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Rail strikes in January
2018, so plan your journey ahead
PASSENGERS travelling to, from and within the
Liverpool City Region are being urged to plan their journeys and check before
they travel ahead of planned industrial action by members of the RMT union on
Merseyrail and Northern rail services, on Monday, 8 January, Wednesday, 10
January and Friday, 12 January 2018.
Merseyrail services are planned to run every 30 minutes, with the exception of
the New Brighton to Liverpool services which will be every hour, from around
06:30 to 19:30, with a break in service between approximately 11:00 and 13:30.
Wirral services will start and terminate from James Street Station.
There will be no services on the following lines:- Hunts Cross - Liverpool
Central; Ellesmere Port - Hooton; Chester - Hooton, Kirkby - Liverpool Central
and Ormskirk - Maghull.
Merseyrail tickets will be accepted on Arriva bus services, except between 07:00
to 09:00 and 16:00-18:00.
Passengers are strongly advised to check the Merseyrail
website and on Twitter @Merseyrail, before travelling, as it is possible that
timetables will change prior to, as well as during, strike action.
Northern Rail will operate a reduced service, with the majority of available
trains operating between 07:00 and 19:00. Services on some routes will finish
earlier and some Stations will have no service, for more information please
visit the Northern website.
Mersey Ferries are due to run as planned and valid cross river rail tickets will
be accepted on the Ferries on the 3 days.
Key advice for everyone in the City Region needing to travel on these dates is:-
► Plan ahead and consider your alternative travel options. You can use the
Merseytravel journey planner.
► Check timetables and leave more time for your journey.
► Avoid travelling at peak times where possible. Don't aim for the last bus or
train home as services are likely to be very busy.
► Stick to public transport wherever possible to reduce congestion on key routes
in and out of the City Centre including the Mersey Tunnels.
► Speak to your employer about whether there is any flexibility in working times
or the possibility of working from home.
Andy Heath, Managing Director at Merseyrail, said:- "I
am really disappointed with the strike action being taken by the RMT that will,
after the previous strike days, yet again result in more disruption to your
services. The timing of these latest strikes, 3 within a week, has been
deliberately scheduled so as to cause as much impact as possible to you as a
passenger. At the request of the Metro Mayor, we agreed to independent
conciliation with the RMT union with no pre-conditions, but to date, the RMT
have refused to meet without pre-conditions. I am very keen to begin a
meaningful dialogue and engage in a detailed negotiation to find a middle ground
which will satisfy all parties. As always, we will ensure that we deliver as
robust a timetable as we can that will best serve your travel needs."
Sharon Keith, Regional Director at Northern said:- "We are doing
everything we can to keep our customers on the move during the three days of
industrial action affecting our network. We are still working to determine the
exact services we will be able to operate, but those trains that do run will be
on an amended timetable and are likely to be extremely busy. We ask our
customers to plan carefully, allow extra time for travel and check the Northern
website for the latest information."
Frank Rogers, Chief Executive of Merseytravel said:- "Merseytravel,
together with transport operators, have been working to ensure a robust
transport plan is in place to support customers with their journeys in January.
In the past customers have responded well by planning ahead and in many cases
making changes to their usual journey when necessary. We are confident that by
continuing to plan ahead, our customers, both local and from further afield,
will be able to go about their business, whether they choose to travel by rail,
bus, ferry or car. For help planning your journey, or finding out what other
services are available, please download the Merseytravel app or use the online
journey planner."
For up to the minute service information, visit:-
► Arriva - Follow them on
Twitter and via their
website.
► Stagecoach - Follow them on
Twitter and via their
website.
► Merseyrail - Follow them on
Twitter and via their
website.
► Mersey Ferries - Follow them on
Twitter
and via their
website.
► Northern - Follow them on
Twitter and via their
website.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:- "Every single effort that RMT has
made to reach negotiated settlements in these separate disputes with the
different train operating companies over safe operation and safe staffing has
been kicked back in our faces and we are left with no option but to press ahead
with the action exactly as planned. No one should be in any doubt, these
disputes are about putting the safety of the travelling public before the
profits of the private train companies It is frankly ludicrous that we have been
able to negotiate long-term arrangements in Scotland and Wales that protect the
guards and passenger safety but we are being denied the same opportunities with
rail companies in England. This suspension of normal industrial relations by the
employers has to end if we are to make progress towards a solution that
guarantees safe rail travel for all. RMT is in no doubt that it is the dead hand
of the minority Tory Government that is interfering in these disputes and that
their influence is a factor in preventing the union from reaching negotiated
settlements. With the fare increases kicking in this week it is outrageous that
Theresa May and Chris Grayling are happy to stand aside and cheer on overseas
rail companies that rip off the British passenger with eye watering far
increases to subsidise their domestic transport operations while throwing the
guards off our trains. RMT is demanding that the blockade on talks is lifted in
these separate disputes to allow us to negotiate freely with the companies and
give us the opportunity to pursue the objective of a guard guarantee that puts
British passenger safety before the rank exploitation of our rail network by
fare jacking private companies who are laughing all the way to the bank. If it's
good enough for Wales and Scotland to put safety 1st then it's good enough for
the rest of the UK. RMT stands ready for talks in each of these separate
disputes."
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