United Kingdom: Rail strikes planned October 3 and 5

Event

Members of the Rail, Maritime, and Transport (RMT) union at Southern Railway, Merseyrail, Arriva Rail North, and Greater Anglia are planning to strike on Tuesday, October 3, and Thursday, October 5. The industrial action comes in protest of the government’s continuation of controversial plans to extend driver-only operation of trains, which they claim threaten the jobs of those in safety and support roles. However, the government has guaranteed all conductors’ jobs until October 2025.

The move is expected to delay the renovation of Liverpool’s Lime Street Station, which will be closed between Saturday, September 30, and Sunday, October 22.

Context

Railway strikes are relatively common in the United Kingdom. In January, Southern Railway workers engaged in a three-day strike as part of a long-term plan to bring management to the bargaining table regarding the staffing of trains. RMT also held similar strikes in early September.

Advice

Travelers are advised to expect significant disruptions on services provided by the abovementioned railways and should make arrangements for alternative means of transportation on those dates.

Additionally, passengers using Liverpool’s Lime Street Station should consult Network Rail for route and schedule changes during the construction period.