Train strikes – live: Disruption at major stations and on airport shuttles as rail workers return
70 per cent of train services will be operating today before more planned strikes take place, according to Network Rail
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Passengers have been told to expect disruption on the train network this morning after the latest round of rail worker strikes came to an end at 6am today.
Members of the RMT Union were striking across Britain over pay and conditions. Trains will not begin running until 9am this morning, and will not start until midday in some places.
70 per cent of services will be operating today, according to Network Rail.
Passengers have also been warned to prepare for “significantly disrupted” travel into the New Year amid a wave of industrial strikes sweeping across the country.
Network Rail have urged people to plan ahead and check before they depart as “industrial action means rail travel will be significantly disrupted throughout December and January”.
Further national strike action by the RMT Union is taking place on 3 and 4 January. On 5 January, ASLEF Union will go on strike and then RMT workers will walk out again on 6 and 7 January.
Two-thirds of junior doctors considering leaving NHS as industrial action looms
A poll shows 65 per cent of junior doctors have “actively researched” leaving their jobs in the NHS as the sector prepares for a ballot on industrial action over pay.
The British Medical Association (BMA) survey of 3,819 junior doctors in England during November and December showed 79 per cent “often think about leaving the NHS” while 65 per cent “have actively researched leaving the NHS in the last 12 months”, according to the i-newspaper.
It comes as strikes are also considered by doctors in Scotland and Wales.
More in this report:
Two-thirds of junior doctors considering leaving NHS as industrial action looms
Over the past 15 years the take-home pay of junior doctors has been cut in real terms by more than a quarter, the BMA says.
What train strikes are happening?
Here’s a recap of what strikes are happening on the train lines today and in the coming weeks:
Strike action taken by the RMT Union on 27 December ended at 6am this morning. However the impact of the strike will likely affect trains throughout Tuesday morning.
The RMT strike is likely to affect most train companies across Britain, according to National Rail. They have warned that it is likely that there will be no trains at all on some routes on strike days.
In addition to the national strikes, Chiltern Railways will be significantly impacted by additional industrial action throughout the period from 13 December to 8 January.
Further national strike action by the RMT Union is taking place on 3 and 4 January. On 5 January, ASLEF Union will go on strike and then RMT workers will walk out again on 6 and 7 January.
London Euston closed for engineering work
London Euston station is closed this morning due to engineering work. Network Rail are asking passengers to check before they travel as there will be no services in or out of the station.
Expect disruption on the trains this morning after latest strikes end
Passengers have been told to expect disruption on the train network this morning after the latest round of rail worker strikes came to an end at 6am today.
Members of the RMT Union were striking across Britain over pay and conditions.
Trains will not begin running until 9am this morning, and will not start until midday in some places.
70 per cent of services will be operating today, according to Network Rail.
London Liverpool Street station is shut due to works, and there are limited services from London Victoria.
There are no services running to or from London Euston due to engineering works.
Most services will not call at York due to engineering work also. There were no trains due out of London Stansted Airport into London until after 8am this morning.
Other airport shuttle services have been affected, with the Gatwick Express to Victoria suspended. Heathrow Express trains from Paddington will not resume until after 11am.
In some parts of Scotland, such as Stirling, there will be no trains until 5pm due to shift starting times.
Plan ahead for strikes throughout January
Network Rail have published a calendar showing how services will be affected on strikes days throughout December and January.
Train chaos continues after days of strikes
As the latest national rail strike ended, passengers the length and breadth of Britain found the nation’s trains in disarray.
The four-day stoppage by members of the RMT union working for Network Rail ended at 6am.
At London Paddington station, hub for Great Western Railway services to the West of England and South Wales, as well as the Heathrow Express, a steady stream of would-be passengers were turned away. Many had pre-booked tickets for trains that had been cancelled.
Read more from our travel correspondent Simon Calder here:
Train chaos continues after days of strikes
Britain’s first “train” after the latest shutdown was a rail replacement bus from Manchester Piccadilly to the city’s airport
Rail chaos at London Paddington as overrunning engineering delays post-strike trains
Bemused passengers at London Paddington who had followed advice to check trains before departure have discovered that the planned resumption of services has been delayed – with no certainty about when they might begin.
Engineering work outside the terminus has overrun, blocking the entrance to North Pole depot – meaning trains are trapped.
Many cancellations are anticipated for travellers between London, the West of England and South Wales.
Read the latest about travel chaos from London Paddington here:
Rail chaos at London Paddington as post-strike trains go missing
The entrance to GWR’s North Pole depot is blocked, leading to delays and cancellations
Watch: Paddington station packed on Bank Holiday after train strikes cause travel chaos
Boxing Day sales up on last year despite train strikes
Boxing Day footfall was up by more than a third on the UK’s high streets despite train strikes and rising prices.
Data from industry analyst Springboard from Monday showed that footfall was 38.8 per cent higher than last year.
On high streets footfall was up by 44.1 per cent, in shopping centres by 40.4 per cent, and in retail parks by 25.9 per cent.
Central London, which has been hit hard by train strikes, saw footfall more than double on Boxing Day. The figure for London was 7.8 per cent lower than the same day in 2019.
Diane Wehrle, insights director at Springboard, said that the rise could be because Boxing Day fell on a weekday this year, rather than on a Sunday - as it did last year.
She said that the train strikes had still had an effect on footfall however.
“Prior to the train strikes there was an ongoing gap of around 12% in footfall between 2019 and 2022.
“The minute the trains strikes hit, that gap widened to 20%, and we are still at around that level, which is a big gap, and a very sudden gap,” Ms Wehrle said.
Kings Cross station extremely busy this morning
Kings Cross Station has been extremely busy this morning as passengers jossle to get on trains following the rail workers strike.
There has been a reduced service this morning with the strike, which ended at 6am today, impacting the schedule.
One video showed people queueing to get to the ticket barriers.
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