Hopeful commuters this Christmas are expecting to have their festive spirits fizzled out as a series of train strikes from December 13th – 17th plan to go ahead.
Great Western Railway have commented on how industrial action will go ahead with several train operators confirming to passengers that ‘a greatly reduced timetable’ will be in place.
The disruption means another mode of transport is advised with services foreseen as ‘extremely busy’ through Christmas and the New Year.
Mark Harper the Transport Secretary has urged the RMT Union to ‘call those strikes off’ amid concerns over more plans of protest over the Christmas period.
RMT have stood by the workers they represent as they have rejected a recent pay offer from the government.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4 Today, Mick Lynch spoke about how women and disabled passengers have told them ‘countless times’ they want to see a ‘staffed train’ as it makes them feel safer.
Accessibility has been stated as a clear ‘legal requirement.’
One incident highlighting such issues in accessibility involved a young woman and wheelchair user being left stranded in Stroud late at night when she was unable to get from Platform 1 to Platform 2.
