Huge crowds at stations during latest strikes – and it’s not looking good for January

  • london
  • December 27, 2022
  • Comments Off on Huge crowds at stations during latest strikes – and it’s not looking good for January
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Travel chaos is continuing to sweep the UK today – and it shows no sign of stopping next year.

Passengers have been warned to prepare for ‘significantly disrupted’ travel into the New Year amid a wave of industrial unrest.

The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) at CrossCountry has launched a strike from 9pm on Boxing Day to 9pm tonight.

It is having a severe impact on rail services, especially in the Midlands and South West.

West Midlands Railway Services will not operate at all, with Avanti West Coast warning people to only travel if necessary.

TSSA members mainly work in management roles covering customer services and planning.

The union said its workers were ‘seeking basic fair treatment, not to be sacked from their jobs, a fair pay rise in the face of a cost of living crisis and no detriment to terms and conditions’.

Bus drivers in London are also walking out today – with all routes run by Abellio affected.



Bus routes affected:

Day routes

3, 27, 45, 63, 68, 109, 130, 156, 195, 196, 201, 207, 267, 270, 278, 315, 322, 350, 367, 381, 407, 415, 427, 433, 464, 482, 490, 969, C10, E5, E7, E10, E11, H20, H25, H28, H26, P5, P13, R68, R70, S4, U5, U7, U9

Route 481 will operate but with fewer services on weekdays from 07:30-08:00, and from 15:00-16:00. 

24-hour routes

24, 111, 159, 285, 344, 345

Night routes

N3, N27, N63, N68, N109, N207, N381

School routes

671

Those travelling to see loved ones faced trouble as The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers walked out on Christmas Eve.

These strikes came to an end at 6am this morning, with huge crowds pictured as stations reopened.

But passengers have been warned to expect disruption while everything gets up and running again.

Most trains did not begin going until 9am this morning, while others didn’t start until midday.

London Liverpool Street station is shut and there are limited services from London Victoria today amid engineering works. No services will run to or from London Euston either.

Overall, 70% of services will be operating today, according to Network Rail.

But this isn’t the last Britain will see of transport workers’ fight for ‘fair’ wages and conditions amid the cost of living crisis.

A number of TSSA workers will continue to strike until the 29th, while workers on the Elizabeth Line in London will take action on 12 January.

Meanwhile, the RMT has confirmed more walkouts on 3, 4, 6 and 7 January and the train drivers’ union, Aslef, has called a strike on 5 January.

Network Rail has urged people to plan ahead and check before they depart as ‘industrial action means rail travel will be significantly disrupted throughout December and January’.

Workers don’t want to strike, especially over Christmas, but ‘they are sick and tired of being taken for granted’, TSSA organising director Nadine Rae has said.

‘They deserve a pay rise to help manage the escalating cost of living, and they rightly demand job security’, she added.

‘The company, like all the train operators under the control of the Department for Transport, need to face up to the fact that only serious offers which meet our aspirations will end this dispute.’

A Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘After two years of virtual Christmases, the British public deserve better than to have their festive celebrations impacted by strikes.

‘The Transport Secretary and Rail Minister have worked hard to facilitate a fair and reasonable offer, which two unions have accepted, and it is incredibly disappointing that some continue to strike.

‘We urge them to step back, reconsider and get back round the table, so we can start 2023 by ending this damaging dispute.’

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