Train strikes in December to take place between Saturday December 2 and Friday, December 8
Published: 12:58, 29 November 2023
Updated: 10:33, 05 December 2023
No trains will run across the county tomorrow (Wednesday) as transport workers go on strike – despite a deal being reached.
Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) voted to accept a pay deal from the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) last Thursday (November 30).
However, train drivers represented by Aslef will still walk out, meaning services are being hampered this week – with Kent facing the worst disruption tomorrow.
Scott Brightwell, Operations and Safety Director for Southeastern, which will have no services running tomorrow, is advising passengers in Kent to keep across journey planners throughout the strike period.
He said: “Strikes are designed to be disruptive, and it is clear there will be disruption and inconvenience to customers across Kent and East Sussex during this time but particularly on Wednesday 6 December. We are sorry for the obvious inconvenience this will cause.
“I would urge customers who are travelling during this time to check their entire journey before setting off. You can do so on the Southeastern website or on other journey planners.”
It comes as staff from different train companies continue a week of rolling strikes on different days, spreading the walkouts over almost a week.
The action began last Saturday (December 2) and will continue until this Friday (December 8).
Drivers are also refusing to work any overtime between December 1 and December 19.
The move is expected to cause problems for both commuters and those looking to enjoy the build-up to Christmas.
The RMT union had been embroiled in an 18-month-long disagreement with bosses over pay.
Yet the agreed deal announced last week includes a backdated pay rise of 5% for 2022-23, as well as job security guarantees.
These are this week’s strike dates in full:
Saturday, December 2 at East Midlands Railway and LNER
Sunday, December 3 at Avanti West Coast, Chiltern, Great Northern Thameslink, and West Midlands Trains
Tuesday, December 5 at C2C and Greater Anglia
Wednesday, December 6 at Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, SWR main line, SWR depot drivers, and Island Line
Thursday, December 7 at CrossCountry and GWR
Friday, December 8 at Northern and TP
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Lauren Abbott