a 10 per cent reduction in Underground services, which is the equivalent of an entire Tube line. It could also mean the loss of more than 100 bus routes.

Speaking at a TfL bus garage in East Ham on Thursday, Mr Khan said: “For months now, I’ve been asking to start constructive negotiations with ministers so that we can agree to a fair and sustainable funding deal for TfL.

“We’ve had zero engagement from the Transport Secretary, and we’ve yet to see any proposals for a long-term funding deal.

“More short-term extensions with no promise of any additional long-term funding simply doesn’t cut it.

“It’s no way to treat Londoners and the transport network they rely upon - if the government continues to refuse to provide a fair funding deal, TfL will be forced to put our transport network into managed decline.”

UK government should ‘respect’ striking workers, says Sturgeon

Thursday 23 June 2022 18:38 , Eleanor Sly

First minister Nicola Sturgeon said that the UK government should have “respect” for workers and that they need to resolve the train dispute that is “crippling” the UK.

Ms Sturgeon was asked during First Minister’s Questions on Thursday whether or not she believes the UK government’s reported proposals to allow agency staff to replace striking workers is simply “inflaming” the issue.

She reponded: “[Workers] are paying the price for Tory anti-trade union rhetoric, in fact, anti-trade unionism which I completely deprecate.

“We should respect workers across the economy. We should respect public sector workers and we should seek to negotiate fair resolution to disputes, particularly at a time of inflation - inflation being exacerbated in the UK by the folly of Brexit.

“The rail strike that is crippling the UK right now is not the result of a pay dispute with ScotRail. It is a dispute with Network Rail and with English train operating companies, therefore it is entirely a reserved matter.”

The First Minister added that she understands that there is a danger of the dispute “escalating” should resolution fail to be reached between rail employers and unions.

Travellers advised to avoid BA flights this summer

Thursday 23 June 2022 17:33 , Eleanor Sly

Travellers are not advised to book a British Airways flight this summer “at this stage”, a GMB national officer said.

This comes after BA workers based at Heathrow voted to strike in a dispute over pay.

Nadine Houghton told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme: “I would imagine there will be action during the summer holidays”.

Asked whether or not she would book a flight in late July, August or early September, she replied: “Not at this stage”.

She underlined how the union’s members have faced a 10 per cent pay cut as a result of BA’s “unethical approach during the pandemic”.

“They want that pay to be reinstated”.

This is why the rail strikes are really happening

Thursday 23 June 2022 16:47 , Eleanor Sly

Grant Shapps, the jaunty secretary of state for transport who treats politics as a branch of showbusiness, keeps telling Keir Starmer to condemn the rail strikes, as if the RMT, a union which has disaffiliated from Labour and hasn’t much time for the leader of the opposition, would meekly obey the order of a man they probably despise more than Shapps.

Equally absurd, I have to say, is the shadow cabinet asking Shapps to “get management and unions around the table”, as if that’s in itself going to solve anything.

Tables and chatter are all well and good, but what’s really wanted is a strategy, a policy to deal with a 25 per cent drop in rail traffic that probably isn’t coming back.

Writes Sean O’Grady:

Opinion: This is why the rail strikes are really happening

British Airways says it’s 'extremely disappointed’ over strike decision

Thursday 23 June 2022 16:09 , Thomas Kingsley

British Airways says it’s “extremely disappointed” after 700 workers based at Heathrow voted in favour of strike actions over pay.

A BA statement said: “We're extremely disappointed with the result and that the unions have chosen to take this course of action.

“Despite the extremely challenging environment and losses of more than £4bn, we made an offer of a 10 per cent payment which was accepted by the majority of other colleagues.

“We are fully committed to work together to find a solution, because to deliver for our customers and rebuild our business we have to work as a team.

“We will of course keep our customers updated about what this means for them as the situation evolves.”

Watch: RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch reveals unlikely political hero

Thursday 23 June 2022 15:54 , Thomas Kingsley

High street footfall down amid rail strikes

Thursday 23 June 2022 15:35 , Thomas Kingsley

High street footfall was 16.1 per cent lower to 1pm on Thursday than on the same day last week, and down 8.5 per cent on Tuesday, retail analysts Springboard said.

In central London, the drop from last week was more than double the national average, down 34.4 per cent, compared with a fall of 27 per cent on Tuesday

Compared with pre-pandemic 2019, footfall was down 32.9 per cent across all high streets on Thursday compared with a drop of 19.6 per cent on Tuesday, and down 52.1 per cent in central London compared with a fall of 49.2 per cent on Tuesday.

