Bank Holiday rail strike action

After strike action last weekend, members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will walk out between Saturday 29 to Monday 31 August, causing disruption over the Bank Holiday weekend.

This follows failed talks over the introduction of the new Super Express Trains in 2017.

A First Great Western statement says: ”We are continuing to meet with the RMT and remain hopeful that we can come to an agreement that will avoid the bank holiday strike going ahead.

“If the strike goes ahead, trains may be very busy and there will be limited food and drink services on-board.

“Last trains of the day are likely to leave significantly earlier than usual.”

First Great Western runs trains from London, across the south coast to South Wales and the West Country as well as routes in areas including Oxfordshire and Berkshire.

More information at firstgreatwestern.co.uk/strike.

Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said: “The action is being solidly supported across First Great Western and the union salutes the unity and determination of our members in this long-running dispute.

“Although we have held many hours of talks with First Great Western we have not been able to make enough significant progress over the core issues at the heart of the dispute - drivers being forced to take over door and despatch functions which downgrades the safety-critical role of guards, removal of catering services and the threat to jobs among the train maintenance engineers.”

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