announced this evening - more details to come
Posted by
Paris
9614 posts
Interesting !
Posted by
Freedonia
15089 posts
As of 3 AM GMT......
The BBC is reporting that Network Rail has suspended their strike only for 16 March with no word on the other days. However, the train companies also holding strikes those days are still striking.
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-64883158
I expect more updates once the sun comes up in London.
Posted by
Lake District, England
5845 posts
Well that week the Network Rail Strike was only on 16 March.
The 18 March was only the train companies dispute.
But it also means that the 6 week overtime ban is also suspended. That had been little commented on, but had the potential to be disruptive in terms of fixing signal failures, overhead wire issues and the like, also short notice signalbox closures.
And the 30 March/1 April strikes were only the separate dispute at the train companies, not Network Rail.
So at least there is a pause in the Network Rail action until the ballot/referendum is concluded. And the companies not involved in the other action will be able to run trains. So on 16 March for instance Hull Trains, Lumo and Grand Central can now run on the East Coast as they are not involved in the strikes which will affect LNER that day.
This news came in mid evening. It will take time for the train companies to adjust their plans and websites.
Posted by
Freedonia
15089 posts
Network Rail had other "industrial actions" planned for March:
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industrial-action/
Of course, all this might change if the offer is accepted or still being discussed.
Posted by
Cornwall
332 posts
Network Rail are the employers.
The strike is/ was by RMT.
Posted by
Lake District, England
5845 posts
The RMT were/are in entirely separate disputes with Network Rail (who maintain and run the tracks) and 14 different but linked disputes with certain of the Train Operating Companies (for lack of a better overall word) who run the trains over the tracks- other such disputes with other companies having been resolved.
They had called separate strikes on the same day 16 March only- both with Network Rail, and with each of the operating companies they are in dispute with.
The effect was that on 16 March an almost total closedown would have happened, due to almost no signallers being available.
On the 3 other days (18 and 30 March and 1 April) the RMT only had strikes with the operating companies, so apart from those companies other trains will be running in non affected companies as signallers will be working. All 4 of those days strikes are still happening.
However after the strike with Network Rail workers on 16 March, the RMT were then starting an overtime ban with Network Rail staff involving different workers on different days over the following 6 weeks- the second half of the Network Rail article referenced.
I am sorry if the first half of the article is unclear but those are the facts.
Now the RMT dispute with Network Rail is 'under offer' their strike (only) on 16 March and the subsequent 6 week overtime ban is not currently happening, BUT the 4 days of strikes with the operating companies are still on.
That means that at least some trains will run on those days- the companies will confirm what they can run in the coming days.
I am sorry if the Network Rail reference is not clear on that subject, but I didn't write it. It helps if you follow the news closely and understand the structure of the UK railways, and live here full time. Nor do I write BBC News Articles.