Diane Wehrle, insights director at Springboard, said: “On the second day of train strikes, it appears that not only are people working from home, but fewer people are visiting their local high streets.

“The key fact is that the impact of the strike today appears to be even greater than the first strike.”

BREAKING: British Airways workers based at Heathrow have voted in favour of strikes

Thursday 23 June 2022 14:59 , Thomas Kingsley

British Airways workers based at Heathrow have voted in favour of strikes in a dispute over pay, the GMB and Unite unions announced.

Airlines have been urged to review their summer timetables to ensure they are ‘deliverable’ (Steve Parsons/PA) (PA Wire)
Airlines have been urged to review their summer timetables to ensure they are ‘deliverable’ (Steve Parsons/PA) (PA Wire)

Passengers using stations 12 - 18 per cent of normal, Network Rail says

Thursday 23 June 2022 14:15 , Thomas Kingsley

A Network Rail spokesman said the number of people using its stations on the first day of the rail strikes on Tuesday was between 12 per cent and 18 per cent of normal.

He did not provide figures for today but believes the situation is similar.

Speaking from Rwanda, prime minister Boris Johnson said that the rail strikes this week are “unnecessary” and stressed the benefits of “sensible reforms” of the rail system.

“I just think it is important to remember that these strikes are unnecessary. I think people should get around the table and sort it out,” Mr Johnson said

Speaking about the rail strikes, he said he wanted a “great future” for British railways.

“This is a government that is investing more in railways than any previous government in the last 50 years.

He continued: “To have a great future for rail, for railway workers and their families, we have got to have some sensible reforms and that is things like reforming ticket offices - I did a huge amount of that when I was running London.

“It is stuff that maybe the union barons are more attached to perhaps than their workers. I think the strikes are a terrible idea,” he said.

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Pictured: Passengers make their way to Glastonbury amid rail strikes

Thursday 23 June 2022 13:58 , Thomas Kingsley

 (EPA)
(EPA)
 (EPA)
(EPA)
 (EPA)
(EPA)
 (EPA)
(EPA)

Minimum service law for railways ‘worthy of further debate,’ Commons leader says

Thursday 23 June 2022 13:50 , Thomas Kingsley

Commons Leader Mark Spencer suggested implementing minimum service levels for the railways is “worthy of further debate”.

Conservative MP Gareth Davies (Grantham and Stamford) said: “The strikes this week have been incredibly disruptive for so many of my constituents."

He added: “Would my right honourable friend agree to a debate on implementing minimum service levels, similar to those in Italy and Spain, so that we can limit the harm that these strikes do to our people?”

Commons Leader Mark Spencer said the strikes are causing “devastation” and encouraged the unions “to get back round the table and to negotiate with Network Rail directly”.

He added: “I thank the honourable gentleman for raising this matter again, I think it is something which is worthy of further debate.”

Asked elsewhere in the session when the government's proposal on the use of agency workers during industrial action will be brought for debate in the Commons, Mr Spencer said: “I don't have to hand the specific time and when that will be brought forward.”

 (Getty)
(Getty)

Rail strikes could be start of Britain’s ‘industrial strife,’ RMT official says

Thursday 23 June 2022 13:30 , Thomas Kingsley

An RMT official has warned that the cost-of-living crisis means this week's rail strikes could just be the start of Britain's industrial strife.

Kathy Mazur, the RMT's first female regional organiser, said: “I think people are just fed up, inflation is going through the roof, no one's had a pay-rise in three years.

“Our union has led the way on this and people now are starting to see exactly what's going on and you'll see more of this.

“You'll see more unions taking the same action that we've taken.”

Speaking outside Euston station in central London, Ms Mazur continued: “I have gone to five picket lines this morning and they've all been rock solid.

“The members are in it for the long haul - this is their jobs, their security, their pay, and their pension, and they are not willing to give up on that.”

Railway strikes terrible idea, PM says

Thursday 23 June 2022 13:04 , Thomas Kingsley

Boris Johnson has urged railway staff to work with the government as he branded the strikes this week as a “terrible idea”.

The prime minister was speaking during a visit to the Rwandan capital of Kigali, while at home commuters and travellers have faced disruption due the second second strike of the week by railway workers.

Around 40,000 members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at Network Rail and 13 train operators walked out again on Thursday after talks failed to resolve a bitter row over pay, jobs and conditions.

