12/27/2022 10:19 am (act. 12/27/2022 10:19 am)
Train passengers must remain calm ©APA/AFP
Train travelers in Britain need to remain calm even after a multi-day rail strike has ended. Route operator Network Rail warned late on Tuesday of “significant disruptions” in January. An RMT union shutdown over Christmas on Network Rail ended on Tuesday morning. However, it was expected that traffic would only return to normal throughout the day.
Other strikes were also announced at individual companies. On Monday night, the TSSA union began a 24-hour strike at the Cross Country rail operator, which covers major long-distance services. At Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains, TSSA members, responsible for training, controls, customer communication and timetables, among other things, wanted to stop work for a day from Wednesday afternoon.
The Ministry of Transport asked the unions to call off the strikes and accept the private railways’ tariff offer. However, in view of the rising cost of living, workers’ representatives are calling for significantly higher wage increases and, in view of widespread austerity measures, more job security. The RMT has already announced new strikes for the beginning of January.
According to an analysis by the newspaper “Guardian”, there are huge problems in the British rail network. According to it, more than half of the trains departing from the 15 most important stations this year have suffered delays or other disruptions. According to experts, the problems are due to the privatization of railway companies. This has led to higher costs and public subsidies. The pandemic has exacerbated the labor shortage.