Train strikes will affect the majority of the North East rail network this weekend.
Some parts of the region, as well as Britain, will have no trains during a strike by the rail unions in the long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), Aslef, the Transport Salaried Staffs Association and Unite will walk out on Saturday October 1, with further action planned on October 5 and 8.
Passengers have been warned that only around 11 percent of services will operate on October 1, and in some parts of the country there will be no trains at all.
Read more: Thousands of Post Office workers walk out in strike action
Newcastle United supporters will be travelling to London on October 1 as the side face Fulham, while the London Marathon will be held the next day, when train services will also be affected. Middlesbrough supporters travelling to Coventry by train have also been warned to expect delays.
With trains starting later and finishing much earlier than usual, passengers have been asked to only travel by rail if “absolutely necessary”.
The Saturday strike action will be the first time that the RMT and Aslef will strike on the same day, which means only about 11 percent of services will run, compared with about 20% on previous strike days.
Passengers have been told there is likely to be some disruption in the early morning of the day after each of the next three strikes.
North East rail operators which will offer a reduced service on Saturday
- CrossCountry
- LNER
- Northern
- TransPennine Express
Station, train and railway staff who are members of the RMT union will also strike on Saturday
- Network Rail
- CrossCountry
- LNER
- Northern
- Transpennine Express
Why are the strikes happening?
The TSSA earlier announced that thousands of its members in Network Rail and a number of train operators will walk out on October 1. Members involved in the action include staff working in ticket offices, stations, control rooms, and other support roles.
The TSSA is seeking a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies, a pay rise which meets the cost-of-living crisis and no unagreed changes to terms and conditions.
General secretary Manuel Cortes said: “We do not take this action lightly. We would much rather find a fair negotiated solution to this now long-running dispute, but we simply have no choice.
“It is time for train operators to meet us round the table and reach fair solutions.”
Unite said on Friday that its members employed in Network Rail’s electric control rooms will strike on October 1, 5 and 8.
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