Just one in five trains are running, and they are mostly restricted to main lines, with around half of the network closed.

“I just think it is important to remember that these strikes are unnecessary. I think people should get around the table and sort it out,” Mr Johnson said.

The prime minister promised that he wanted a "great future" for British railways, stressing his own experience as Mayor of London between 2008 and 2016.

“This is a government that is investing more in railways than any previous government in the last 50 years,” he said.

NEW: More railway workers to be balloted for strikes

Thursday 23 June 2022 12:50 , Thomas Kingsley

More railway workers are to vote on strikes, threatening fresh disruption in the industry throughout the summer, it was announced on Thursday.

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) served notice to ballot dozens of members at TransPennine Express (TPE) for strike action and action short of a strike in a dispute over pay, conditions and job security.

The union is demanding a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies for 2022, no unagreed changes to terms and conditions, and a pay increase which reflects the rising cost of living.

The ballot opens on 29 June and closes in mid-July, so the earliest that industrial action could be taken is 27 July.

The TSSA is also balloting its members in Network Rail, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands Trains, Avanti West Coast, Northern, LNER, C2C and Great Western Railway (GWR) in an escalating dispute across the railway.

TPE runs trains across northern England and Scotland.

Millions more people working from home, Virgin Media says

Thursday 23 June 2022 12:30 , Thomas Kingsley

Broadband provider Virgin Media O2 said it recorded an increase in usage of up to 10% on the first day of the strikes on Tuesday, indicating that “millions more people are working from home” this week.

A spokesman says the company saw a peak 5 per cent week-on-week increase in its broadband upstream traffic, due to the rise in video calls on platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

Picketing rail workers receive food from commuters

Thursday 23 June 2022 12:05 , Thomas Kingsley

Picketing rail workers at Euston station said they have been inundated with food from sympathetic commuters as they pledged to continue their strike.

“The public is definitely on our side, I've never seen so much support from the public,” RMT regional organiser Kathy Mazur said.

“See here - the food, water, that's from members of the public dropping off,” she continued, gesturing to two tubs of M&S chocolate mini-bites set next to a stack of hi-vis RMT vests.

“Tuesday, the amount of food we had, we were giving away to the homeless people. Really, really great support from the public.”

One passer-by, carrying a large suitcase up the steps to Euston, declined a leaflet but sounded sympathetic.

“It is what it is - they deserve a bit more money, but we're in a vicious circle with inflation,” she said.

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

‘The public is behind us,’ RMT assistant general secretary says

Thursday 23 June 2022 11:45 , Thomas Kingsley

RMT assistant general secretary Eddie Dempsey said he thinks “the public is behind us” in supporting rail strikes.

He told the PA news agency: “It's difficult for everybody but I think the public is behind us.

“They understand it's a scandal that billions are being ripped out of our industry at the same time workers are being punished.

“Teachers, they're facing a cost-of-living crisis, (also) posties, telecoms workers, health workers.

“We think there's going to be more demands for increases in pay in the economy and we think that's right.

“It's about time Britain had a pay rise. Wages have been falling for 30 years and corporate profits have been going through the roof.”

Starmer stance on rail strikes ‘may end’ Labour party, union chief warns

Thursday 23 June 2022 11:33 , Thomas Kingsley

A senior union leader has warned that Sir Keir Starmer’s handling of the railway strikes “may end” the Labour party.

Starmer has infuriated many on the left of the party by ordering Labour frontbenchers to stay away from picket lines during the RMT dispute which brought much of the UK’s rail network to a halt for a second day today.

The comment by Mick Whelan, general secretary of train drivers’ union Aslef and co-chair with Starmer of the Tulo organisation which co-ordinates union support for Labour, reflects the depth of the rift within the movement over the leader’s stance.

Read the full story from our political editor, Andrew Woodcock:

Starmer stance on rail strikes ‘may end’ Labour party, union chief warns

Last trains on the TransPennine Express this afternoon

Thursday 23 June 2022 11:00 , Thomas Kingsley

The TransPennine Express has released a list of the last trains running on its reduced service today.

Here is the list of last services running on 23 and 25 June:

16:11 - Sheffield to Cleethorpes

16:15 - York to Manchester Piccadily

16:24 - Cleethorpes to Sheffield

16:27 - Manchester Piccadily to York

16:50 - Preston to Manchester Airport

17:10 - Manchester Airport to Preston